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MG MGF Technical - MGF Japan central locking

I have a 97 VVC that was initially exported to Japan. The remote central locking is very iffy and also has a very short range - like 2 feet. Most times one has to use the key and then cancel the alarm by pressing the remote button right next to the light in the passenger footwell. Even this can take a number of attempts. It's worst in built up areas, but even then in one parking garage the remote works on the lower level, but not on the roof!

I believe that the frequency used is different to the rest of the world. Can it be that cell phone transmitters are interfering with the signal?

Is there any way of changing the remote without replacing the ECU in the car? Or perhaps strengthening the signal.
J F Smithies

JFS

I don't know about Japan spec cars but ...
a standard enhancement for the remote is to lengthen the aerial. Remove the left side panel from the centre console (the panel by your legs with the light unit in it). Find the aeriel wire which is usually wound in a coil and taped up. Uncoil the wire and tape the free end somewhere towards the front of the car. On my early UK F this increased the range by appeox 15m.

Another commonally accepted, but not scientifically proven, solution is to hold the zapper to the jaw bone when pressing the button.

Sounds unfeasible but seems to work, and has even been suggested on national TV.
JohnP

Hi,
I too have an import and Yes the remote range is not great. I replaced the key fobs with new ones and it did improve it a little as before the it really was pants!!!
If it's dark or nobody is around I too put the fob to my temple to unlock the car. It really does lengthen the range. Give it a go!!! It also tends to be quite a good party trick as well
Sallie
Sallie

JP.

Do you have you Mouth open or Closed, when pressing the blipper, also do your eyelids blink twice on superlock? :o)
Mark.L

It's no wonder the NW has a bad name! It's full of doubters.

Thanks Sallie for backing me up.

See also Top Gear about 12 months ago - even Clarkson passed on the message.

Don't need tricks with the TF - I send wife out 5 minutes early to open doors and get engine warmed up.
JohnP

JohnP
I have my husband trained the same way. He gets my F out of the garage in the mornings and also reverses it back onto the drive so I can drive straight out.
Sallie
Sallie

JP
Are you sure Clarkson didnt bounce the signal off his bald patch!.

Sallie....... do you not think your Husband may be trying to tell you something, not wishing to stereo type Women and reverse gear, you understand!?. :o)
Mark.L

You will find with the Jap imports that the remote will not work if you are close to cell phone transmitter as they interfer with the signal. I have a jap import and the remote works at about 4 to 5 meters but I have moved the remote aerial wire. Somewhere on this board it tells you how to do this.
mac

Hi,
you find some details here
http://www.mgfcar.de/alarm_blipper/eblipper.htm
and in the old FAQ.
The link on top of this BBS sucks, whyever.
But there's a backup availiable at Pauls site:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dotcomoff/home/motoring/mgf_faq/old_faq/html/mgfaq.htm

btw. you easily find MGF technical related sites with help of our special search engine.
http://www.mgfcar.de entry field on the right or a bit quicker to load at http://www.mgcc.de/mgf/

HTH
Dieter
Dieter K.

As mac says, we have problems with Jap imports here next to cell phone sites. This is because the government in their wisdom decided a while back not to regulate the cell phone frequency any longer. So Telecom and Vodafone are now using frequencies that interfere with the alarm system.

Terry Kelk, of Heritage Mechanical Services (highly recomended for MGF servicing in Auckland) was working on a fix, together with the guy in the UK that actually designed the alarm/imobiliser. This was a few months back now (July) so it may be worth a call to see if he has got it sorted out now.

http://www.geocities.com/terrykelk/
Neil Courtney

Yes, Japanese spec cars use a different frequency band from UK/EU cars and they do seem more subject to interference. My wife now knows of lots of places where it's impossible to lock the car, and avoids them - it's cut the shopping bills considerably ;-)
David S

JFS

Jap imports into New Zealand for MGF manufactured up to 1997 have engine immobiliser (locking/unlocking) problems when parked near cellphone transmitter sites. This is due to NZ Telecom transmitting on same frequency.

It appears that the MFG immobiliser frequency was changed by MGR in 1998. I have a 1998 Abingdon and I have run tests close to cellphone masts without experiencing any problems. A dealer friend confirms that problems exist with 1996/7 models.

Most Jap imports into NZ do not come with the unique key code by which the car may be unlocked and the engine remobilsed when the key fob zapper won't work. It is possible to obtain the key code for your particular car from MGR UK thru any New Zealand MGR dealer at cost approx NZD50.

Hope this helps.

