Category: News & Updates

A couple of days since my last blog, hope everyone had a great weekend where ever you may have been…

Friday morning found us over in Goulceby for work on Francene’s MGF, she’d noticed the clutch pedal wasn’t returning, so we said we’d pop over when we had a gap in the diary, we squeezed her in as thought it was probably due to the slave-cylinder, sure enough, the seals had blown and grotty old black fluid was in there, slave-cylinder replaced and system bled through, resulting in a nice pedal once more, so we were soon on our way. Didn’t see Francene, this time, as she was at work.

Back over to the workshop, where we had also squeezed in Rich, for head gasket replacement on his TF 135. He’d noticed a few tell-tale signs, and having a trip booked in it to attend the Remembrance Day at Flanders, next month, didn’t want to take the risk of driving it there like that, quite rightly so. All sorted for him, while he waited, and he was soon on his way, once we’d sorted a niggle with the manifold air-intake temperature sensor that is.

It was good to see Will and his lovely partner Jayne, the day before, when they ventured over from Stockport, to pick up a load of bits, that he was in need of, to go for galvanizing. Plus, they very kindly dropped off all of our spheres to get refurbed, on their way back. Thanks Will, saves us a trip!

Monday morning found us back up near Durham again, and a lot less soggy than last Monday! This time we were in Quebec, where it was lovely to see Frank and Linda again and their gorgeous woofers, Cher and Cocoa, Cocoa was only a small pup on our last visit and has grown into a very handsome chap. Their TF 135 had a couple of advisories noted on the last MOT, so we replaced both front wishbones and all of the brake flexi-hoses with new. Thanks to them for a cracking brew and offers of lunch.

This morning we were supposed to be back in Durham, but we weren’t needed, so we pulled the second call forward a bit. This found us in a lovely village called Aislaby, just outside of Whitby, this morning, fortunately they had a barn for us to work in as it was once more inclement.

Great to meet Dave, who’d noticed a slight coolant loss in his 2001 MGF 1.8 mpi (paint code CMU). On our inspection found one of the clips on the underfloor coolant pipes was leaking. Hopefully this will be all it was. On code reading, however, we pulled up error code P0655 – hot lamp output, P1316 – causing increased emissions and P0170 – fuel trim bank 1. So we set about swapping out the Lambda sensor. Yep it put up a bit of a struggle, but Jon persisted with heat, grinder and patience. New Lambda fitted and error codes didn’t return.

We also noticed where a mouse had been in and decided to have a chew, one of which was one of the breather hoses, that’s a new one on us, new piece of hose duly fitted and other bits taped up. Thanks to Dave for a cracking brew, and good to have a chat with his neighbours who had spotted the van on their way past while walking their beautiful woofer.

Having a little bit of an earlier finish, we called in to Matthewsons on our way back home. We passed through Thornton-Le-Dale on the way up, but it was tipping it down. We also went along to the auction site a couple of miles along from there, which was pretty impressive, plus they do have a good collection of Fs and TFs coming up for auction. It was good to have a chat with a couple of the lovely chaps there.

A load of nostalgia for us both and decided we had better not attend the actual auction, at the weekend, or we could find ourselves in a sticky situation! – https://ift.tt/hqIm6tU

Workshop day yesterday, Stuart came over from Scunthorpe in his 2003 TF 135 in x-power grey, to leave it with us for a couple of things.

The nearside sill needed a bit of welding, the car will now go along to our paint shop neighbours on the site to have this colour-matched next week. It should have gone over straight away, but sadly someone backed into his, usually pristine, car and dented the back end and cracked the rear bumper, in a car park, and, yes, the car was parked well away from other cars and, no, the owner in question didn’t leave any of their details. How very frustrating. He’s managed though to source a bumper from a chap on our site as he was walking around this morning, fortunately, how lucky was that!

The car was also showing error code P0420, so we swapped out the (useless) CAT for a homologated one. We had fitting of the new back box on the list, a Daytona, but he’d already done that. So car all good to go and no error codes showing.

Good to see Stuart again and have a chat before he headed home.

