Year: 2021

Great to receive Andrew at the workshop this morning for work on his TF 135 for some work over the next few days.

Local call after that this afternoon to try and resolve a none starting issue on Bob’s very nice looking MGF 120 mpi. On code reading it showed the crank sensor to be at fault, so replaced with a new one and still didn’t want to start. Had compression, spark and fuel. So next step is to try coil pack and distributor cap to see if the spark is just too weak.

Busy evening on the old admin.

Got the best valentine present from Jon. Who needs flowers, chocolate or even cheese, I just need these!! 😀🔥

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First call in Chesterfield this morning to see Stephens very tidy TF 160 that was having a couple of minor issues.

One of which was a slight coolant loss, on pressure testing the system found one of the hose clips to be loose. Battery had died on him a couple of times, so we advised him to get a new one with more amperage, in order to cope with the colder weather as it’s the cold cranking that makes the difference on these cars. Stephen also thought that a problem had occurred with the power steering, on these cars if they are stood for a while sometimes the power steering ECU thinks there is an issue and turns the power steering off, once the car moves again it registers that all is ok and switches it back on again. Handbrake adjusted as there was a bit of free-play on it. Tested the voltage on the alternator, which was kicking out 14.02 volts, which is fine.

We then went a few miles along the road to Calver to see John again and his very tidy MGF VVC that was also having an issue with loss of coolant. John had spotted a couple of leaks, so on pressure testing we found where they all were and fitted new clips, which resolved the problem. Pressure tested the cap and checked every other pipe union just in case.

We last saw this car a couple of years ago when Jon replaced the VVC mechanisms, John says it’s the best thing he has had done to the car, it went from sounding like a diesel to a sounding like a sewing machine.

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Banshee 2, Adrian’s fab Trophy 160 was in need of some work, so we made our way to Coalville this morning.

Another sphere replaced on the rear offside this time. Welding to nearside sill. Rear discs and pads replaced.

Adrian had waited that long for us to come he had forgotten we were going! Lovely to see Leigh and Hayley who made us a very welcome cuppa on another freezing cold day. 🥶

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I know we shouldn’t complain as it’s our decision to work outside, but today really was exceptional, think we experienced a wind chill factor of -15! Anyway, whinge over it was a really good day apart from that…

We eventually got back to see Pauline this morning in Birmingham who was needing a heater control valve, found on our last visit to be faulty. We managed to get hold of a couple of these seemingly rare parts (no longer available from new) from the lovely Mr Bell.

Once fitted we filled up the coolant only to find it leaking from the thermostat housing. We pressure tested the system and found the heater inlet/outlet hose to be leaking too. Unfortunately, Pauline had been topping the car up with water rather than anti-freeze and it had frozen the front hoses solid, including the radiator.

New thermostat housing and new hose fitted. Then with a couple of electric fans we set about defrosting everything. Eventually after a couple of hours we managed to get flow in the system. Using neat coolant to replace.

Some photos below show an icicle from the heater control valve! Car up and running nicely again and Pauline is so happy to have heat in her heaters again. Couple of other things done.

Then on to Holbrook. Really lovely to see Ruth again and see what was occurring with Destiny, her fab TF 135.

Door lock mechanism replaced as the current one was on its way out. We went armed with a ignition barrel as she had been experiencing a problem with it not turning, but on inspection the problem seemed to have rectified itself, Jon’s magic touch!

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Local call in Harrogate this morning for head gasket and cambelt service and great to meet John with his TF 135.

We managed to get into a very snowy and frozen car with a flat battery.

From John’s description of the symptoms, before starting any work, we pressure tested the expansion tank cap and as we suspected this was found to be the culprit!

Cambelt service carried out and new alternator belt fitted and of course a new cap. Very tidy car with a lovely interior.

Bit of a shorter day than expected, but just as well as it was a bit tough on the digits! 🥶

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Thank you, so much to the lovely Susan for the fab pressie in our new fleece delivery! They’re great and will look fab in ‘Bunny’! 😍

#annethomasworkwearltd

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A busy couple of days for Jon, in particular, in Carshalton for work on Mark and Jamie’s collection!

First up was some wiring on Mark’s V6 ZT. Which was interesting as something different to do.

Then on to Jamie’s Midget, ‘Betsy’ for some welding. While the inner and outer sills had already been repaired it left a lot still to do around the engine bay and foot wells. All day spent on her today and still more to do, so a date to be arranged to return. Jamie is undergoing a major conversion with this car having bought her 3 years ago when only 15 years old. Absolute credit to him for his enthusiasm and insight on his ideas. Head brought back with us for Jon to port match.

I on the other hand had an easy couple of days and only carried out the minor service on Mark’s lovely looking MGF 143 ‘Big Ears’ yesterday morning!

Always so lovely to see Mark and Jamie, such great company. Having a very large garage to work in was good for keeping our distances. Hopefully next time we see you we can hug each other!

The two hotels we have stayed in have been amazing in the way they are coping with everything, they’re ones that we have stayed in many times and after speaking to the proprietors they are just managing to keep running at the moment. Both normally so very busy, with a buzzing atmosphere, they were eerily quiet. Let’s hope they can keep going and make it through this. In particular ‘The Ship’ in Weybridge is lovely, but the two sister hotels in the area have shutdown sadly.

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A Freelander in Hoxton required our services on Tuesday morning. Terry had contacted us back in October as his Freelander had unfortunately suffered head gasket failure. All back up and running again for him.

Over to Welling on Tuesday for work on Larry’s really fab looking MGF 120. Big brake upgrade on the fronts. Braided brake hoses all round. We had sourced him a set of 11 spokes to accommodate the bigger brakes so took these down with us. Underfloor stainless steel coolant pipes fitted, heated glass screen wired in. Hydragas pump up and car looking even smarter now. Great to meet Larry and Sheila. Despite the grotty weather it was a really good morning.

Weybridge this morning for full cambelt service on Andy’s TF 135 that he had bought himself in the first lockdown, but the car came with no service history. Heater control valve replaced as his had seen better days. Couple of other bits sorted for him. Date to be arranged to do some further things when we’re back in the area again.

Covid-19 restrictions adhered to by everyone.

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