Category: News & Updates

Day 4 of 4 – Last Trip Away of the Year – Wereham…

This ‘03 TF 135 in paint code MBB, was initially booked in for a clutch replacement, as the symptoms that the owner, Mark, was experiencing and had read about had lead him to think that the clutch itself was on its way out.

Mark has done an absolute ton of work on the car in the 18 months he’s owned it, including replacing the clutch-slave and clutch-master cylinders. But, with only 47k on the clock we set about making some checks.

Following a test drive it was felt that they may be a build up of crud inside the bell-housing, after running the engine and flushing brake and clutch cleaner into it we noticed after a while the fluid coming out of the bell-housing turned from black to clear, indicating that there was no further crud left in there.

On ECU code reading it detected a misfire, and on inspection of the coil packs found that they had been subjected to heat damage, so these were swapped out, along with a new set of spark plugs, a couple of which were showing signs of age and corrosion. This misfire would account for the intermittent juddering that Mark had been experiencing on driving the car rather than the clutch itself.

A process of elimination has ruled this out, resulting in a very nice smooth engine.

It was great to meet Mark and have a chat and a brew, he’s got himself a very sound car after all his hard work, so we’re pleased to have got this issue sorted out for him, plus it was slightly less costly than the alternative for him, which is a bonus.

We left in good time for the drive home, and even had time to call into Rimmer Bros for some parts on our way past. An interesting and enjoyable last trip away, with some really great people and their fab MGs, with thanks to everyone for their hospitality. – https://ift.tt/Sb0avmM

Day 3 of 4 – Last Trip Away of the Year – Halstead & Sudbury…

We’d visited Eamon earlier in the year, when he asked if we could call round and investigate some strange noises coming from the rear of his ‘03 TF 160, in paint code HFN. It turned out that the engine-mount bolts weren’t tight and just sitting in there loosely, so we tightened these up at the time, but also on further investigation found that the torque-tamer bushes were worn. So we returned today with the parts and replaced these for him, resulting in a stable engine once more, always a good thing! Great to see Eamon again and have a chat before we headed off up to Subdury for our next call.

This ‘02 TF 160 in paint code JFV was well over due it’s cambelt service, the last one being in 2014, so Steve had got in touch earlier in the year to see if we could come over and do this for him.

Belts, water pump, tensioner, spark plugs, all filters replaced and cleaned up, plus code reading and clearing all error codes carried out. Good to meet Steve and have a chat while we worked and glad to have got his car all up to date for him, we look forward to returning next year for the minor service.

From there we drove on up to our next digs, in Brandon. Actually last nights digs weren’t that bad, the room and bathroom were just a bit ‘tired’, the staff were really lovely and the food was very good and cheap!

Tonight’s digs are very good, we did get a room upgrade as we were left waiting for over an hour, which we didn’t complain about at all, but they insisted on giving us their best room. No food at this one so Jon will be seeing what delectable delights ‘Just Eat’ can offer.

While we were waiting I took myself off on a walk, along the Little Ouse, sun just setting when I got back, lovely area in the Thetford Forest.

Not too far a commute, in the morning, to our last call in Wereham. – https://ift.tt/Sb0avmM

Day 2 of 4 – Last Trip of the Year – Basildon…

Our travels took us over to Basildon, this morning, for work on Andy’s ‘03 TF 135 in paint code MBB.

Cambelt, water pump, tensioner, alternator belt, platinum spark plugs, fuel filter, oil and oil filter all replaced. The engine mount bolts didn’t want to play and come undone, so we resorted to our Plan B, which was successful and the car is now all sorted for Andy to enjoy.

Shame not to meet him, but his lovely wife kindly made us a couple of brews. Thankfully a drier day today too and not as cold.

Making the most of an earlier than expected finish we took advantage of the fact that we were only a few miles along the road from Adrian Clifford! So we had kept it as a surprise to pop in and visit him and Dawn. Really great to see them both and have a cuppa and a catch-up and meet the beautiful Molly, I should have got a pic of her.

It was a reluctant departure from our really fab digs in Harlow this morning, wish we were staying there again this evening, one to keep on the list for next time, tonight’s digs in Halstead not so good, bit of a contrast, suppose you need a bit of balance! It’s a lovely area though and I managed to get a walk in before sunset. Plus it’s only a mere hop of a commute in the morning. – https://ift.tt/Gdqibfk

Day 1 of 4 – Ely – Last Trip Away of the Year…

An early start to head down to Ely to see Philip’s Y reg MGF 1.8 mpi in paint code GUF.

The minor service was due, plus Philip had noticed a slight coolant loss and had been topping it up every so often. From his description it sounded as though it was coming from the inlet manifold, and sure enough on pressure testing the system coolant was indeed coming from the manifold on the passenger side. Manifold removed and a new gasket fitted. System pressure tested again to check for leaks, problem now cured. The expansion tank cap was also faulty so a new tested one fitted.

It was good to see Philip again, with thanks to him for the cuppas on an extremely wet day, and big thanks to him for the very thoughtful Chocs and Beers for Christmas 🎄

We’re now in Harlow for the night in some fantastic digs. – https://ift.tt/ngdu9Zj

Bob popped over from Hessle at the weekend to leave his R reg Abingdon with us at the workshop for some welding work to be carried out today.