I had my head deep in the books all morning, putting the final touches to one of our upcoming trips, in a couple of weeks, to the south west of the country, with a couple of calls on the way. We’d been recommended by a friend to someone down in Ilford who was requiring a minor service and a pre MOT check up, and the owner of the car asked if we could come in November when the MOT and service was due, against my better judgment, given time of year, I agreed to go, said person then asked if we could find someone else nearby so that the travel costs could be shared. So yep no problem in doing that, and a trip was soon put together, thereby a few others benefiting from the reduced travel costs and the added trip in the diary. Confirmation all sent out to all concerned on the trip, all fine except one chap, who had scrapped the car and didn’t need our help anymore, hmm nice to be informed. 🙄 But then! Said person in Ilford asks which MOT station we wanted to book the car into, and they would make the call, erm sorry, but that wasn’t the arrangement, so I explained that we don’t take cars for MOTs when at distance, apart from anything else we’re not insured. So they immediately responded in a rather abrupt manner by canceling the whole booking! Taken aback? Yes, we certainly were. Not only that, it mucks up the entire trip, where the costs and logistics are concerned. So yesterday evening was spent rearranging the hotels and contacting the other people. I know we should have asked for a deposit, but when it’s come from a ‘friend’ you automatically assume that it’s all going to be fine. One should never assume! So it’s going to be a shorter trip than anticipated, three nights away instead of five. Given the time of year maybe that will be a bonus.

On to a brighter note, we collected ‘Princess’ this morning! Mum and daughter, Leona and Laura are wanting to venture on to the NC500 next year and would like to do it in their 2001 MGF 1.8 (original paint code LQW), but as a lot of people will know that Princess is sparkly pink! Not only doing that trip they just wanted her recommissioned so they can get out and about with their MG friends again, on runs and days out.

So we went along to Broomfleet to pick her up from Laura’s house and then took her back to the workshop for a good wash and brush up, initially, before putting her up on the lift to see what needs doing. We’re very much looking forward to getting her all sorted for them to enjoy once more as she should be. Good to see them both again, and as a bonus the sun was out, as she did take a little bit of persuasion to move from her spot. – https://ift.tt/P5nUVuj

SNAP!

Our first call of the day was over in Horsforth for work on Gerald’s year 2000 MGF 1.8 in Wedgewood (paint code JBH). Another soggy day, we managed to squeeze into the end of the garage for some shelter.

Cambelt, water pump, tensioner and alternator belt all replaced. Both front arm pin-bushes greased up, and the track-rod-end on the nearside front replaced, as he had been told by the local garage at the time of the MOT that there was some play on both sides. Still a little bit of play on nearside, we have advised that he should have the steering control-arm replaced at his local garage, where they can carry out four-wheel computer alignment.

Good to see Gerald as always, who does make a proper brew!

From there we headed over to just west of Leeds to check out a slight coolant loss on Jack’s year 2000 MGF 1.8 in Wedgewood. From his description, we thought it could be the heater control valve that was weeping, (thanks to Mr B and Elf for supplying), but on investigation we think it could be either be the heater matrix, or the internal heater pipes that are the causing the problem. Either way it’s a workshop job, so Jack will bring the car over to us at some point for us to sort, although he says he’s not in a hurry as has lived with it for long enough now.

It was good to see Jack again, thanks to him for the homemade biscuits and the brew. The hydragas was topped up, as the car was sitting quite low and was struggling with all the speed-bumps, then we were on our way back home. ☔️ – https://ift.tt/CSk90ds

Bowburn, County Durham.

A very soggy one today replacing the clutch on Ian’s 2004 TF 1.6 in Ignition Blue (JGY) with just under 60 k on the clock. He had previously eased off the release-arm and replaced the seals on the clutch slave-cylinder, but it was continuing to give him issues as it was still slipping under load.

Full clutch-kit fitted, along with the updated stainless-steel clutch release-arm, complete with grease nipple.

All went really well despite the grotty weather, gazebo deployed, but still very cold and wet being on the floor etc., a nice early finish and on our way home now, thawing out with a stop at Scotch Corner for a warming large brew. Nice to meet Ian today and have him up and running again, thanks to him for the cuppas. – https://ift.tt/h2SJtzb

A busy and productive couple of days at the workshop, yesterday and today, working on a couple of TFs that were dropped off last weekend.

Jeff came over from Whitby to leave his 2005 TF 135 (paint code PBT) with us, that he’d bought last year, with very little service history. It was lovely to meet him and have a quick chat before he headed back home.

A full cambelt service carried out for him, we did have to resort to our Plan B as the engine mount bolts did not want to come undone. Apart from that it behaved. The oil dipstick bracket had snapped and was rattling about so we fitted a new one of those. All done and ready for him to collect over the weekend.

Pete had driven over from just west of Selby to leave his 2001 TF 135 (in paint code MBB) with us for a few things.

Front to back brake lines and both front brake lines replaced, underfloor treatment carried out and underfloor coolant pipes replaced. Pete had spotted a post on a previous underfloor treatment that we’d done and asked us to do the same on his car. Before and after pics sent over to him as requested. Great to have this all sorted for him, and is now ready for collection over the weekend.

Have a great weekend everyone, wherever you may be. Hope the weather isn’t as dismal as forecast. ☔️ – https://ift.tt/3I0EbAZ

Day 3 of 3 – NORFOLK

An early departure from our digs this morning in Gillingham and we headed down to East Bergholt, not too from Colchester.

