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MG MGF Technical - Radiator Replacment

Anybody know how long/difficult it is to change the radiator on an MGF? Also the temp gauge on my car is not working, it just lies at the bottom. Any Ideas?

Cheers
Graham
Graham Elleray

You have to dissassemble the front end of the car to access the radiator Graham - but I have never done this job, so can't really comment on how technically tricky it is. I suspect that it is pretty straightforward - but be sure that the cooling system is properly bled afterwards :o)

Regarding the temperature guage. Three options:
1. Failed guage
2. Failed wiring loom
3. Failed water temperature sensor

I think you can discount option 1 - guage failure is incredibly rare - these are very simple instruments and they rarely go wrong.

Option 2 sounds scarey, but is likely to be a contact fault or broken wire near the sensor.

Option 3 failed sensors are not all that uncommon. Replacement is prett straightforward once you remove the inspection cover and find it (left hand front corner of the engine block, under the main head water outlet pipe). Procedure is identical to the ECU temperature sensor replacement (the gauge's sensor is 90 degrees to this, pointing downward in the vertical plane) - see http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/hgf_pages/related_problems_overheating.htm - only that the clip doesn't need removing, it can simply be pressed in to remove the loom plug ;o)

Hope that helps
Rob Bell

See the clip in D, it is part of the plug, do not attempt to remove it seperatly, simply press the centre on the long straight and the plug comes free!

Dieter has some close up pictures and resistance values if you are handy with a multimeter.

Will
Will Munns

>>Dieter has some close up pictures and resistance values if you are handy with a multimeter.<<

That link is http://www.lame-delegation.de/mgf-net.de/sensor/index.htm - and hugely valuable it is too! :o)

All you need to test is some cold water with ice (should give a very high resistance), and some boiling hot water (should give a far lower resistance).

Interestingly though, I checked the resistance ranges of two ECU temperature sensors that were known to have failed (one from an MGF, the other from a Lotus Elise). Both had 'normal' resistance ranges - which suggests that a multimeter may not be the most reliable/sensitive test of the sensor function (this is assuming that the terminal contacts with the loom were adequate).
Rob Bell

I will be doing this job at some point in the future on Scarlet (been putting it off), as i will eventually need to replace the lower rad panel (Scarlet's was damaged in the accident).

It probably won't help you Graham as you are likely to be finished before i start it, but eventually there will be step-by-step instructions on the SOS site.

SF
SF

Hi Graham,
I recently changed the radiator and coolant pipes on my 'F'.
There were 2 of us and changing the radiator was easy - about 30 mins, and no need to remove any part of the front end. I just had the from up on ramps.
HTH

Cheers

Kieren
Kieren Gibson

This thread was discussed on 06/05/2003

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