MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGF Technical - STARTING PROBLEM

I have a 98R VVC, only 21,000 miles.

Was bad starting in morning in damp and sometimes battery was flat, so took to garage for full service. Changed plugs, leads and re-charged battery. Now it chugs over a number of times until starts. Before once it started it was fine rest of day but since service almost every time I start it ticks over 10 or 11 times unitl sparks up.(once or twice started first time but rare). Garage have been used by family for years and trustworthy. Explained to them worse since service. They now say unusual for mileage but is starting motor and needs to be replaced. Any thoughts as I thought if starting motor will not start at all? Thanks
HUGH

I don't understand how the starter motor can be faulty yet still able to turn over the engine.

You cannot rule out a dodgy battery just by recharging it. Try starting it with jump leads from another car and see if that works.

The next obvious causes would be the main earth connections and damp ignition coils.

Chris
Chris

I would try a known good battery as sometimes even jump leads may not improve the situation if the battery is duff.I tend to agree with Chris, I would suspect either damp or cracked insulation in the coil,try spraying with damp repelent and then wiping with a dry cloth. Also check battery terminals are clean and tight and the main battery to starter lead connection,and battery to earth connection.
Cymraeg

Thanks for you comments. I assume the garage have tried the battery and the coilds as just had full service, including recharge of battery and change of both spark plugs and leads. They have had the car for a week to see for themselves and say it is strange but convinced is a starting motor problem. I questioned how it can start. Some family have used them for 20 years and say they are trustworthy. Since service have not needed to jump start - has statred own but only after truning over a number of times, both in damp and dry conditions.
hugh

As a quick suggestion, try drying out the coils with a hairdryer (they're located beneath the grill you can pull off in the engine bay) and see if that helps. Whilst not a long term solution, it may give you an idea if the coils are a problem. Until you get some damp protector on there, cover the hole in the boot with something to stop the rain getting in there.

If it doesn't help, it sounds to me (I AM NOT A MECHANIC) like it may be incorrectly gapped spark plugs, or it may be that MEMS needs reset after the service. Might be worth a try. Search the archives for notes on this.

FWIW, I had problems with starting on my VVC and a new set of leads cured it. It just refused to "catch" in the damp. Might also be a loose HT lead?

HTH,

Leigh
Leigh

Leigh

Thanks for your comments. I do cover the boot hole with some plastic sheeting when not driving. The damp issue was before the service but after was bad even when not damp. I did ask the garage to check that nothing on the service (where they changed spark plugs and HT leads) had caused a problem and they said that it had not and are 99.9% convinced it is a problem with starting motor. They just said that whilst an unusual and difficult one the problem I had pre-service has just got worse.
hugh

my mgf wont start tried everything started ok at christmas. now battery went / charged it back up now wont start? tried alarms and immobiser any ideas?
N.Batten

This thread was discussed between 31/01/2008 and 06/02/2008

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGF Technical BBS now