MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGF Technical - Recharging the Battery

Hey all, having trouble with my 99 MGF battery not providing enough power for the ignition coil, but enough for side lights, interior, alarm pip etc.

Bought a Halfords 1800 and above charger (£25) which does normal/fast/maintenance mode charging, and have disconnected the battery from the HT leads but left it in situ within car bonnet.

Now appears to be charging OK (correct light is illuminated)

Wonder what the reconnect procedure is? (have tried looking on Rob Bell's website, but there is nothing for battery connection under the maintenance section unfortunately).

I've taken the 15 fuse out for the horn/stop lights so that I don't get deafened, and assume to connect the red lead first, then the black, then turn the alarm off (won't hear it but the repeaters will be going crazy), then pop the horn fuse back in. Is that it?

Do i need to resynch the pip immobiliser gizmo?

Perhaps this advice could be posted somewhere permanent? Where's the MGF Haynes manual when you need it!

Also the battery has about 6 caps recessed into the lid that look like they'll turn with a coin inserted. Does this mean it's not a freedom battery, and the acid level can be checked? Should I let the acid "breath" whilst charging, and remove one of these caps?

Cheers, Tony
Tony

Tony

How old is your battery? Charging it may only be a temporary solution. I'd be inclined to get a new battery. A charger is useful if you left the interior light on for example and knew why your battery had lost it's charge. Oh and i'd never advise charging the battery whilst it's in the car.

Martin
Martin

Hi Martin,

The battery is probably the same age as the car 6 years, but we think the lights were left on one day last week, hence needing the jump start one evening.

Don't remember the lights-on buzzer sounding, but may have been due to running into the office late.

As for leaving it in the car, it's a split debate as two people I've spoken to say it's best to disconnect the battery, but no harm leaving in the car. Hmmm

Cheers, Tony
Tony

Batteries tend to fail during a cold snap. Perfectly OK then gone. You can recharge them and they may hold the charge but they dont hold it if you leave the car for a day or so and will finaly let you down.
I never remove the battery or disconect it when charging a practice I have carried out over many years.
Stuart Elliot

Tony,

You should check the acid level of your battery by carefully removing the 6 caps you describe (1 for each cell). The fluid level should be just covering the battery plates which you will see if you shine a torch in each hole. Use distilled water to top up if necessary.

Do not do this while the battrey is charging!!!

Do not leave the caps off while charging.

I recently replaced the battery on my 2002 MGF, which has never been good at holding its charge - probably because the car is used very infrequently and has gone completely flat on many occassions.

It had a condition indicator on the top, which was showing black - e.g. nackered.

I now have a conditioning charger, which I intend to use without disconnecting the battery.

When I was changing the battery, I discovered the retaining clamp mechanism was a nightmare.

Sam
Sam Murray

Halfrauds will test your battery for free, and without obligation.
GrahamH

Hi people, it's my first visit so please, be soft.

The battery in my 1998 MGF died so I went and bought a new calcium battery. Problem is i had to un-screw the fuse box to unlock the old battery. I have screwed the new battery in the space and was about to screw the fuse box back. Now there are two loose cables and I don't know where to connect them!!! Help please, any photos of a connected fuse box
ian

Hello Ian,

You could try Dieter Koennecke's website, it has some photos (my wife's car is out and about for the next few nights, so I can't oblige)....

www.mgfcar.de/fuse/

I did a Google Image search for "MGF Fuse Box" to help find the pics! ;-)

Hope this helps you. Tony

Tony

This thread was discussed between 01/03/2006 and 07/03/2006

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGF Technical BBS now