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Biggleswade, Letchworth, Royston.

A couple of head-scratchers that needed to resolved…

Up bright and early to head to Biggleswade, yesterday morning, to see Barry’s TF 135 that had previously been investigated elsewhere for a possible fuel pump issue. (Please see blog dated 13 November for our previous investigations). We took back with us another fuel pump (thanks to Mr Bell for supplying) and fitted this, still no joy, so investigations continued. A little strange as last time all power and grounds were found to be good, however, when testing them again, this time, there was a lack of ground to power the relay. All wiring therefore stripped back to try and find a break, traced the ground wire back to the ECU, where it was found to be a poor connection to the ECU, rather than a break in the wire.

Once this was sorted the car fired into life, barring the fact that it now had a flat battery. We checked the alternator that it was supplying the correct output and that was all good. All wiring taped up and put back as it should be.

Really great to have all this sorted for Barry, finally, he can look forward to getting out in it again.

It would have been bit of a schlep to go back home, plus we didn’t know how long everything would take, so we stayed over in Letchworth for the night, which is an interesting place.

From our digs, we headed back over to Royston this morning to see Jonathan’s MGF that we’d also seen on our November trip. Whilst the car had been sat on the drive it appeared to be running fine, following everything we carried out, only for Jonathan to get back in touch to say the problem had recurred.

We took along with us today a new map sensor and fitted this, after a test drive it was still playing up, but without cutting out as often this time. Just to make sure there were no air leaks we replaced the inlet manifold gasket. On further diagnosis it could now only be down to the wiring, or down to the ECU. The wiring connectors were all sprayed and cleaned, Jonathan had a spare ECU that the previous mechanic couldn’t code to the car, we managed to code this to the car, which instantly eradicated the fluctuating tic-over. On a further test drive car found to be running smoothly with no stalling or fluctuations, result!

So all in all a successful couple of mornings, just a shame that we couldn’t fit either of them in initially, but so glad to have resolved these rather protracted issues for the owners.

Here we are, it’s the weekend again, thermals at the ready! Have a good one everyone near and far. 🥶 – https://ift.tt/kBEoUXr

TF 135 2003 59k on the clock in paint code JFV Trophy Blue.

Peter dropped his car off with us at the weekend and we got cracking with it on Monday morning…

Full cambelt service carried out along with alternator belt. Full underfloor treatment carried out, with rust cure and removal of the wheel arch liners to remove the inevitable build up of crud.

The EML had been on for the last few years, and Peter had taken it to another garage to have it sorted, only for the light came back on the day after, this was due to it having been fitted with an inferior Lambda sensor, unfortunately it doesn’t pay to go with the cheap versions, they are false economy, as they just don’t last. It’s best to stick to either a Bosch or Delphi one, new sensor fitted along with a new flexi-exhaust section, and pleased to see that the light has indeed stayed off.

There had been a few advisories on the last MOT (one of which was the underseal) such as wheel bearing, service brake fluctuating and brake lines.

No need to replace the wheel bearing as the problem was due to the top-arm pin-bushes needing packing out with grease, both sides done for good measure. These often get overlooked, it’s good practice to grease them up.

The brake lines were just covered in over-spray from a previous undersealing job and the fluctuating brake issue was down to the pads not sitting correctly, these were rectified and the calipers cleaned and freed up.

A full health check carried out and then sent round for the MOT this afternoon.

Great to meet Peter and his brother Fred, plus Paris, his very cute poodle, who drove over from Worsley this afternoon to collect. The car was previously owned by Fred for 10 years before Peter took ownership of it a couple of years ago. Lovely to have a chat a cuppa with them before they headed back home, unfortunately the fog had descended on what had been a lovely sunny morning. Safe travels to them all.

Van packed up with the essential parts in preparation for our visits away over the next couple of days. – https://ift.tt/p3yMiaT

⭐️ Happy New Year 2025 ⭐️

Here we are and already a week into 2025 and it seems ages since my last blog. Hope everyone has had a joyful festive season. We’ve not exactly been resting on our laurels, in between fitting a kitchen we did manage to have a couple of days off seeing family, which is always lovely to have the time to spend together.

We collected Rachael’s ‘04 TF 160 (paint code CBT) ‘Katy’ the day before Christmas Eve from Felling, in the north east, to bring back to the workshop for investigation of an idling issue.

