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MG MGF Technical - Drivers door locked-permanently

Help. After the central locking on my drivers side door failed to work I continued to use the vehicle, locking and unlocking with key. Unfortunatly since then I believe the superlock has engaged in the drivers door and I am now unable to open it at all. As I am not very keen on the whole dukes of hazard entry method. Any ideas short of creating a large hole in the drivers door??
Richard

I had exactly the same problem with my MGF . The car has now been off the road for 5 weeks awaiting parts from MG Rover. My advise would be to take the car to Longbridge and block their entrance then maybe just maybe you might find someone at MG Rover who gives a dam about their cars. If you do can you please pass on their details to me as I have so far been unsuccessful
in finding anybody in the organisation who either cares or has a clue about customer care.
Bill Fyfe

When you put the key in is it totally floppy? if you are struggling aginst the electric locking mech then disconnect the battery and try again.
If you can do this the next port of call is to pull the door card off (several screws and some poppers) and disconnect the power to the mech (there should be two connectors)
Can you get in the car?
How old?
Will Munns

Will

I am quite old and yes I can get in my car:-)

ted
Ted Newman


> I am quite old and yes I can get in my car:-)

>>is it totally floppy?

A problem associated with age I hear ;-)
Will Munns

the passenger door is still working fine (at the moment) so I am clambering across, not the most elegant of manouveres and quite embarrassing in the car park when the roof is down. So anyway the key is turning in the door lock but nothing else (there seems to be little resistance). The internal door knob also moves up and down also the door lever on the inside moves, but again thats all. I have tried taking the fuse out of the alarm and c.locking but no joy. when the superlock is engaged is it still using the motor or does the motor merely operate another lever in the locking mechanism?
Richard

Car is a 96!
richard

Richard,

There are two locking motors, one for normal locking and one for superlocking. Your problem sounds like the linkage has come adrift from the lock and you will probably be best advised to visit your dealer. Hard to tell. Sorry!

Bruce
Bruce Caldwell

Yep - a problem we have come across more than once!

I have a very experienced technician who is very skilled at getting into jammed doors (25,45,75 & MGF!)

It's a case of carefully peeling off the door trim and manually releasing the door......not easy.
Dr Dave

Have you tried to superlock and then unsuperlock the car?

If you can get the door card off but you can't get spares, I have an old mech where the some of the microswitches are broken, mech locks/unlocks OK (pictures on dieters web site) which you can use till caterpiller get there ar*es in gear.

Will
Will Munns

Yes have tried to superlock and unsuperlock, have even tried praying to the MG gods, didn't work either! Had a listen next to the door last night when operating the alarm and I think I can hear a noise. So I guess Bruce's prognosis might be correct. Think I will have a go at getting the door casing off over the weekend. Let you guys know when I break something expensive!
Thanks
Rcihard

Ha ha finally got the door trim off last night, probably need a new thou as I don't think MG intended there to be holes in it, certainly not ones like mine anyway. Managed to get door unlocked. Tried to get the door latch out but couldn't. Had a lot of fun twisting and turning the unit but couldn't get the levers off. Any 'best' method of removing them. Do I need to remove window regulator?

Richard

OK.
with the door open right?
there are three spline/torx screws accessable with the door open - undo these
then reach up inside the door (you will find it easier with the window up - well about an inch off up actually.
if you look thru the hole in the door, thru the window on the other side you should see where the bar to the key barrel locks in. Gripping the bar near the top and pulling it towards you will pop it out of the plastic clip.
You will find a thick bar from the outside door handle to the mechanism, there is a green clip on the mechanism which grips the bar along the lengthpushing this clip sideways releases it and then the bar can be pulled towards you and out of the connector.
The final bar goes to the locking pin which has to come out with the mechanism (which should now be free)
Disconnect the wires (unless already done)
now a bit of fiddleing to monuvre the mech behind the runner for the window and your home free.

Will
PS I may have some pictures that will be of interest to you, Dieter has most of them hosted on his site
WWW.mgfcar.de Otherwise drop me a line (soon as I am at work with internet currently) and I will send them to you directly.
Will Munns

Thanks Will didn't know the lock barrel bar just popped out. Will give it a go tonight, oh no tomorrow, down the pub tonight :-)
Let you know how I get on!
Cheers
Richard

Why don't you bring it down to Cambridge on Tuesday night, I'm trying to get people together for a meet - Also if you cant get a new lock in the mean time (delays etc) and your car is the same age as mine (p reg) then you can borrow my old door lock - which works bar the interior light. And get you back on the drivers side!

Will
Will Munns

Thanks for offer Will. Let you know on Monday don't know what the movements are at the moment. Am off to Midland MGF tomorrow get the new door trim and see if they have any locks!
Have a good weekend, lets hope the weather stays good!
Richard

If your going to Midland MGF, take care you get the correct lock. note older locks have a tendancy of failing microswitches (like mine) and newer locks have connections which don't fit directly! MGR only supply newer locks, but do them in two flavors- both of which appear identical (no special markings). Neither will fit directly. The one you want will operate the motors when the large connector is attached (you will not be able to attach the other connector). A new shroud from MGR will alow you to attach the other wires. More detail to follow
Will Munns

Will,
your pictures are at http://www.mgfcar.de/door_slot/index.htm
Dieter Koennecke

Also have a look at http://members.aol.com/apttony/
There's info & pics there as regards the old & new locks.
Tony
Tony

Hi Richard,

Had the same problem. Turned out it was the locking motors needed replacing.

Hope this helps

John
John

Will, are you out there ?

I got some DB6 Cherry micro switches 'FOC samples' from Arrows.
If you are interested to repair your dismantled lock, then please send your postal address. --> mgf@mgcc.de
Dieter Koennecke

This thread was discussed between 09/04/2002 and 18/04/2002

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