We’d last seen the car to work on a few years ago, and Bob had got in touch earlier in the year to see if he could bring the car over in the winter months as the rear offside sill had a bit of a hole appearing. He’d tried to do a bit of preventative maintenance during lockdown, but as is the way it had grown a bit.

It turned out that the inner wheel-arch rain-channel had rotted all the way through, allowing any water, that went into the wheel arch, to go straight into the sill.

Jon set about rebuilding the rain-channel first and then rebuilt the outer sill, this was then etched-primed, filled and prepped for paintwork. Now all ready for Bob to come over and collect.

I spent the day cleaning out, restocking and loading up the van ahead of our next trip, beginning in Ely first thing tomorrow morning. – https://ift.tt/WtkPfgR

Goucelby, near Louth – Thursday…

This S reg MGF 120 mpi in CMU was in need of our services today. We’d last seen the car earlier in the year for hydragas pump up, but as is the way the car had dropped again, so a date arranged to return to replace the affected spheres once we’d got ours all refurbished and back in stock.

A return to Goulceby this morning armed with 4 newly re-gassed, pressure tested (for 7 days), and the internal dampers all having been checked. Only the nearside front and rear were required and the car is now sitting correctly again.

A cambelt service also carried out, as this hadn’t been done in a while, plus other service parts.

While we were there it was mentioned that the clutch-pedal was a bit on the stiff side, so the clutch-release arm was freed off, which was very tough to move at first, but after a few applications of our release agents, got it moving again nicely.

We noticed the coolant was a bit low, on pressure test found it to be a dodgy expansion tank cap, so new pressure tested one fitted.

The car now has a smile back on its face and will hopefully bring Francene and Rob much enjoyment.

It was really lovely to see Francene again, with big thanks to her for her warm welcome, a regular supply of tea and seasonal mince pies.

Making the most of a lack of rain and the last of the light I enjoyed a walk back over the Humber bridge home. – https://ift.tt/hInkMQ5

North East – Day 3 of 3 – East Rainton & Redcar…

We were lucky again to have found some really fab digs last night, and left there this morning for a fairly short commute over to East Rainton, where it was great to see Andy again and his ‘03 TF 135 in paint code JFV.

He’d noticed a problem with his clutch pedal and also with the throttle. As we suspected the throttle was due to the bushes on the pedal itself having worn, so a replacement pedal fitted (thanks to Phil Bell for supplying us with it). The clutch release-arm was extremely stiff, which had in turn taken out the seals on the slave-cylinder. Clutch release-arm duly eased off, took a while, but at least it moves by hand now. New slave-cylinder fitted, system bled and she’s all good to go.

Lovely to have a catch-up with Andy and many cuppas, plus fusses with his beautiful woofer Tobermory, aka Toby (forgot to get a pic). Shame not to see Stuart who had planned on popping over to say hello. Thanks to Andy for prepping for our visit with the gazebo!

From there we headed on over to Redcar, where it was good to meet Jon and his ‘04 TF 135 80th Anniversary (number 754) in paint code MBB. Jon had reported that the EML had come on, so asked if we could call round when in the area to see what was occurring.

On code reading it had random multiple misfires and catalyst below efficiency, codes cleared and misfires were checked for, but the car was running sweet. Checked the state of the cat and that was ok, checked voltages on the Lamba sensors and they were ok. Once deleted the faults never recurred. Great to meet him and have a chat before we headed back home with a call into the workshop for parts needed for tomorrow’s visit.

We got caught out in the clean air zone in Newcastle £12.50 for 300 yards! Apart from that, another fab tour in the north east, with big thanks to everyone for their warm welcomes and some really great MGs. – https://ift.tt/ItBlQCc

North East – Day 2 of 3 – Backworth & Washington…

A very short commute this morning just around the corner to see David and his fairly recent acquisition of a TF 135, which we used to look after when it belonged to Steve, good to see it again in its new home. We last saw David 6 years ago for work on his previous TF. He’s certainly got himself a good one here.

David had noticed that the door locks were emitting a machine gun like noise and a very loud buzzing sound so asked if we could fit him in on our next visit to the area.

We had taken along with us a couple of door-locking mechanisms (thanks to Phil Bell for providing these) so these were both fitted for David and the problem is now resolved. Lovely to see him again and have a chat. Thankfully, he had a garage for us to work in as it was a bit dismal this morning.

From there we journeyed on to Washington, where it was lovely to meet John and his wife Linda, who had asked if we could call round when next in the area to give the car a check over for a very minor coolant leak on his ‘02 TF 135 in paint code CMU.

On running all of our usual checks found a minor weep from the front of the cylinder head. Plus the thermostat housing proved to be leaking also on pressure testing. Date arranged to return to replace these, plus carry out a full cambelt service and a few other things.

The car certainly has some very nice stable mates. We look forward to our return to get everything sorted for John.

We’re now in our next lot of digs, not too far along the road from that there Angel of the North. I had a bit of a dark and soggy walk along to see her. – https://ift.tt/Pe4LprE