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MG MGF Technical - HGF and 60,000 service

Whilst I was driving to the garage to book my car in for it's 60,000 mile service (1996 VVC 47,000 miles) the revs started to fluxtuated and by the time I got there I had lost a lot of power and the temperature went into the red just as I pulled in to the garage. They said it was a HGF. I took out an extended warranty for the car when I bought two years ago and they say that the labour and the head gasket are covered under the warranty and I would most likely have to pay £100 for a skim. If they replace the Head gasket under warranty should I expected a discount for the 60,000 service as they are taking the car apart anyway??
J Neale

What does the 7 year / 60,000 service consist of.

I thought that is was just a general service so I do not think it would make much difference to the costs.

Ted
Ted Newman

I was told by the garage that it was the major service including cam belts and spark plugs etc.
J Neale

That should have hapoped 2 years ago (and not be needed for another 3), but if you have HGF then I'dd get it done anyhows.
Will Munns

If I remember from my old 96 VVC the cam change was at 5 years or 60k miles whichever was sooner. Maybe the garage is getting confused and going by the mileage rather than the age. Of course if you didn't get it done at 5 years then your lucky it didn't faile and you should get it done ASAP.
David Mills

Agree with Will on this - the cam belt should be changed at 5 years or 60,000 miles which ever comes the soonest.

There is confusion with older cars (mine is also a 1996) as the handbook says 90,000 miles and no mention of years BUT this was changed very early in the lifespan of the *F* and it is most important to keep to the new specification.

Also agree with Will that whilst the engine is stripped change all belts - for the VVC 2 cam belts and the alternator belt plus have them put new pulley bolts in and make sure they are torqued correctly.

Also ensure that they use the new specification head gasket and STEEL dowels not the plastic ones.

Follow these things and the car will be good for another seven years without problems!

Ted
Ted Newman

The garage did say that they have a new spec head gasket and steel dowels they would install. The car was 5 years old when I bought it and the garage serviced it then but there was no mention of cam belts being changed. If it is 7 years old and 47000 miles what level of service should I get?
J Neale

The 5 year service is the biggy with the cambelt change and a cost the wrong side of £500. The 7 year service is just a standard oil and grease at around £200 (from memory).

If the garage sold it "with a full service hisroty" then the belts should have already been changed - suggest you check the service book and the garage.

However since they are having to change the gasket then replacing the belts after 2 years will not do any harm. However it will involve some extra labour as the engine has to be partiallly dropped to change the main belt and this is not required to change the gasket!

It will therefore incur some labour costs. I personally would not bother if I was CERTAIN that the 5 year service had been done properly.

Good luck

Patrick
Patrick Beet

Thanks for the advice. I am going back to the garage to find out why they insist that I need a 60,000 mile service and make sure that they did a full service when I bought the car. Does anyone know where I can get proof that they should have done the service after 5 years?
J Neale

There should be a stamp in the handbook at 5 years saying 60,000 mile service done.

Also ask the former owner.

Ted
Ted Newman

When I had a Vauxhall, they used to put a sticker on the cambelt cover that showed the date and mileage when the cambelt had been changed - don't suppose MGR dealers do this!
Patrick Beet

Surely if they're changing the head gasket then changing the cam belt should only cost the parts cost of the belt? Might be worthwhile doing anyway, and get 'em to check the cam-belt tensioner while their at it.

Leigh

This thread was discussed between 29/08/2003 and 31/08/2003

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