Year: 2023

Monday morning found us in Solihull for clutch replacement on John’s ‘97 MGF VVC (in paint code HAM). Having owned the car from new and with only 44k on the clock the clutch had definitely done it’s time unfortunately, a little earlier than is usual.

The car has never been driven in the wet and lives in a garage, so with absolutely no corrosion every nut and bolt came undone with ease, including removing the fuel filter bracket in order to take out the resonator box, which normally involves a grinder to remove it, resulting in a long pain staking process and lots of pieces of plastic! The drive-shaft oil seal wasn’t great so we replaced this with a new one.

We had a chat with John about the cambelt service etc, as it had not had one in ten years, but he wasn’t convinced that it was necessary. Some good weather while we worked and finished in good time to head over to our digs, just near Brackley, for the next couple of nights.

We also went over to Northampton to see Julia and her ‘96 MGF VVC (in paint code COF) that hasn’t turned a wheel for 10 years and she keen to have it recommissioned. Having already got her booked in later in the year at the workshop we said we would call by when in the area to have a chat. Great to meet her and we look forward to having the car in with us.

This morning, Tuesday, found us on a short commute over to Brackley itself where it was great to meet Matthew and his fairly recent acquisition of a TF 160 (in paint code IAK). He’d bought it as a project car, and was gradually getting everything it needed doing to get it back up to full spec.

Today we carried out a full cambelt service for him, code read the car and had a chat about the other things he’s done and plans on doing. We wish him well as it’s a bit of a rare one!

We were just down the road from the home of Mercedes Benz F1, now that would have been an interesting place to visit, if we could, got a photo of the sign though.

We then headed over to Milton Keynes, where it was good to see Stephen again for work on his TF 115, (in paint code PBT) that we’d last seen a few years ago for the head gasket replacement.

New starter motor fitted, drivers door window mech needed repairing as it had jumped the rear window stop, and the front needed adjustment too. Oil and oil filter change and Stephen’s very happy that he can get out and about again. Date booked in for next year at the workshop to have underfloor treatment carried out.

Thanks for the eclairs Stephen, they didn’t last long on the drive back to our digs!

Found a really great spot to stay again whilst we’re down this way, with the one the best views out of the windows. 🐴 – https://ift.tt/WArEQZL

A return to Kevin’s in Broomhill, Northumberland this morning for some further work to his Trophy. We didn’t start at our usual time as it was planned as a day off, but wanted to get this sorted for Kevin and with our busy diary it was the only opportunity.

The car was bought with various cones put into the spheres and with the addition of multiple washers. However, even with the correct cones put in the car was still sitting low at the back end, more so on the passenger side than the drivers side. After several attempts to cure this, it was decided to individualise the spheres so that we could control the ride height separately on each corner. Car now sat at the correct height all round and looking a lot better.

On our way home we met up with Caroline and Tony at Scotch Corner, as ‘Sparkles’, Caroline’s TF 160 had developed an annoyingly squeaky alternator belt. So this was swapped out for them. Great to see them both as always for a quick catch-up.

Back home in time to make the most of the fab weather and go for a walk. Admin all caught up on on the way home. We do have the day off tomorrow, so hope the sun comes out again. ☀️ – https://ift.tt/37nUIbg

A couple of productive days, yesterday and today at the workshop…

Diane and Gary travelled over from Scarborough at the weekend and left their ‘05 TF 135 in paint code JHG with us.

So yesterday morning we set on with cambelt service, new HT leads, brake fluid change, alternator belt and an MOT, which we arranged to have done on site. ‘Alfie’ is all done and ready for them to collect.

Alan dropped off his TF 160 in paint code JFV over the weekend too, having driven over from Filey.

So we also got to work on this yesterday morning too, for head gasket replacement, full cambelt service, full underfloor treatment, soft-ride kit fitting, rear discs and pads, alternator belt, supply and code new key fob.

Anthony drove over from Barnsley yesterday afternoon for a health check on his fairly recent purchase of a ‘02 TF 160 in paint code JFV. Couple of small niggles sorted for him, and a date booked in to sort the other things needing to be done.

Work continued this morning on Alan’s TF. Ray & his wife came over from Hull this afternoon in their ‘03 TF 135 in paint code JFV for the minor service and replacement of the heater control valve, which had been leaking quite a bit. Lovely to see them both again, date booked in for the cambelt service next year.

