Category: News & Updates

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

Day 5 of 5 – West of the country…

We left our last lot of digs for the week and headed down to Wigan, where it was great to meet Karl, for work on his wife’s 2003 TF 135, in Spectre.

Initially booked in for a cambelt service, Karl had then got back in touch to say the car wouldn’t start, because the immobiliser wouldn’t turn off.

So, first of all, Jon set about diagnosing the reason why, which he found to be a slightly defective key fob, managed to at least get it working, but obviously didn’t know for how long that would last. Whilst managing to turn the immobiliser off we then programmed two new fobs to the car. Hey presto car up and running much to Karl’s delight!

We then got cracking with the cambelt service and replaced all other service items, plus the alternator belt, that was completely shot, a timely replacement. Now the cars all up to date for them to enjoy once more.

Interesting chats with Karl while we worked, thanks to him for a cracking brew.

From there we headed over to Swinton, where it was lovely, as always, to see David and Julia and of course have fusses with the beautiful Bodie dog, who we’re pleased to say has made a full recovery from his recent operation and is back to full bounciness!

David’s TF 135, in x-power grey, was due its cambelt service again. Cambelt service done along with all other service items. He also thought the front brakes needed some attention, so we took discs and pads along, only to find on inspection that the offside wheel bearing had gone. So a date booked in to get this sorted before the MOT, plus a couple of other bits.

Great to have a chat and catch-up with David, who also makes a cracking brew, we look forward to seeing him again next month.

Now we head back home, and a bit of a slow slog along the M62, lots of hold ups everywhere, hope we make it in time before they close it in both directions for the necessary reconstruction of the railway bridge.

It’s been a productive week away, with some great company and fab cars, digs have been pretty good all round too. Bit tired now, and looking forward to seeing the cat. – https://ift.tt/FYAGxbo

Day 4 of 5 – West of the country…

We were in Preesall this morning, not too far from Fleetwood, after leaving our digs in Lancaster.

It’s always great when you get to follow a car on to its new owner, particularly so when the previous owner recommended us to them.

This fab looking MG TF 135 in x-power grey used to belong to Jim and Jennifer and we’d done a bit of work on it over the past few years. The cambelt service was now due so, new owners, Grant and Barbara had got in with us to see when we could come over and do this for them.

Cambelt service carried out and all service items replaced. All done in time for them to head out on a group run this afternoon.

Really great to meet them both properly, we had a brief introduction at Pateley Bridge last month. Thanks to them for many cuppas and scones. Good to sit down afterwards and have a chat about all the runs they’ve organised over the years for various clubs. Not an easy task.

Given that the weather was so good and check-in wasn’t until 3 o’clock we took in a quick trip to Blackpool for a spot of site-seeing.

We’re now in our last digs of the week, with our penultimate call in Winstanley tomorrow morning. – https://ift.tt/vO7stn2

Day 3 of 5 – West of the country…

A very short commute this morning, from our fab digs, for our booking in Dalton-in-Furness.

Adrian’s 2002 MGF 1.8 was due its cambelt service, so cambelt, water-pump, tensioner and alternator belt all replaced for him today. Originally booked in for replacement of the thermostat he decided against it in the end. A change in the weather was welcome, as on our last few visits it has been absolutely awful, one of the coldest times changing a clutch that we won’t forget! You could actually see a view today from his house.

Great to see Adrian, as always, and have a chat, thanks to him for the brews and biscuits. We added to his ‘unusual objects in a garden’ with the parts taken off. We look forward to seeing him next year when he ventures down to us for underfloor treatment.

We trundled on down to Lancaster, and being too early to check-in to our digs we made a visit to the castle and had a cracking brew there. I had a very long walk this morning, and went in a different direction than on our last trip, along the beach on the Sandscale Nature Reserve, what a stunning place and so peaceful, definitely worth a visit.

We’re now settled in our digs for the night ahead of our next call to Poulton-le-Fylde in the morning. – https://ift.tt/TRLEhlN

Day 2 of 5 – West of the country…

Steeton, just outside of Keighley, for work on Ross’s 2003 Rover 75 1.8 turbo, in White Gold, with only 30k on the clock, that he’d bought from a chap in Carnforth, who had owned it from new, but is now unable to drive it sadly, and didn’t want it going for scrap, so Ross promised he’d get it fully serviced and sorted. His friends have affectionately named it ‘Werther’, which we think suits it.

Anyway, after driving it about for few days he’d noticed that there were a couple of tell-tale signs that the head gasket was on its way out.

So today we carried out head gasket replacement and cambelt service, along with alternator belt and new plugs. Really nice sounding smooth engine, glad it’s all done and having a new lease of life, for Ross to enjoy. The car had obviously been well maintained and looked after.

Great to meet Ross properly today and have a good natter while we worked. Plus we had some fab weather thrown in too again.

