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MG MGF Technical - Key Fob & Alarm

Hi.

I'm living in Brazil for the last one and a half years.
Recently I recomissioned my MGF to use it again in my country (Portugal). Lovely weather in Portugal now, btw :-)
Car is 1999 VVC with 68kmiles. I did:

Timing Belt
VVC Belt
Tensioner
Alternator belt
Spark Plugs
Starter motor reconditioning (done by a specialist)
Stainless Steel underfloor coolant pipes (I found no water in the expansion tank... Luckily was a leak on the steel pipes!)
Drain coolant
New Battery
New expansion tank cap
new front right hydragas sphere
New shock absorber polybushes (still had the original rubber ones)
pressurize the suspension and level it


Loads of work and I did it all myself. Very Proud ;-)


Car is perfect, but both key fobs don't work.
I replaced both batteries on them for the first time in 11 years! I did the procedure to resync them, but to no avail.

The key operates the lock and ignition, but there's no alarm or immobilizer light. Key fobs don't work.


The car had the battery disconnected for months, is it related?

Thanks,

Valter.
Valter >´99 VVC & '73 BGT<

Hi Valter,

Great work! Are you back in Portugal permanently now or heading back to Brazil? :o)

Hmmm - not sure about the fobs. MEMS is coded to the 5AS, but I don't know whether this link is lost following prolonged battery discharge...

this might require a Testbook session, but there might be some additional tests to do in terms of resetting the connection.

PROCEDURES FOR LATER ROVER MODELS WITH BMW REMOTES

Method 1:

1. With the doors shut and from inside the vehicle.
2. Turn ignition to position 1 and back to off within 5 seconds.
3. Remove key from ignition and press and hold the unlock button for 15
seconds during this time press the key lock button 3 times within 5
seconds.
4. Release both buttons.
5. Doors will lock and unlock to show correct programming has occurred.


Method 2:

To do this procedure you need to have one working key and one key that
needs to be programmed.

1) Get in and close all doors.
2) Turn on the ignition and turn off quickly. (No more than 5 seconds)
to start the process. Next action must take place within 30 seconds.
3) Remove the 1st key.
4) Hold the key up near your left shoulder (this is so it is closer to
the remote receiver antenna.
5) Hold down the unlock button and press the lock button 3 times.
Release the unlock button and the doors lock which confirms the operation.
6) Quickly repeat steps 4 & 5 for key #2 etc.
If it does not work, try doing the keys in opposite order. Key 2 then
key 1, vs 1 then 2.


Method 3:

Alternate if you do not have a working remote

1. Turn key to position 1 five times very quickly
2. Remove key
3. Hold unlock button then press lock button 3 times, release unlock
button.
4. If you have another key do the same button pressing within 30 seconds
5. Turn on ignition to finalize.
Rob Bell

I'm basically in and out of the country nowadays. But in 2011 I'll be back to Portugal permanently.
I do miss my MGF though...


I'll try it as you wrote. I hope it works.

If not, what optoins do I have?

I forgot to add that I changed the water pump too. It was still the original one!

Thanks, Valter.
Valter >´99 VVC & '73 BGT<

Valter, I believe they sold MGFs and TFs in Brazil ;o) LOL

Regarding the remotes - if the above doesn't work, then I think that a session with Testbook diagnostics is inevitable unfortunately. Unless anyone else has any clever thoughts?

Good idea to replace the water pump - I had mine leak recently- which was a bit of a pain! Like the tensioner, I think that these should be replaced with each cam belt service. They're not that expensive, but if they were to fail, the amount of damage that can ensue is massively expensive - so worth the additional investment IMO.
Rob Bell

I don't know about TFs, but they did import privately 6 MGFs in 1996. They are all BRG VVCs. I believe all were sold to the Sao Paulo region and I know one that still exists.
In fact there's a Brazilian MG Car Club!!

Regarding my locking problem, I tried it as you wrote but it didn't work.
I think I must get the car to a former MG dealer workshop. That way they can run the program on it. Right?

Thanks!
Valter >´99 VVC & '73 BGT<

Yes - shame though really. But at least then you'll have a functioning key fob :o)

Interesting that so few MGFs made it there - I would have thought there'd be more - especially given import into other south American nations...?
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 02/06/2010 and 08/06/2010

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