Great to meet Gary, who drove up from Grantham in his recent purchase of a ‘03 TF 160 in paint code MBB.

Health check carried out for him and a minor service. The health check found a couple of things; the offside rear wheel bearing had gone, so Jon replaced the bearing, don’t think he would have made it back home on it. Reverse light switch repaired as the lights were permanently on and a couple of other small things sorted. Date booked in for later in the year to have the cambelt service carried out and underfloor treatment.

Diane & Gary’s and Alan’s TFs all ready for collection, shame we won’t see them again, as we’re back on the road tomorrow morning.

Pleased we got through everything, as the lists kind of grew as they can do! But, we got our heads down and didn’t speak for almost the entire day yesterday! A very nice sociable afternoon today though, whilst we worked.

A bit of sunshine thrown in too for top down drives home. Let’s hope it stays for the weekend. ☀️ – https://ift.tt/37nUIbg

Malton, North Yorkshire.

Adam had got in touch back in February regarding a 2003 TF 1.6 (in paint code JFV) that he’d bought a couple of months previously, which according to him was in a bit of a sorry state, so he set about giving it a new lease of life, having some welding done to the sills etc. He asked if we could go over and do the cambelt service and had thought that possibly the clutch was on its way out.

Cambelt, water pump, tensioner, alternator belt and new expansion tank cap all replaced.

Fortunately, for him, the clutch itself was still good, but the slave cylinder was probably the original and had certainly done it’s time. This was duly replaced and the clutch release arm freed off and all the old manky clutch fluid flushed through.

Couple of other things sorted, missing bolts replaced, plus greasing up the front upper control arms. He’s got himself a real bargain, and pleased to see that he’s invested in the car and will have some fun over the summer.

Really good to meet Adam and have a chat, whose been the owner of a few other MGs in the past. Plus a bit of an earlier finish than expected. Just as well as we’ve got a crazy few days ahead at the workshop! – https://ift.tt/sJzifnp

Bank Holiday Monday over in Knutsford…

After nipping over, whilst on another call, a few weeks ago to see what was occurring with Andy’s MGF 1.8 mpi (in paint code JRJ) that was overheating we returned today to replace the head gasket.

We had originally replaced it 7 years ago, but unfortunately after Andy had done some work on the car himself he’d not bled it properly and there were various other issues causing the head gasket to go again.

He’d replaced the engine bay pipes but a couple of the clips were not seated right, and some of the coolant hoses weren’t led properly. The bolts on the engine bay pipes were too long and bottoming out resulting in the pipes not being secured to the block. The radiator bleed screw was leaking. Plus the system hasn’t been fully bled. So a combination of all of these things had caused the car to overheat, thereby taking out the head gasket. Which, is a shame as good on Andy for having a go at a few things.

Not to worry, all sorted and the car is now back up and running nicely again, and all set for the summer months.

A very warm morning with plenty of cuppas and chats with Andy while we worked. Plus the roads were quiet for that not so great haul over the M62. Jon fitted a the new turbo to the van yesterday, which was next on the list to do, so that had a good run and noticed a bit of a difference in power.

Back home in good time to enjoy the rest of the day. Hope everyone has had a good weekend where possible, there seems to have been quite a few events and runs taking place, good to see the pics. ☀️ – https://ift.tt/DNmdRXq

Warmley, Bristol & Harpole, Northampton …. Day 6 and the last day.

Another short commute this morning from our digs over to Warmley, where it was great to meet Neill for work on his 2002 TF 135 (in paint code HFF) called ‘Maggy’.

Cambelt service carried out along with the other annual service items, plus alternator belt and a new coolant cap.

Neill had noticed that the engine management light had come on last week and was bringing up a few error codes on his code reader.

On our investigation today found that one of the coil packs was faulty and the other one was the wrong one for that model, plus the HT leads were also old and tired.
When the garage had fitted his rear shockers they’d disconnected the lambda and forgotten to reconnect it, which resulted in the error codes that he was having issues with.

So we swapped out the ignition leads and coil packs for new ones, which then resolved the problem, and all error codes subsequently cleared, resulting in a nice smooth engine.

He’d asked us to carry out a health check and see if the underfloor pipes needed changing. They’ve already been done and the car is in really good shape, and obviously been well cared for with its previous owner. Neill had carried out a couple of upgrades, such as fitting Mike Satur roll hoops, swapping out the seats and the door cards, resulting in a very attractive looking interior.

