MG TF XPG Summer project

[pheelay]

All that sun at PoL last weekend has gone to my head! After watching the F/TF owners enjoying their road rays, this evening I dived in and picked up a bargain project for the summer :)

http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/juicebox_small/public/photos/41/2015-04-23%2019.19.21.jpg

'04 TF 135, 97000 miles

It was previous owner's daily driver and running very well mechanically, just some cosmetic stuff to sort out. Thinking of keeping it for few months, spruce it up over the summer and if I like it, maybe trade up to a decent TF160 from other side of the pond :fishing:

Already some things to do:
* Fluids/filters change + Coolant flush, clean out and back to nice fresh OAT
* Couple of dents to remove
* Nasty patch of rust on offside front wing
* Some very small areas of rust
* Sticky accelerator
* Replace/repair drivers door lock which makes a nasty grinding noise
* Fix broken heat control knob
* Get out on the road and enjoy some sun!

After an amazingly sunny week here, I think I've jinxed it
http://i.imgur.com/PyLIkiJ.png

On the positive side, I guess I'll know soon if the roof leaks

[potter690]

Woo hoo, another grey drop top joins the ranks! Not that I'm biased in any way.

Does look smart, the facelift's intakes and wheels do make them look super classy.

I bought mine just as a summer runaround, but it's got under my skin (quite literally with all of the dirt) and she's now a long term project.

What do you think of the drop top then to drive? I find mine so low that it's just like driving a go kart. :lol:

Make sure you wear plenty of sunblock or a hat, there's a lot of sunburnt soft top owners, myself included! Get up some more pics too...

[stamford]

Yea a hat is a must! I find the sun blinds me when driving, my head seems to be above the frame! A wind deflector is a must, stop the buffeting at speed. Looks good that one, Mike Satur does some nice accessories.

[pheelay]

Ahh, Mick, what have you done! Just had a look through Mike Satur catalogue. List a mile long now of wants!!

Yep,same, something to run for the summer and give the ZS some time off. Lovin the go kart feel. Feels epically low to the ground, good bit of go in her, rear end sticks when pushed. It's just a bit of a dog around town because of the sticky throttle. Gently, gently, nothing, a bit more and BOOM! revs are up to 3k.

So, first order of business, just ordered a new throttle cable. £50 from eBay.
http://i.imgur.com/aIQ4TU0.jpg

[stamford]

:D that website is a killer on the wallet! Good job the wife isn't into too much bling or I would be a lot poorer. However she does want a set of those nice polished roll hoops.

[peterzs]

Cant wait to see the finished car.

Are fun, but love my derv ZS more.

:yay::yay::yay:

[MG ZS STE]

looks a good little project. Often toyed with a getting a TF as a second car but heard they can be money pits so been put off.

[potter690]

looks a good little project. Often toyed with a getting a TF as a second car but heard they can be money pits so been put off.

I suppose the expense comes from what you might expect from any car in terms of repairs or accessories. But it's strictly a 2nd car because of its impracticality. Unless of course you only need one carrier bag of shopping per week!

[peterzs]

Surprising how much you can get in the boot, then there are the footwells.

Not much room in the front less you leave the spare at home!!!

[pheelay]

looks a good little project. Often toyed with a getting a TF as a second car but heard they can be money pits so been put off.

hmm, really? I dont see how. I cant imagine they could be any more expensive to keep on the road than any other similar aged roadster, especially if going DIY route where possible. Time will tell I guess!

Definitely a second car. Sometimes need the big ZS boot!

[talkingcars]

Nice one.

Have you cleaned the throttle body, mine was seriously gummed up.

There isn't a Haynes but a mixture of the ZR (engine) and Rover 100 cover most things.
There is a reprint of the MG workshop manual available, at about £35.
There are lots of how to guides at www.the-t-bar.com and else where.

[potter690]

The official MGTF Workshop Manual is here for free As a PDF...
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&ei=HTo7VervJcPvaoepgYAH&url=http://janalec.home.xs4all.nl/mgtf/mgtf-workshop-manual.pdf&ved=0CCkQFjAFOAo&usg=AFQjCNHjZYdToY_T4yRZ8N8XmpnUWx3puw&sig2=-ntXJXpZyigmSA9lfYivDg

[pheelay]

Got some time to take some photos yesterday evening after the grind. :snap: So the photo in post #1 would be the "good side". The driver's side has more going on...