Paula had got in touch to see when we could take care of her fleet of three MGs. We’d last seen her four years ago for work on a couple of them, but she’d managed to find a local chap to take on their care, sadly though he’s had to take retirement.

This morning we carried out a full cambelt service on her 2006 TF 135 (paint code PBT), alternator belt replaced plus a new cover as hers was missing. This is Paula’s daily car so that’s got her back up to date with the service.

Lovely to see Paula again and have a chat. Plus have fusses with her gorgeous woofers Olive and Pickle! (Didn’t get a pic). We look forward to returning next spring for further work on the other two. Thankfully, we had a barn to work in as the weather was a bit wet and miserable this morning.

From there we headed up to Hartest, near Bury St Emdonds, to check out the hydragas on a Rover Metro 1.1. The owner felt that it had become a little rigid, so we set it to the correct ride-height and then checked the spheres, which did have a decent amount of bounce. Sylvia will see how it goes from there and let us know.

So we’re now heading home. This trip was originally planned a few weeks ago and should have been a bit longer, but we managed to shoehorn in as much as possible. We ended up with these three days free, due to a postponement at the workshop, which has worked out well all round, and thanks to everyone for their understanding. – https://ift.tt/YwRaUkv

Day 2 of 3 – NORFOLK

After leaving our digs in Sheringham, this morning, we made our way along to our first call of the day in Mundesley.

Allen’s R reg MGF 120 mpi (paint code JRJ) was due its cambelt service, so this was carried out, along with all other service items. Always lovely to see his Mum, who lends us her drive each time to work on Allen’s cars, plus she makes a cracking brew.

It was good to see Allen again, briefly, when he popped over from work to drop off his other spare key-fob, as he wanted all three sets programming to the car, as only one of them was working. Unfortunately, one of them was beyond it, as the circuit board had degraded and something in it had blown.

We then headed on to our next call, which was located in Willingham St Mary, for work on Nigel’s very low mileage 2004 TF 135 (paint code JFM), that he’d recently purchased from Matthewsons.

He’d decided to treat the car to a soft-ride-kit and an MGOC Supersport back-box. So these were fitted for him today. Thankfully none of the bolts sheared off, we’d even taken a contingency of spare upper suspension arms with us just in case!

It was really lovely to meet Nigel this afternoon and have a chat. Thanks to him for many brews, cake and biscuits, very welcome. We look forward to our return next spring for some further work.

We’re now in our digs in village called Gillingham, just outside of Beccles. I enjoyed a very early morning, albeit soggy, walk along the coastline in Sheringham this hoping to see the sunrise, but it wasn’t the case, but thankfully the rain held off for the rest of the day. – https://ift.tt/YwRaUkv

Day 1 of 3 – NORFOLK

An early start this morning to head down to our first call which was en route to Norfolk in Deeping St James, where it was lovely to see Graeme again for work on his 2002 TF 160.

Minor service carried out, along with adjustment of the drivers side window that despite Graeme’s efforts just wouldn’t behave! After a bit of faffing we managed to make it fit, and it had a good test with the rain that decided to drench us halfway through proceedings!

Also at the last MOT, he had carried out, it was noted to have quite a bad oil leak. On our inspection found it to be coming from the hydraulic plunger, these are prone to the rubber gaskets perishing, of course naturally, due to age. So we replaced both of the gaskets and cleaned up the mess as best we could.

Also on the MOT they had noted that the nearside rear track-rod-end had play, but on our inspection it was actually the nearside rear forward control-arm, so we replaced this with one on stock.

It was a bit too late in the proceedings to deploy the gazebo so we got a bit soggy. Thanks to Graeme for a couple of cracking brews and biscuits, we then headed off to our next job.

This was over in Wereham, where it was good to see Jim and Judith again and have the company of their beautiful woofers Pip and Dot. Their 2004 TF 135, in paint code PMF, was due its minor service. The HT leads completely fell to pieces on removal, so we replaced these with new.

Plus, at the recent MOT, it was noted to have play in the nearside front top-arm. It actually only needed grease in the top arm, which we did, but it was the lower ball-joint that was at fault. So we set about replacing this, grinder, drill and punches all required and subsequently replaced with one we had in stock.

The other issue was the engine bay coolant temperature sensor, this had been putting the fans on all the time, Jim had bought what he thought was the correct sensor, but unfortunately it wasn’t, but we had the correct one on stock, anyway, so this was swapped out, which resolved that issue.

Thankfully, the sun came out and we could dry out our overalls at their fab spot.

We’re now in Sheringham, with a very warm welcome from puss ‘Peewee’ at some beautiful digs, for the night. – https://ift.tt/XQTlMkI