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MG MGF Technical - Fluctuating water temp

My vehicle has just had all it's fluids replaced and bled in accordance with the repair manual.
I have just returned from a 200km trip where the water temp was showing just below half for many kilometers but when I went through some very twisty bits of road the gauge droped down to the first markings and slowley returned to the normal position. Is this a sign of a faulty thermostat or a system requiring further bleeding.
Andrew Regens

I would guess you need to do some more bleeding off the coolant circuit.

Johan
Johan Slagter

Nope, this is almost definitly sticky thermostat.
Will Munns

Would you believe neither !. Puled off the leads for the sender unit cleaned up the pins and hey presto it works . Just a dirty connection my cheapest repair for the year. Thanks though for the sugestions.
Andrew Regens

Mine started behaving strangely yesterday: Temperature was rising slower than usual, without reaching its usual reading unless I was revving. Sticky thermostat, I assume. I'll be taking it apart this evening.
One of those rare nice summer days in Norway and I am spending it in the garage...
Jon

New thermostat fitted. This time a Tridon 8620 701882 82deg item, intended for a Fiat or a Peugeot according to the writing on the box. Diameter slightly too large, so i had to do a litte filing to make it fit. A 3mm hole was also drilled in it (the old one that worked for 3 years had a 2mm hole). Works fine - warm-up time slightly longer but then less thermal shock when engine reaches working temp and the 'stat opens.
Jon

>> Mine started behaving strangely yesterday: Temperature was rising slower than usual, without reaching its usual reading unless I was revving. <<

Mine's been doing the same recently too. Might just check the electrical connection to the loom plug as Andrew suggests - but plan a TF PRT thermostat upgrade in the near future (when I can get hold of one!!!)
Rob Bell

In my case it was the thermostat that was faulty. I do not think there is a connection between engine revs and electrical readings.
What exactly is a TF PRT upgrade? A thermostat located in a remote housing similar to the Land Rover Freelander converison?
I asked my local dealer about whether such an upgrade is available for my 'F but they did not know any.
Jon

Exactly the same as the LR thermostat (ask for new TF pipework)
Will Munns

As Dave found when he came to source the PRT, MG dealers can't currently source them, although the part numbers do exist... See http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/hgf_pages/cooling_system_modifications.htm

Probably easier to obtain one from the UK salvaged from a crashed car (there is currently an ad on eBay for a complete '04 TF transaxle which shows the PRT fitted- see the 'Heat Sheild' (sic) thread.
Rob Bell

>>What exactly is a TF PRT upgrade?

If anyone missed the article in this month's Safety Fast, I can email it to them. That reminds me Rob, we must try to get a fuller version (i.e. more pics) up on the www.mgfregister.org site. I'll email you all the latest newsletter articles and pics. More work for you - sorry!

Dave Livingstone

Dave - I'd sure be very grateful to learn more about the remote thermostat conversion.
Jon

Email on its way Jon - hope you find it useful.

Dave
Dave Livingstone

Thanks Dave!
How much did the conversion cost you? In parts, that is. I assume the job took something like two or three hours?
Jon

Another email for you :-)
Dave Livingstone

Will,

Are you sure it is the same as all Freelanders? I have a Freelander unit and it has one extra smaller bore outlet over the MG PRT.

Rog
Roger Parker

nope, not sure at all, so I guess the answer should have been:

'yes, the TF design was pioneered on the Landrover. but the TF pipework will be slightly diffrent due to the engine being in a diffrent place - ask for the new TF pipework'

Sorry if I have misled anyone.
Will Munns

I wasn't sure either Will, as I have had some bits from an early Freelander as I initially wanted the twin cooling fans. The box of bits includes some hoses and the PRT. I think that there may be scope to use this one by perhaps blocking off the extra outlet, but as you say using the Tf hoses etc.

Rog
Roger Parker

>> If anyone missed the article in this month's Safety Fast, I can email it to them. That reminds me Rob, we must try to get a fuller version (i.e. more pics) up on the www.mgfregister.org site. I'll email you all the latest newsletter articles and pics. More work for you - sorry! <<

No problem Dave - I'll get onto this - but it'll be September before I really get time suspect!

The detail differences between the LR and the MG PRT are intriguing: why is there a difference? I confess that I was of the same opinion as Will until I saw the photos...
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 04/07/2004 and 09/07/2004

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