Two dents. Rear quater panel and above the side repeater. I think the rear quater dent should pop back out if I can get to it from behind.
http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/large/public/carblog/P1050008.JPG

Ugly rust spot on front offside wing. Replace the panel.
http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/large/public/carblog/P1050013.JPG

Small rust bubbles in a few different spots on the bonnet. Not sure what to do about those.
http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/large/public/carblog/P1050056.JPG?itok=18pLpVoJ

Soft top looks good. And no leaks in todays rain :) Clean and recolour.
http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/large/public/carblog/P1050009.JPG

The usual faded badges. Get some inserts for these.
http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/large/public/carblog/P1050016.JPG
http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/large/public/carblog/P1050024.JPG

Bumper not fitted quite right. Somehow it looks worse in this picture than it does in reality.
http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/large/public/carblog/P1050017.JPG

No issues here. Just needs a really good clean! Some leather would be nice though :)
http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/large/public/photos/41/P1050030.JPG

http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/large/public/photos/41/P1050033.JPG

Driver's side door lock makes a nasty grinding noise.
http://youtu.be/nzPTyz6zTv8

Heater control is broken internally.
http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/large/public/carblog/P1050034.JPG

Yuck. Flush the system, clean or replace the bottle, replace with some nice pink OAT.
http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/large/public/carblog/P1050035.JPG

Some other things:

4 different tyres on it at the moment and all the wrong size.
Heater resistor pack is out. Fan only works on 3 & 4. Fixed this before on
ZS105 with some new resistors. No stress.


Also found a small hole on the dash. I'll have a go fixing this with filler.
http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/large/public/carblog/P1050040.JPG

I was about to remove the engine access cover to check the basic service items when the rain that was promised came down....

[pheelay]

...so had to hold off on the engine and instead, jump into the cabin and start hacking out the dash. You know as you do, on a car you've owned less than 24 hours! :)

Tasks:

Remove the dodgy stereo.
Remove the old Nokia hands-free kit.
Determine what's wrong with the temperature control.


Nokia hands free kit.
http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/large/public/carblog/P1050044.JPG

Centre console out.
http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/large/public/carblog/P1050041.JPG

Nokia kit spliced into the stereo ISO loom. I have removed these and re-insulated the wires.
http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/large/public/carblog/P1050042.JPG

Found the rest of the heater knob!
http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/large/public/carblog/P1050043.JPG

Heater knob's gear is broken. The cable mech behind seems to be jammed so probably some brute broke the knob by trying to force it. Still more digging to do here.
http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/large/public/carblog/P1050053.JPG

Still delighted with the thing and fun to work on something different. Hopefully a good summer this year. I have a friend who owns a S2000 now but used to have MX5s. Interested to see what he thinks of it. Comparisons I've read seem to vary greatly!

I think they like each other :kissing2:
http://www.franks.ie/sites/franks.ie/files/styles/juicebox_small/public/photos/41/P1050008_0.JPG?

[Lukeus101]

I do want another TF after the 135 spark we had. Think Id like a 160, that said it seems like you have got yourself a summer bargain :)

[pheelay]

Nice one.
Have you cleaned the throttle body, mine was seriously gummed up.

Not yet, but it's on the list.


There are lots of how to guides at www.the-t-bar.com and else where.
There is indeed. The wealth of information out there on these cars is great. So far I've been using Google and often end up on the-t-bar and mgfregister. Every minor fault I've looked up so far has come up before and is answered :)

The official MGTF Workshop Manual is here for free As a PDF...
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&so...yigmSA9lfYivDg

Brilliant! Thanks for the link

[pheelay]

I do want another TF after the 135 spark we had. Think Id like a 160, that said it seems like you have got yourself a summer bargain :)

Great little yokes when the sun comes out! Very few 160s over here. If I do manage to sell this one on after a couple of months, I think I'd look at importing a 160. Trouble is at 700-1000€ importation tax, it's got to be one for keeping.

[Lukeus101]

Ouch :(
Something like a Sunspot with colour coded hardtop? ;)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TROPHY-CARS-2002-MGTF-160-VERY-RARE-COLOUR-HARDTOP-NEW-HEADGASKET-1YR-WARRANTY-/181702363462?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2a4e4e0946

[talkingcars]

I was suggesting cleaning the throttle body as it is much easier than changing the accelerator cable, the problem (high tickover speed) on my VVC F turned out to be the throttle position switch but the idel control valve was gummed up and not smooth, the same for the actual throttle body.

Cleaning everything up made small openings much smoother.

[pheelay]

The throttle itself seems free and smooth which is why I was pointing at the cable. I will try cleaning out the tb tho and see if it makes a difference. cheers!