Roger
Roger

My blipper is getting worse. - works perfectly well in the garage, take the car onto the highways and biways and Iam forced to leave it unlocked. Tried new batteries - on both blippers. Wheb out and about even holding the blipper next to the light in the footwell fails to work.

If there is no solution to the blipper (japanese)problem is there another answer? I do like the fact that the MGR system imobilises the engine.


David
David

Maybe too late to provide an answer but here goes... My Jap import was giving me hell, much like the examples mentioned and very embarrasing at times. My electrician sorted me out once and for all by ordering a custom fitting alarm/immobiliser to the car. My advice? If you have a Jap import... get rid of that blipper!!!!
JW Ioannou

My Jap import car/blipper is fine. The range does vary according to local interference and in one or two places it can be down to placing the blipper against the windscreen. But I mean one or two places. Parked in the street at home I can operate the locks from 150 feet by placing the blipper under my chin.

Bruce
Bruce Caldwell

>>>If you have a Jap import... get rid of that blipper!!!!
===Er, I thought the Rover immobiliser was tied in to the ECU - how do you decommission it when fitting an aftermarket item?
David S

Not too sure about the techy part of fitting the alarm but i do know it works. The system came complete with fitting instructions based on the car schematics. Prior to purchasing it i supplied all relevent information of my mg (VIN etc)to the company that manufactures them... German i think... and hey presto!

I could ask the guy who did the fitting for more details if you'd like...
JW Ioannou

> how do you decommission it when fitting an aftermarket item?

David, damn easy (OK, nearly). See http://www.alarmremotes.co.uk/new_page_5.htm
The link is on the Blipper site aswell.

>German i think... and hey presto!
;)
>I could ask the guy who did the fitting for more details if you'd like...

Yes, please. Any enhencement for the site appreciated.
Dieter K.

Someone told me yesterday that wrapping your hand in silver foil while you blip next to the footwell light give enough of a shield effect for the blipper to work. Bit sceptical myself, but worth a try?
Neil Courtney

Good evening Gentle people.

I have just been speaking with Terry Kelk of Heritage Mechanical Services in Aucklnad. I will paraphrase what i learnt from him. 1. the problem is not just with Japanese cars. They were the initial problem cars but cars which are NZ new and had no problems are now deveoping problems. The reason is the deregulation of frequencies in New Zealand.

2. Not only MGs. Mercedes Pporche and some Peugots are having problems. Some Auto Holdens in parts of Sydney are selecting reverse while the car is moving forward.

3.
David

Sorry my computer decided to send the message before I had finished.

3. The problem lies in the engine immobiliser sysetm of the computer. If this is disabled then the syetm will centrally lock. The answer is buy a new computer or he is working withe the manufacturer of the computers to see if they can supply a new chip. Long term solutiuon.

4. If you cannot lock the car drive around the corner or a fifty yards or so further and try again. It would appear that there are some ares wher nothing will work.

5. This were Neil come in. Finding that you cannot locjk the car try the following .Take a pice of aluminiun fil approx one foot square with you. sit in the car and place the fob against the light in the passenger foot well and then use the foil to mask the radio waves try to lockthe car. If this works tnem unlock it. If you are successful then your can safely lock and unlock the car with your key and once inside re set th engin using the alfoil trick.

6.
david

Bugger -m done it agin God knows what key combination I hit.

Anyway back to 6.

6.
David

FRUITLOOPS

6. It has been shown that in some areas the cross signals are so sever that manually putting in your key code will not let you start the car.

Terry is extremely approachable and interested. His link can be found further up the page on Neil's first writing.

Thank God I've done it

David
David

It is about time that our government got their act together and re-introduced frequency regulations. Now that Mercs and Porches are having problems, someone with more clout than a mere MG driver might complain. :-)
Neil Courtney

Took the car into Wellington today. Tried to lock it - total failure - even put the blipper against the light panel in the passenger footwell - nothing.

Then I took my 12 inch square piece of aluminium foil double thickness - held the blipper to the light and shielded it with the foil. LOw and behold it locked and unlocked first time. Tried without the foil - nothing. To prove the point and to save the embarrassment of not being able to get home tried three or four times

Finally convinced I was safe I locked the car with the blipper while I was inside. The climbed out and locked the car with the key.

Later that day - unlocked the car with the key - the blipper would not work and then with my alfoil in place relocked and unlocked the car while inside. Then able to start car and drive home.

Problem You would not want to go through this antic with a new girlfreiend or client. But is does demonstrate that the problem is unwanted radio waves.

While at home in the suburbs - the car will lock from ten or so feet away.

David
David

This thread was discussed between 03/11/2004 and 12/11/2004

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