Following an extensive investigation; it was found to be a combination of a badly adjusted throttle body, a sticky idle-air control valve and after sorting those two, it also required an air-pressure sensor. Bit of a head scratcher, as obviously several components contributed to the final problem. MOT carried out and ready to return tomorrow, we look forward to seeing Rachael for a cuppa.

Richard had left his ‘03 TF 160 with us, so we could look at the issue with his gears during the week too. It turned out that the gear cable itself didn’t need replacing, as we thought, as there was found to be a lot of play in the rear linkage. This was repaired and a gearbox oil change carried out, resulting in nice smooth gears once again, and pleased to hear from Richard that his drive back home to Sheffield felt a lot more positive.

Pat had brought his ‘82 MGF Steptronic (paint code GUF) over to us from Wakefield. The work carried out included; replacing the head gasket, cambelt service, thermostat replacement, alternator belt and hydragas pump up. We look forward to seeing him again when he comes to collect.

Plans are also in place to work on some of our many doer uppers/projects and will hopefully get a few of them completed finally in between other work. Bit of a challenge in the ice today moving some of them off the hard-core, in readiness for concrete to be put down, creating more parking space, which is great. Nice that they all fired up. – https://ift.tt/sSaz1XA

🎄🌟🥳 Merry Christmas…

2024 has been another amazing year, we’ve been bumper to bumper with bookings and have done our best to get to you all. What a pleasure it has been when we have, traveling the length and breadth of the United Kingdom and in our workshop, to look after your pride and joys. May they be, work horses, or for a sunny fun day out. 🗺️ ☀️

A very big thank you to all for your warm welcomes, your generous hospitality and your support. 🫖 🍰

For auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind… it’s been a difficult year for some and our thoughts are with you, as we also remember those we have lost. 😔

We would like to wish each and every one of you, near and far, a wonderful festive season and much success and joy for the year ahead in 2025. 💫

🌟 🎄 Jon & Claire 🎄🌟
xx – https://ift.tt/VYBGgFj

My blogs have gone a little out of order this week, we were in Bishop Auckland, Ingleton & Darlington on Tuesday.

It was great to meet Richard on our call in the morning in Bishop Auckland for work on his 2004 TF 135 (in paint code MBB).

He’d bought the car in July and was unsure on the service history on it despite having various stamps in the book, but no description, so he thought he’d best err on the side of caution and get it sorted.

We carried out a full cambelt service and replaced the alternator belt, all without any issues. We checked over a few things he was concerned about and all now good to go for him and his wife to enjoy.

From there we nipped along to Steve’s new abode in Ingleton, he’d lost a little coolant in his Trophy and it had over-heated in traffic, so was concerned about the proverbial. Fortunately, it was just down to the expansion tank cap having blown. A few checks done and a new tested cap duly replaced. After a chat and a cuppa and fusses with the lovely Truffles we were on our way.

From Steve’s we headed along to Darlington to see Terry and investigate what was occurring with ‘The Chairman’, his MGF 75th Anniversary. Fortunately, we found the issue was nothing more serious than a duff battery, that was still reading 12 volts, but had virtually no amperage there. As it was still under warranty Terry will swap it out for a new one.

Great to see Terry as always, thanks to him for the bottle of fizz and the eggs courtesy of his hens. Omelettes and fizz for Jon’s tea tonight! 🐓

Here we are it’s Friday again and a busy weekend ahead. Have a good one everyone, stay safe if you’re venturing out to do the Christmas shop! 😵‍💫 – https://ift.tt/jvNArLy

Workshop day today…

Paul drove over from Louth in his S reg MGF VVC with 39k on the clock (paint code HFF), having taken ownership in July of this year.

A full cambelt service was carried out, plus alternator belt and new coolant cap. One of the roll-pins was crushed, so this was replaced. Paul had noticed a bit of a problem engaging gears, on inspection we found that the clutch slave-cylinder had gone and was full of manky old fluid, slave-cylinder replaced and fresh fluid flushed through. Paul waited for us to do the work and it was great to have a chat with him while we did.

Richard came over from Sheffield to leave his TF 160 with us for work to be carried out next week, which is booked in for gear cable change, but also has the proverbial suspected head gasket issue, not to worry we’ll get everything done for him while it’s in with us.

Pat drove over, from Wakefield, in his Steptronic to leave it with us for work which is actually booked in for the first week of January, he was supposed to be dropping it nearer the time, but had subsequently booked a holiday, so we offered to store it until then as it would have meant him missing the slot and having to wait a while longer.

