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MG MGF Technical - Mud in wheelarch

Strewth!! Just took out the front nearside wheelarch liner as I have a coolant leak I am trying to track down. Mud or what!! I scooped out two full handfuls before smearing the whole thing with grease to stop future corrosion. I suggest everyone does the same. I also took out the plastic cover under the bonnet - must say that for a five year-old car there is quite a lot of rust on the sub-frame and other components. Really needs a good waxoyl - we have been warned!!

BTW Does anyone know where the heater matrix is - mine was replaced a few months ago but the carpet and insulation is still soaked with coolant. It could be new or perhaps from before the matrix was replaced, but I can't find it.

Steve
Steve

Located inside the plastic heater box.
Complete box needs to get dismantled to get the matrix out.

BTW the bleed bolt in the front bonnet is mounted just to top wall of this matrix.
See here. It's covered by the 'rectangle' wall right hand above the red arrow.
http://www.mgfcar.de/heater/dcp_3923.jpg
(red arrow shows the location of the resistor pack)

The spotted leak could on the other hand a lose hose clamp or a broken heater valve. You can see if you bolt off the plastic covers to the radio console. Each side to the tunnel in the front footwell.

HTH
Dieter
PS. I've a spare heater matrix and valve in the garage if required :)
Dieter Koennecke

I live down a muddy lane and always blast under the wings with a hose when I wash the car.

Recently I had the car up on stands to change the front discs and noticed the subframe rust, especially round the welds. I wire brushed the subframe and gave it two coats of black Hammerite.

Most car bodies are electrophoretically painted but it appears that MG subframes are not.

Before anyone asks, electrophoretic painting is similar to electroplating where a current is passed from the paint tank to the body part being painted. This attracts the water based, zinc rich paint to the body and forms an intimate bond between paintg and metal.
Brian

Hose the mud off, wire brush all the underneath and waxoyl. Do the wings every year and underneath every two. I've done this with an ancient Maestro and underneath is in excellent condition, pity about the rest of it!
John

I took Steve's advice. The bottom rear of the front wheel arches gathers crap. Half a cup of dust/earth retrieved from each arch. It might be possible to clear it with the wheels still on, by turning the wheel, using a very short Phillips screwdriver and just undoing the rear two holding screws. Peel back the liner and dig it all out
GJ

If you think you are clearing this mud by just washing around the wheel arch then you are mistaken. It gets packed in behind the wheel arch liner. Removing the liner is the only sure way to clear it. The good news though on my 6 year old F there was no corrosion under the packed mud.
The subframe on my car was also starting to look tired, I too wirebrushed, rust treated, smooth hammerited and waxoyled it to hopefully make it last a little longer, removal of the liner aids with access to the subframe.
Makes you wonder though how much corrosion there is inside the box sections.
Dave

Dave, as you know, you can inspect the box section by removing the rubber grommet at the bottom of the wheel arch(under the liner). Yup the box is slowly rusting away,but not too badly
GJ

This thread was discussed between 08/08/2002 and 16/08/2002

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