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MG MGF Technical - New Car Questions

Hi All,

I have just taken delivery of a MGF Freestyle 1.8i 2001, it's my first MG in 20 years and I have a few questions ;

Coolant - The expansion chamber is marked OAT , I presume the advanced stuff from Halfords would be suitable as a replacement ?

Oil - Any preference/recommendation on brand here ?

Key - I have one remote/key, no spare and note that it stated in the docs ( plenty of those ) I need a key number. The service document has the usual chassis number recorded etc ..and a code in the format ' Axxxx '- is this the key number ? Does anyone know where I can get a blank remote and coded up ?

Stereo - If the battery is disconnected for some time does the stereo lock out ? If so any idea where I might get this code from ?

So sorry for the list of questions , I'll get up to speed I promise !

Thanks in advance for all the replies......
R Willetts

Hi,

I was here about 3 months ago and have learnt a lot from this BBS (bandit and Rob Bell are excellent).

Coolant, I have just topped mine up with the Halfords stuff and have not experience any issues with foaming etc - the colour is different though (pink not green).

Not changed oil yet.

Had the same issue with the key and code and my solution was to buy a fob off ebay and get a key cut (I tried a Land Rover one but it did not work in the boot lock, so get an MG one which are slightly longer - also available on e-bay). Next you'll need to find a garage with Testbook diagnostic equipment and get them to read the immobiliser code and re-program the fob. At the same time it's worth getting them to change the code, so that the PO cant use the spare they may have kept (you never know!) The fob and key must be together to start the car.

Yes the radio code will need re-entering after battery disconnect. Not sure about where to source the code, as mine was supplied, but I imagine that this may read by Testbook also. Have you looked in the handbook, mine was written inside.

Good luck and keep an eye on the dipstick/coolant level (but thats another story).

Chris.
Chris Bond

Hi and welcome aboard! The Freestyle is a very nice MGF special edition. Which engine has it got? It was available as a 1.6, 1.8 and a 145PS VVC :o)

>> Coolant - The expansion chamber is marked OAT , I presume the advanced stuff from Halfords would be suitable as a replacement ? <<

Advisable not to mix coolant types, so if you've got OAT, then keep to that. It has a longer service life than the standard glycol based coolants anyway. Not sure what the Halfrauds advanced formulation is? But it should indicate whether it is OAT :o)

>> Oil - Any preference/recommendation on brand here ? <<

Mobil One is the manufacturer's specified oil, but I've tended to always use Magnatec :o) Now over 101k miles, and the engine hasn't fallen apart just yet... LOL

>> Key - I have one remote/key, no spare and note that it stated in the docs ( plenty of those ) I need a key number. The service document has the usual chassis number recorded etc ..and a code in the format ' Axxxx '- is this the key number ? Does anyone know where I can get a blank remote and coded up ? <<

Nothing much to add to what Chris has already said really. I got a spare key blank off ebay too. Similarly you can get the Lucas 3TXA/3TXB key fobs off the bay of fleas too; LR kit can also be used. A stealership Testbook session will be required to program it in as Chris says, but that shouldn't pose any problems.

>> Stereo - If the battery is disconnected for some time does the stereo lock out ? If so any idea where I might get this code from ? <<

This actually varies according to the unit installed in your car - and is probably the most commonly changed item on any car! Is it a OEM MG unit?
Rob Bell

Oh, forgot to say: Enjoy!

Hopefully the weather will improve for us all to enjoy some more top-down motoring! :o)
Rob Bell

Congrats Richard, you'll hopefully find that in 20 years the MG ownership experience hasn't lost any of its grin factor...

The fact that Chris can answer most questions himself after just 3 months of F ownership is mostly due to the previous owner of his car being morally bankrupt, so his deep suspicion of them is perfectly understandable ;o)

Not quite sure what Axxxx could be, usually any security code will be recorded separately, often on a card in the handbook/service wallet. A call to an MGR dealer might help identify what it relates to. A dealer can obtain the radio code from the MGR database, but usually require you to present the car, the V5 and the all-important credit card, but there's a website that can do that completely online and is I suspect the cheaper option. Can't recall the name but a Google search should find it. Or they may have an eBay listing, memory a bit vague. There's a 4-digit code which allows you to override the immobiliser using the key, again I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be noted on a service document. If there's no record of that anywhere else, it can be obtained from an MGR dealer. IIRC by 2001 MGR had ironed out the kinks in the database and the code they give you should actually work without having to be 'adjusted'... Should the remote fail you completely, that code will disarm the immobiliser until you have a working remote again, so definitely a useful thing to have available as a precaution.

I'm a Castrol GTX Magnatec user too, seems to be able to keep the metal bits away from each other through many a track day ;o)

Typically the OAT-type coolant is sold as 'Long Life', or 'Super Long Life', as it's good for 5 years rather than 3 for non-OAT. Most OAT coolant will be red or pink but colour alone isn't a reliable guide so check labels carefully - as Rob notes, mixing the two types should be avoided.
bandit

And (just because I'm showing off here):

The commonly used OAT anti freeze (organic acid technology) contains a number of organic, acidic, corrosion inhibiters (hence the name!). As has been mentioned above, it is critically important that this is NOT mixed with any anti freeze solutions containing methanol and, I think also, glycol. Bad chemical reactions can take place inside your engine! There are very strong warnings (see below) that OAT should not be used in engines previously using non-OAT anti freeze solutions, although very thorough flushing and running without any anti freeze for a short period to ensure removal of all non-OAT traces 'should' allow an OAT refill.

