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MG MGF Technical - New Owner

I have just become the proud owner of a 1998 (R) MGF VVC...and I'm loving it. It has got 79k on the clock but full MG service history and it is great to drive and I got it quite cheap because it has had some front end damage (which has been repaired). I have a few niggling problems which due to may excitement during buying I did not notice!

Heater is permanently on hot - I've been told it needs to be bled under a vacuum!!???

There seems to be some slight movement left and right (5mm ish)on the steering column. Is this dangerous???

On braking there seems to be some noise (not metallic) but sounds like brakes are coming on and off. Car seems to stop ok. Wasn't evident during test drive and I have probably done 150 miles in the two days I've had it.

Thats it really apart from does anyone know where I can get a cheap tonneau cover (Black)???
C Skelhorn

Welcome aboard C! You will enjoy your ownership of the F.



Regards....David
d mottram

C

The heater is a very simple system where air is blown over a matrix (small radiator) and the water is passed through this matrix. The heat control simply controls how much water flows - if you can not get the water off then it is possible that the bowden cable from the control to the valve has come undone (or broken) and as a BTW when switching from hot to cold it can take several minutes for the existing matrix water to cool.

steering wheel should not have any slack in it.

Braking - sounds like the ABS is activating too soon - but just a guess.

What do you mean by a tonneau cover? The *F* came with a hood cover only and these can be obtained from the likes of The MGF Centre, Mike Satur etc - just check out the advertisers.

Finally - welcome!

Ted
Ted Newman

Welcome to the club C.

Unfortunately I cannot answer any of your questions but be assured there will be plenty who can.

Regards

Ewan

Ewan Ramage

For the steering column, you should have this seen to ASAP, this MAY be DANGEROUS.

The heater switch has nothing to do with bleeding the cooling system, apart from having to be open while filling and bleeding.

Get in touch with Midland MGF and/or MGF Centre for a 2nd hand hood cover.

Can't tell you anything about the brakes, maybe the pads need some copper grease.

Johan
Johan Slagter

Hi C,

Welcome to the board!
Can't help with the steering wheel and brakes problem, but when I bought my 1.8i, I had a problem with the hot air on full all the time. Have a look at the switch mechanism behind the dash. I got in relatively easily by whipping out the plastic panel next to the driver's left knee. A small plastic nub had worked its way out of a guide channel in a second piece of black plastic. I just had to bend a few little bits of monkey metal to make sure that the nub was replaced securely in its groove and hey presto. According to the guys at B&G this is a common problem. The description may sound a bit vague, but the problem is easy to spot once you're in there.

Good luck & all the best

Jim
J. A. Farrington

Hi,

welcome on board.
:)

>There seems to be some slight movement left and right (5mm ish)on the steering column. Is this dangerous???

This may relate to broken plastic security studs.
The pre-owner may have broken this due to heavy pulling at the steering wheel. (or girlfriend while strange _in-car actions_) ;-)

If so, and if not any bolt came loose instead:
Unfortunately the broken part is not availiable as spare itself. You need a new steering column. ($$$$ !)
:(

Suggest to speak to the seller of the car due to this *hidden fault*.
Investigation by an MG speciallist recommended in any way.

See this pic about the subject here.
http://www.mgfcar.de/epas/broken_studs_DSC01760.jpg
The column is bolt on at the slot part. This got loose cause the four mold-in studs are broken.

HTH
Dieter
Dieter K.

This thread was discussed on 02/01/2005

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