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MG MGF Technical - Newbie with a problem (already!)

Hello,

First of all allow me to take this opportunity to say hello. Completely new to MGs, previous cars of note are the Nissan 300ZX and the mighty TVR Chimaera!

Well, I picked her up last week, a 1998 MGF VVC in lovely condition. Drove it around Devon having much fun and amazed at how responsive the car actually is!

Came across a problem when I tried to open the bonnet, when the guy sold me the car, he pulled the release in the boot and it opened no problem. I tried the same and no joy, just the cord getting slacker each pull! I have been through previous posts on forums and have tried everything, including locating the cord under the carpet to get a bit more leverage and still nothing. Even tried having someone push down while doing it to try to release the mechanism, nothing!

Well, from all that a couple of questions;

It would seem that the cord and catch may have to be replaced I guess, has anyone had this done before, and is it a costly/lengthy procedure?

Secondly, I have usually gone to specialist garages in the past, mainly for jap performance, so was just wondering if anyone knew of a reliable garage to take her to in the Plymouth area in Devon.

Sorry for the essay, but once again hello and any assistance would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards

Jon
J M MOORE

Hi Jon, welcome aboard, and glad to hear that you're enjoying your MGF :o)

Sorry to hear that the bonnet release mechanism has gone U/S. It could be that the cable has snapped, or the cable has become dislocated? It's not a problem I am particularly familiar with, but seem to recall others reporting a similar problem. Have a look through the archives, but hopefully someone else will be along to offer advice :o)
Rob Bell

Jon,

There is a common problem where the end of the cable that attaches to the bonnet release catch becomes detached. It produces the floppy boot lever that you are experiencing. The only difficulty is to get the bonnet open to fix this. At the time that it happened to me the MGF mechanic at my local MGR dealer popped the bonnet and fixed it within 5 mins. He knew exactly where to poke through the front grille to release the catch. I'd tried for an hour, poking a long screwdriver from underneath the car behind the radiator trying to follow the instructions that had been posted on this BBS some years back (in the archives now). So you really need to find someone who's done this many times before and can save you hours of trial and error. Are there any ex-MGR dealerships that still have their MGF mechanic on board?
Dave Livingstone

Jon, where abouts in Devon are you? I have a couple of F-owning friends in the (north of the) county and may be able to point you in the direction of a good/dealer mechanic if you want to go down this route.
Mike Hall

Thanks for replies so far, have read through some of the archives, and it seems they all involve a lot of poking around underneath the grill to try and open it.

Knowing my luck I'll end up damaging something, so looks like I may have to get someone who knows what they're doing to have a look.

Mike, I'm down in Plymouth so right at the south west of the county, so dealers/mechanics in this area would be good. If your friends have any suggestions would be most grateful.

Really is frustrating, because when I bought her, the guy who showed me the car just popped it straight away, I was obviously being too over-zealous with my pulling!

Jon
J M MOORE

Hi John,

I'm not sure if this will necessarily help but may be worth a read through anyway?

It appears you are not the only one currently facing this problem.

http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?t=115004

HTH,

Kris.
Kris

Sorry, should of added that the main points of interest are on page 2 of the above link. :)
Kris

Had this myself a couple of months back, called out the AA as I was trying to fill my washers at the time, and couldnt see through the windscreen :)

Poor bloke spent an hour on his back but couldnt release the bonnet, so I washed the screen and took it to a (former) dealer.

They told me the mechanism had seized, and I needed a new one, took a week or so to arrive, then 4 hours struggling to open the bonnet, and finally to fit the new mechanism and cable

I cant honestly remember the cost now, its my age you know, but it was depressingly expensive :(
Colin Ashworth

Jon, I've had a reply back from a friend in Ilfracombe, but he takes his car to a local mechanic originally personally recommended. However, he did offer 2 suggestions, BUT has no personal knowledge of either, so (unfortunately) this is not specific recommendation :-(

Tamar Valley Motoring Centre
60 Liskeard Road
Callington
PL17 7JE
01579 383060

Another option might be

Exeter MG
Honiton Road
Exeter
EX1 3RS
01392 203800

but this could possibly be a bit far.

In the case of the first, I understand that they do a lot of work with the 'older' MG's, but do employ some ex-BL/MGR trained staff. Might at least be worth a call?

Hope this helps.
Mike Hall

Hi Jon,

I had a similar experience as Colin on my MY2000 MGF a couple of months ago. I couldn't get the bonnet release to work regardless of how hard we tried pulling the release mechanism. We ended up putting a call in to the AA. It turned out the boot locking mechanism had siezed due to rust, and it took him over an hour to get it open. He ended up scubbing down the mechanism with a wire brush and put some WD40 on it.

I've since put some Waxoyl on it and haven't had a problem since. When I get round to it, I'll buy the replacement parts. Take a look at the MG Owners Club spares website, panels section. I *think* it's the bonnet latch assembly and the bonnet latch plate that I'm going to have to get replaced, total cost around £17, but they don't have a picture of the latch assembly, so I can't be sure.

Hope this help,

Jason
Jason Ratcliffe

Are we not now advertising a possible security issue now ??
D Jamieson

I would have thought the opposite as even the owner can not get in :-)
Ted Newman

True the owner cannot get in - hes taking care not to scratch the car or damage anything - would a thief be so particular ?.... and Sods law dictates the thief would hit the right spot in a fraction of time the owner would !!
D Jamieson

But of course F's alarm system will come into play if you try what's written above and don't have the fob.......
Mike Hall

Hi guys,

Didn't think it would be a security issue, if someone was determined enough to steal the car, surely they would get through the soft top and to the engine rather than the bonnet?

Thanks for all the replies, I have got her booked into a garage called Rodgers of Plymouth, a main dealer located in Elburton just outside Plymouth itself.

Thanks to Mike, thanks for asking for me, but those places would be just a little too far, will have to fit it in around work.

I will post the outcome on monday so it may help people with any parts and also costs involved.

Luckily the screen wash hasn't run out yet, so weather permitting will be able to take her on a few country roads at the weekend!

Once again thank you for all the replies and hope this thread may be of use to anyone in the future who encounters the problem themselves as it seems many have in the past!

Jon
J M MOORE

This thread was discussed between 02/03/2006 and 03/03/2006

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