As I understand it (copied from a document in the bowels of my computer, but can't remember where I got it!):

Early vehicles up to VIN No: 512771 use UNIPART Superplus 3 Anti-freeze and Summer Coolant GEC1020 - 20 litre and GEC 1002 2 litre to protect the cooling system. The coolant is yellow/green in colour.
CAUTION: No other ’universal’ or Organic Acid Technology (OAT) anti-freeze should be used with UNIPART Superplus 3 Anti-freeze and Summer Coolant. If UNIPART Superplus 3 Anti-freeze and Summer Coolant is not available, use an ethylene glycol based anti-freeze containing no methanol with non-phosphate corrosion inhibitors which meet specifications BS6580 and BS5117 suitable for use in mixed metal engines. To ensure the protection of the cooling system against corrosion, these anti-freezes must be renewed every 12 months.

Vehicles from VIN No: 512772 to Vin No: 520012 use
UNIPART AFC Longlife Anti-freeze and Summer Coolant AFC GEC6025(25 litres) to protect the cooling system. The coolant is blue in colour. CAUTION: No other ’universal’ or Organic Acid Technology (OAT) anti-freeze should be used with UNIPART AFC Longlife Anti-freeze and Summer Coolant. If UNIPART AFC Longlife Anti-freeze and Summer Coolant is not available, use an ethylene glycol based anti-freeze containing no methanol with non-phosphate corrosion inhibitors which meet specifications BS6580 and BS5117 suitable for use in mixed metal engines. To ensure the protection of the cooling system against corrosion, these anti-freezes must be renewed every 12 months.

Organic Acid Technology (OAT) anti-freeze GEC5025 (25 litre)
Vehicles from Vin No: 520013 use Unipart OAT (XLC) coolant which is Orange/Pink in colour. Vehicles using OAT anti-freeze are identified by a label attached around the expansion tank filler neck. CAUTION: The anti-freeze used in the cooling systems of later cars contains OAT corrosion inhibitors. This anti-freeze must not be used with any other anti-freeze and must not be used as a replacement in cooling systems which previously contained anti-freeze not of this type. Use UNIPART OAT Anti-freeze and Summer Coolant or any ethylene glycol based anti-freeze (containing no methanol) with only OAT corrosion inhibitors, to protect the cooling system. Only anti-freeze containing OAT corrosion inhibitors should be used. Do not top-up or refill cooling system with any other type of anti-freeze. In an emergency, if anti-freeze to this specification is not available, top-up the cooling
system with clean water only, but be aware of the resultant reduction in frost protection. The correct anti-freeze concentration must be restored as soon as possible.

Hope this helps!!!
Mike Hall

Hi Mike,

The coolant in mine was yellow/green - does this mean it is not OAT?

The expansion tank label states OAT, so assumed it was but now concerned it's not. I'll be asking when I pick the car up from the garage but I'd like to be forewarned.

The Halfords stuff says it is compatible with all makes of OAT (and should be a that price).

Chris.

bandit,

'Morally bankrupt' is one phrase for him, but my wife has a few more which are unrepeatable on here.
Chris Bond

Guys thanks for all the responses , much appreciated !

Rob in answer to your question, it's an OEM MG CD/Radio - single CD not multichanger - any ideas wher I might get the code ?
R Willetts

Chris, annoyingly, OAT is available in a range of colours - so this is not always a reliable guide as to what you've got in your cooling system. Blue/green does tend to be glycol based, but not exclusively. If on the other hand it had been orange you could be pretty confident that it was OAT.

Richard, regarding the CD player, got to come clean - I don't know! My brother's MY2000 MGF had the cassette player, and I am pretty sure that that did not have a code. Hopefully someone else can fill us in on this one? :o)
Rob Bell

Chris - although I'd agree with Rob that OAT comes in various shades, the shades I've seen have always tended towards the red end of the spectrum rather than the blue end! It would certainly be worth specifically checking with the garage.

I'm not certain how many garages, dealers, mechanics or service outfits would specifically remove the yellow OAT collar on the expansion bottle if it were refilled with anything else. I've certainly seen OAT-labelled expansion bottles having a variety of colours inside - including varying degress of sludge!!!
Mike Hall

The Numbers required are:
Key Number.
Locking Wheel Nut Key.
Radio Code
Emergency Key Access Code. The Door Lock is used with a Turn Right and Left (Similar to a Safe) Code to Overide the Immobiliser if your Fob fails or you lose it.
Some 'Ex' MG Dealers have the Info or you can 'Pay' from http://www.mgrccservices.com
Geoff F.
Geoff Farthing

It is a bit of a gamble, but the codes can also be deactivated, certainly on the Phillips 741 radio/cassette which was one of the standard early years fittings. This can then be powered on and off without code entry. Unfortunately you can't tell until it is too late!
Charless

Given the speed at which in car entertainment units become obsolete, you might want to consider replacing it with something more contemporary.

Sorry, that's the Darkside calling again. Been looking at some surprisingly reasonable single-DIN sat nav units. I've got a double DIN unit in the ZT, complete with blue-tooth connectivity for handsfree, iPod dock etc etc - and of course, sat nav. It's brilliant. My old Sony cassette head unit and CD autochanger is just so... 1990s. Hence, for a faily modest sum (around 200 quid currently), seriously thinking of upgrading.

Anyway - back to the plot. If you replace the head unit, it really doesn't matter whether you have the code or not. Go on. You know you want to... ;o) LOL
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 11/05/2010 and 14/05/2010

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