It’s booked in for quite a list of work, as he is intending to put it up for sale as just isn’t getting the use out of it, but wants to make sure it’s all done for the next owner.

All in all a busy, but enjoyable & social sort of day, really great to meet everyone and to see fellow MG owners meeting up. – https://ift.tt/7B0xV19

MGF 75th Anniversary in Mulberry – recommission…

Gary had his car delivered to us last weekend from Tollerton, near York, as he was wanting to get it back on the road to be enjoyed again, having been out of action for the last 3 years and unused prior to that for 8 years. He’d taken it to a local garage to have the clutch plus other things assessed and their opinion was a bit of a sorry one, advising that these cars are ‘just scrappers nowadays’.

So we got cracking on Wednesday morning, the garage had said the subframe needed welding up or replacing, not the case at all, it was actually in very good condition. The cambelt service was obviously well overdue so this was the first thing we carried out, including all other service parts.

When it came to firing it up found it was a non-starter. Investigations commenced, and the problem narrowed down to a duff rotar-arm, distributor cap and crank sensor, so these we replaced with new and car eventually fired up.

Full clutch replacement wasn’t necessary, as the problem with the clutch was due to the seals on the slave-cylinder having blown, plus the car is only on 37k, so this was replaced and new fluid flushed through, resulting in a nice smooth pedal once more.

All discs and pads replaced, hydragas pump up, the radio wasn’t working, which was found to be a fuse, new wiper blades and new battery supplied and fitted. Various other little niggles sorted.

Full underfloor treatment carried out, with everything else that that entails. That all took us to Friday afternoon. We then returned this morning to refit everything.

We gave it a blast off with the power-washer when it arrived and today cleaned up the interior, so is looking a little bit better, it was the taken around to our local MOT station.

Originally, Gary thought that just a new rear window was required, it was slightly worse than that when we removed the hard-top and found that a new roof was needed! Fortunately, we knew a man who had one. So lovely to see our friends today who, very kindly, brought it over from Blackburn for us, a great opportunity to have a long overdue catch-up with Maggy, Phil and the beautiful Peppa dog!

So that completes everything on the car and we’re pleased to say is now ready for Gary to come over and collect this coming weekend. The only thing left to be done is the bodywork, which Gary will be taking care of. We look forward to meeting him on Saturday morning.

One that definitely didn’t need to be scrapped, thanks for sending it to us Gary, so great to have saved another. – https://ift.tt/mYS1bQk

A productive, albeit very wet and cold, couple of days in the north east, yesterday and today…

Our call yesterday morning was in Consett for work on Ruth’s TF 160 and her 2003 TF 135 (both paint code LEF).

Head gasket replacement and cambelt service carried out on the 160, Ruth is looking forward to getting out in it again.

Then a cambelt service carried out on the 135.

Although not forecast it absolutely tipped it down, but we got the job done! Thanks to Ruth for the cuppas, it was lovely to meet her and her husband. Thanks to Susan Farley for the recommendation.

Rather than trawl back home we stayed over in Gateshead for the night. So we only had a relatively short commute up Morpeth this morning.

It was great to meet Dave who had asked us to come up for some work on his 1997 MGF VVC (in paint code NAL – White Diamond II) that he’d owned for the past twenty years.

The last couple of MOTs had advised on the rear adjustable arms, we could only get hold of one new, so the worst of the two were replaced, the other one is on back order. The car is on SORN until May, so a date organised to return and fit it. The speedometer was also faulty, as was flicking up and down on the gauge below 30 mph. So we replaced one of the three sections, which has made it a lot better, however we do need to source at least one other of the sections, which again will be fitted on our next visit. The clutch slave-cylinder had also blown its seals and was full of old black fluid, so slave-cylinder replaced and new fluid flushed through.

Thanks to Dave for a cracking brew and we look forward to seeing him again in a few months time.

From there we headed over to Stockton-on-Tees, for another clutch slave-cylinder replacement on Mike’s 2005 TF 135 (paint code MBB). This one had also blown its seals, new fluid flushed through and clutch-pedal nice and smooth once again.

Didn’t meet Mike as he was at work, but glad to get his MG sorted for him.

On our way home now, with a quick call over to see the Tees Barrage, as we were so near, a very impressive piece of engineering. – https://ift.tt/qhrMxKt