With thanks to his lovely wife Annie for all the brews including a freshly baked lemon drizzle cake that has come away with us and has so far remained in its wrapper on the journey home. That won’t last long once Jon gets sat down with a brew!

From there we headed north and called in to Harpole to see what was occurring with Neil’s TF 135. On a 20 mile run the temperature gauge would suddenly rise and then drop down to normal. The fans would kick in, but take a long time to cool it down again. We found very minor leak from the outlet on the block, and a blocked return hose that we had previously cleared once already. System fully bled, and hopefully this will have resolved this issue, Neil will take the car out tomorrow for a test run. Fingers crossed that it has. Date to be booked in for the cambelt service.

Nice to see Neil again and have a chat before we departed to head back home.

Lots of hold ups on our travels today, but we should get back home in daylight, where it will be great to see the cat. A productive, enjoyable albeit tiring tour with some really great people and their fantastic MGs. Plus plenty of sunny weather thrown in too.

(On a side note we’ve had to adjust the settings on our group to try and alleviate some of the chronic and rather frustrating spamming that’s been going on. Let’s see how that goes. Sorry if this has caused any inconvenience). – https://ift.tt/lW9TqDZ

Day 5 …. Winterbourne.

After departing from our fab digs in St Mellons we headed over to Winterbourne, near Bristol.

John had got in touch regarding his MGF Freestyle (in paint code MNX) that he’d owned for a couple of years. He’d done quite a bit of work on the car himself and had the head gasket done locally, so everything was all done on the car and running smoothly, apart from when he took the car for its MOT, they noticed that the SRS light wasn’t working. After investigating all possibilities himself and then getting an auto-electrician in, who told him it was the control unit, which he replaced, but still had the same fault. Then following our advice via messaging John tested all the continuity on all of the wires and still couldn’t find the fault, so he asked if we could come over and take a look when next in the area.

On code reading today, it was narrowed down to a fault with the airbag, or that part of the wiring loom. So a replacement rotary coupler (squib) was fitted and pleased to have a positive result in that the light is now off. Great to meet John and have a chat.

It was a less busy day than initially planned, and a weirdly leisurely start to the day. Our first call that was booked in was cancelled just before this trip, and despite our efforts we couldn’t really find an alternative booking of a similar size to replace it in the area, especially as we didn’t know how long the work on John’s MGF would take. Plus we’re a bit pooped anyway.

We’re now in our last digs of this tour, in a place called Hambrook. I took myself off for a decent walk, over to Stoke Park Estate this afternoon, what a beautiful place, well worth a visit.

Not too far a commute in the morning. Let’s hope this fantastic weather stays for a while longer ☀️ – https://ift.tt/lW9TqDZ

Heath, near Cardiff …. Day 4

A fairly short commute from our digs this morning to work on Krishan’s MGF year 2000 143 VVC (in paint code CAQ).

He’d owned the car for some time, and had hoped for a local garage to carry out the work, but couldn’t find anywhere that would take it on. Then he heard about our mobile services and asked if we could come and see him on our next trip to the area.

Head gasket replaced, the one on it was a Mk II elastomer, all the other gaskets replaced. Gave everything a good clean up as we went along, as unfortunately, the dreaded k-seal had been added at some point. On removing the expansion tank, it was so blocked the coolant didn’t flow out! We didn’t know prior to our visit that it had been added so were concerned that it may have made its way to the heater matrix etc and then you’re in all sorts of trouble. The return hose was blocked, so this was cleared. Car finally ran up to temperature and pleased to see all good and running smoothly.

K-seal really is one of the worst things you can add to your k-series engine, Krishan was lucky that it hadn’t caused any further damage to the head, as we’ve seen before, by completely blocking all coolant and oil channels resulting in a trashed head and the expense of needing a replacement.

Cambelts, water pump, tensioner and alternator belt all replaced. Plus the expansion tank cap, please see pic below, these ones are renowned to fail and, subsequently, will cause all sorts of expensive problems that you really don’t want.

Baking hot day again, shame not to meet Krishan, as he was away, big thanks to his lovely partner Karen who kept us supplied with mugs of tea and muffins. We’re pleased to have got his MG back up and running again for him to enjoy as it should be. – https://ift.tt/HzkyYbW