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MG MGF Technical - Rattle, Rattle, Engine Engine

Hi Guys,

I've noticed over the last week that my VVC seems to be getting a bit rattly. Rather than it being from the usual sources (i.e. trim), this one's coming from the engine. Sounds like I have Jimmy Saville in there somewhere.

It goes away when under acceleration, but I can hear it when the car is idling, or the revs are dying. Anything I should take a look at (car is '98 VVC, 5 year service due in a month).

Thanks!
Leigh

Hi, My one is a 97 VVC and it does exactly the same. I took it to rover complaining and I got the standard 'they all do that sir' line. According to them they get lots of people complaining about it, even from new owners. Apparnetly it is normal sound for a VVC.
Andrew Davies

i would stick it in for the service a month early, to be on the safe side and get it checked out.
GC

Could be the VVC unit bearings...

Several threads about this in the past 4 months: including it happening to mine!

Happens on "earlier" models - they didn't make the bearing size correspond to the shaft accurately enough...

Have words with either Mike Satur or Dave Andrews before you splurge too much money with a MGR dealer - it will be worth it financially!

You can confirm where the noise is comming from by removing the engine cover and listening through a tube or with a rod. If its from the right hand side of the engine, then it could well be the VVC unit.

BTW, reassembling / realigning the VVC unit is a "skilled job" requiring specialised tools - I sent my cam carrier off to MS for him to fit the new unit too and it came back aligned - I'm sure DA would do the same.

Neil
Neil

Thanks for the info guys.

Where's Dave Andrews based? Being in Edinburgh, I'll need to arrange to stay overnight whereever I go. Was planning on getting the big 5 service done by a specialist anyway, rather than the local MG dealer (though they don't actually seem too bad, and I might be able to score a test-drive in a TF when I take it in)

Leigh
Leigh

Leigh,

I'm afraid Dave Andrews is even further away from you than Mike S. DA is in Milton Keynes. So a toss up between the beautiful countrysides of Yorkshire or MK :0) Mike S has a load of other toys you could look at whilst having the work done too.
tim woolcott

Milton Keens... Errr... passed by there 4 years ago when joining Silverstone Event and didn't know anything :(
Dieter K.

LOL.. neither can't spell it right, so I better stay at home ;)
Dieter K.

could be your altanator bolts,I was talking to a guy the other day,who stopped me outside the bakers to ask about my TF bootlid and he said he had a problem with a rattly engine,which turned out to be his altanator bolts coming loose.

Worth a try. GC.
GC

> Mike S has a load of other toys you could look at whilst having the work done too

Wife has already 'warned' me about spending money without prior consultation. :-)

GC, interesting comment about the alternator bolts. I was just out for a run, and it was sounding decidedly ropey especially above 5000RPM, so I popped into the local dealers to get a mechanic to listen to it.

Sounded fine when I started it, but started again when it was under load (i.e. driving). Mechanic's suggestion was alternator bolts too. Probably worth me taking a look at them tomorrow, as I was hoping to do a couple of runs when I'm away.

Dieter, you got any pictures showing the alternator location in engine bay?

Cheers!

Leigh
Leigh

Leigh

You may have mail soon with a couple of small jpgs attached - 2 pages from workshop manual for alternator adjustment a.k.a. Service repair no - 86.10.05
JohnP

Thanks for the pages John.

Typical that none of these things are as straightforward as they would be in any other car. Looks like I'll need to get a loan of a garage and do it properly (wheels off, cover off, etc), rather than just sticking my head underneath the car to have a look.

Cheers!

Leigh
Leigh

Hi guys,

Am fairly confident that the noise is coming from the Offside area of the engine bay, though plan to get the engine cover off at the weekend and have a proper look.

Neil, any preference on the tube? I've a small length of garden hose I was planning on using.

Any belts in that area that I should also be looking at?

Cheers,

Leigh
L Reid

Late, but John has supplied already.

Leigh, utmost attention please to the upper screw when you remove the engine cover. (#3 on the paper John sent)
Apply WD40 before you try to undo and wait for some time.

http://www.mgfcar.de/defects/disassembled1.jpg
I managed to break it, had to drill out and cut new thread.

Regards
Dieter
Dieter K.

Dieter,

Looking at the pic you linked to, is that the alternator cover or the cam belt cover? I.e. is the alternator on the right hand side of the engine when facing forward, or is it on the left hand side??

Cheers!

Leigh
L Reid

Leigh

Mine is on the right looking forward. See Dieters piccie - the rear suspension trailing links pivot at their front end (right in piccie) and trail backwards (left in piccie).
JohnP

RH. Alternator drive wheel just hidden by the engine mount.

BTW, did I say above:
>I managed to break it, had to drill out and cut new thread.

Errrrr !! &%§$%$§ß!!.
Damn, I did works this morning at my current MGF and tried to remove the sh*t cover ... what should I say about that bolt ...
IT BROKE !!!

Where's the drill and thread cut tool.
Off to rework.
Dieter K.

>>Damn, I did works this morning at my current MGF and tried to remove the sh*t cover ... what should I say about that bolt ...
IT BROKE !!!<<

Same happened to mine mate... flippin' electrolytic corrosion!
Rob Bell

Hi Guys,

Re-tested the car today after getting the new brake discs on finally, and I still have the rattle. The odd thing is when I took the engine cover off, I couldn't hear it, and it seems to be most noticable inside the cock-pit.

I don't know if it's linked to this, but the car also seems to be a bit spluttery when first started up.

Leigh
Leigh


Daft question... could it be the throttle cable rattling?
Either in the cockpit or where it's routed through the engine bay.

It'd go away when the cable is tense - under acceleration.

P.
Paul Nothard

Hmmm. Interesting idea. Might be. Does go away under accelaration, however does not go away when travelling at a steady speed.

Have decided to take it to Mike if poss, as if it's something noddy he'll probably find it reasonably quickly (unlike Rover and a brake caliper bolt), or if it's serious, I'll be leaving her in good hands..

Leigh
Leigh

This thread was discussed between 14/03/2003 and 24/03/2003

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