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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - Engine Failure

I have an MG ZR 120 which is only 1 year old. However within the last month the engine has began to cut out within the first 5 minutes of any trip, usually when
changing gear for a junction. The power steering and braking has also failed on these occasions, leaving the car highly dangerous on roundabouts and junctions. Today has been my 5th trip to the MG garage and still they can do nothing about it. Any ideas greatfully appreciated as MG fail to recognise the fault entirely!
Many thanks.
Claire Hutchison

Claire;
I have spent the last 25 years as a service manager for Rover in the London area, and in my time there have seen exactly the same fault in Rover 200 s and 25 s more times than I care to recollect.
Im afraid the short answer to your problem is that the Engine management systems used in these cars are the most temporamental I have ever seen.
Is your dealer actually doing anything to rectify the problem?
I would suspect that they know full well the solution to this one but are trying to palm you off with anything else rather than go to the expense of replacement.
Sorry to be negative!
Justin Billing

Just to back up Justins post, my mother had to replace her R200's Engine Management System after faiulure with similar symptoms to those which you describe...

Unfortunately her's went outside of warranty and was not cheap!! Do not let MGR palm you off until its outside of the warranty period, thus rendering you liable for costs. Be firm arrogant and pushy, just like most of the rover dealers i hve had to deal with...

(no offense Justin, just my personal experience)

~PHIL
Phil

The fat greasy mechanic guy on Used Car Heaven highlighted this on Tuesday night. Apparently this is a common fault on the 200/400/25/45, and one would suppose the ZR and ZS.

The fault can be fixed by replacing the dizzy cap and rotor arm. It seems that Rover have been replacing ECUs all over the place only for the same fault to reapper fairly soon after the replacement has been fitted.

You might want to have a look at the dizzy cap and rotor arm for wear.

HTH, but as I say, I've no knowledge of this, appart from the bolke from the telly!

Derek
Derek Meldrum

The ZR has no dizzy cap................doh!
Really?

I'll get me coat then
Derek Meldrum

This thread was discussed on 21/11/2002

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