We’re now in our digs for the night just outside of Dalton-in-Furness, where we’ve stayed before. Lots of admin to get through so no chance to get to the beach, but I was up at the crack of dawn for a good yomp up the hills in Keighley first thing this morning. – https://ift.tt/TRLEhlN

Day 1 of 5 – West of the country…

First call of the week was in Bingley this morning, for work on Ian’s 2002 TF 115 in JFV.

He’d inherited the car from his uncle and the service history was a little sketchy so he wanted to be sure and get the cambelt service done, plus he’d noticed a couple of tell-tale signs that the head gasket was on its way out, so we replaced this for him today too. It was a Mk II elastomer gasket that had been fitted. A few missing and wrong bolts, so these were all rectified. Couple of other service items replaced and the car is now all good to go for Ian to enjoy.

Shame not to meet him today, as he was away, we had intended on going on Wednesday, in which case we would have met him, but I had to do a bit of logistical shuffling to fit everyone in. No cuppas, but that’s was my fault for not bringing a kettle, but an added bonus was that the sun was out all day and we got an early finish, so being nearby we called in to Haworth for a pot of tea and a tea-cake.

We’re now in some fab digs in Keighley for the evening. – https://ift.tt/6kIBWon

Well that was a successful day in Wigan today. Rescheduled from Wednesday as the weather was totally horrendous, we got to work on brothers David and Peter’s MGs.

First up was David’s MGF 1.8 mpi (in HFF) for head gasket replacement and full cambelt service, along with replacement of the clutch-slave cylinder.

Next up was full cambelt service on Peter’s 2004 TF 160 (in HFF) that he bought from us four years, that time flew by!

Great to see them both, as always, and have a good natter while we worked. David kept up a constant stream of cuppas and had got in special pies for our lunches, which was very kind.

Plus the sun shone all day, so we were pleased we’d made the right decision as it would have been a tad miserable in the wet and wind.

We were at the workshop yesterday, where we met Jon and his son, who had driven down from Redcar in their 2004 TF 135 80th Anniversary, for replacement of an intermittent starter motor, we found also that the battery had a hole in its side and its cold cranking amps were down to just over a hundred. So we replaced the battery too and she’s good to go. Date to be booked in for the service, check over and MOT next year ahead of their European tour in the car next year, where they will end up in Austria, very nice too, sounds a great trip. Great to see them both and the weather was good for a top down drive both ways.

Van all stocked up with the necessary kit for our trip away, next week, taking in the west of the country. – https://ift.tt/yfYGe19

Lincoln & Louth today, with a bit of a change in temperature and a definite autumnal nip in the air.

Our first call was to James and his 2004 TF 135, that we’d found on our last visit, when chatting with him, that the cambelt service was well overdue. This was done for him today along with new alternator belt as the one on the car was starting to split, a timely replacement!

Good to see James again briefly in between his work calls.

From there we called into to Rimmer Bros to restock on a number of things on our way to our next call near Louth.

This car was also noted to be overdue its cambelt service on our last visit, a MGF steptronic in Wedgewood. So this was all sorted, along with replacement of the rear plastic window, what we’d ordered in, as the one on the car was very old and split.

It was good to meet Mark this time and have a chat, thanks to him for the supply of many cuppas.

He mentioned that at the recent MOT they’d noticed a coolant leak and were unsure where from. So we pressure tested the system and found it to be coming from the inlet manifold, so we took this apart and fitted a new gasket, cleaned it all up and removed the jiggle valve. Car ran up to temperature with no issues. We look forward to seeing Mark again, next month, when he drops it off with us at the workshop for underfloor treatment.

We had a new apprentice today, Olive, the chicken! She seemed very keen to help out and we named her so as she was quite partial to a bit of our olive bread. Bless her, she stayed with us all afternoon until it got a bit late and she toddled off home to the house up the road where she lives.

We should have been in Wigan yesterday, but the weather forecast was way too bad for the jobs we had planned and the gazebo would not have been sufficient. The owner even messaged yesterday to say we’d made the right decision.

Instead, given the situation we thought we’d nip over to Sheffield to drop off my sons birthday presents and pop in for a brew, taking the TF 135, instead of the van, as it wouldn’t incur the ‘clean air zone’ charge, only for the alternator to pack up on the way! Argh! Fortunately, we had our mini jump-pack with us so hooked that up and made to James’s flat. Deposited birthday gifts, had a cuppa and then found a local Euro car parts, bought a new battery, fitted that and prayed that we would make it back to the workshop. We did. Phew.

It’s worth mentioning, that should you find yourself in this situation that this is a good way of getting out of trouble relatively simply, quickly and cheaply, you may only get up to 70 miles, without obviously using fans, radio, windows, wipers etc., but when needs must!

So, that was our first proper day back today, after a truly difficult time and have to say we’re properly pooped. We just want to say though, “Thank you”, to everyone, for being so understanding and sending your messages, it has been such a great support. – https://ift.tt/puwPDHv