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MG MGF Technical - Tickity tick tick tick

In the last few weeks I have noticed my engine 18mpi 1996 55,000 has created a noisy tick. I am aware of the initial ticking when the engine used to start and dissappear but now it is louder, it also continues all the way thru the rev range and even when the engine has warmed up.
Initially I added some more oil and problem seemed to go away. This afternoon it started ok with no noise where I drove about 10 mins to the postoffice to give the chancellor 88 of my pounds so I could drive on his pot hole ridden roads. When restarting the car the annoying tick had reappeared and remained for the 10min journey back to the office!
Even more annoying is when I put some time aside to have a look around the engine it always starts without the noise?

Any ideas you helpfull people out there?
R Baker

You have installed a power boost valve on your engine ?
Thierry Zoller

No nothing like that. Just the obligatory K & N which goes a little way to drowing out the noise! Its just rather embarrasing driving her. She sounds like a 1982 cavalier!
R Baker

IMHO (I am no technician, perhaps other can rectify me) it could be the "belt" (took from a german-english translator, "Keilriemen"),it normaly needs to be changed after 100.000 km, mine needed to be changed at 70.000km already.

If this belt starts to move and is no more fiting 100% it's starts to squeak (creak).

You already visited a garage ?
Thierry

Perhaps you find similarities in this thread :
http://www2.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgbbs&mode=thread&access=&subject=69&source=T&thread=2002120217332230179
Thierry

Worst case scenario is IMO a worn/sticking/damaged cam follower. This would fit in with your description of it dissapearing after you topped up the oil.

Difficult to diagnose and to repair would need the cam cover and carriage removed from the head so a bit labour intensive.

Just an opinion...

SF
SF

Hope it isn't the belt! I am assuming you are referring to the cam belt. I was unfortunate enough to have a... yes you've guessed it a HGF about 9 months ago and they replaced the cam belt at that time!
It definitly sounds like a mechanical, tick or tap.
As for visiting the garage no not yet. Was wondering if I could get some idea's as to potential cause on here, rather than quicks Rover charging me £25 to say they will need to charge me more cos they don't what the problem is. Am planning to change oil this weekend and then cross my fingers!
R Baker

Richard.... my 1995 MPI has the tick from the sticky or worn follower too. Although mine is loud when started from cold it disappears after a mile of driving....its damn annoying to say the least. Came out of the cinema last night...fired up the F and folk were looking at me as if i was in a shot ford cortina by the racket ;-(
D Jamieson

Well no I think mine is definitly more 1982 Cavalier! Sorry to disagree. :-)
So the next question gentlemen is how much am I looking at to get it fixed? OR is it something I could do with a little bit of swearing and alot of coffee?
R Baker

Strangly enough we have just tried an additive that 'cures' this and to my amazement within a few seconds a noisy tappet 'dissapeared'. Yeah I was sceptical as well but it worked, it is a Unipart product called 'lifter free' part number GAC 6305 at £7.50 plus vat got to be worth a try IMO.HTH.
Mike
mike

Check that all your spark plugs are tighten correctly.

Spyros
Spyros Papageorghiou

This thread was discussed on 06/12/2002

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