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MG MGF Technical - TF driveline shudder update

I wish I could find the old thread but the dang net nannies here won't let me log in! - a few of us have this from a cold start, feels like really bad clutch judder and goes away after a couple of pullaways. I had the TF serviced last week and the car was collected from our house so good opportunity for the service guy to experience the judder, he returns the car that evening and says not clutch but we have reflashed the ECU for "idle map adaptations" and adjusted stepper(presume the throttle stepper motor) and that cures 90% of cars with this problem and we have had a quite a few! Slightly dubious about it being cured as it really felt like oil on the plate or engine mountings but next morning it is smooth as could be!! Someone did mentioning fuelling as a probable cause and maybe they were on the right track so job done. It drives better too and sounds different at low revs under load - gruffer - does anyone know what the latest reflash actually changes?
Tony

Very very interesting - I know someone else mentioned that Brown & Gammons uploaded a new tuning map which fixed their problem too. I too get this, I will ring the dealer in a minute and see what they say. Grr...if the warranty was still valid this would be covered...

Tim.
Tim Jenner

Well, just called the dealer who claimed they'd never heard of transmission judder (hmm) but was very helpful and asked me to take it in. Said they'd upload the new tune map and see if it fixes the problem - wouldn't talk about cost so we shall see, since I only bought the car from them in January perhaps they'll do it on goodwill. Here's hoping!

Cheers,
Tim.
Tim Jenner

I think it was JohnP who had a remap at B&G - the back of the service checksheet says "check ECU version for updates, charge separately" Our car is under warranty at Marshalls but they still charged £46 for this! To be honest if the fix is as easy as this I don't mind - better than an engine out job, bad bleed, HGF malarky!!
Tony

Yes was me/B&G. You've all made me wary now - I really don't remember having a problem since they updated the map for me. Worth getting it done anyway whenever the car is serviced.

Will there be any more map updates in the pipeline? Will XPart with with the ECU programmer?
John Ponting

With luck, the original Powertrain crew have stayed together through the administration phase of MG Rover, and will continue to work on the K-series - their current big hurdle will be completing the work on the EU4 version of the K-series.

From what is being discussed on other forums, the EU4 upgrade is going to be considerably more than just a software update - they had planed a series of casting and material alterations for the engine (the K-plus?)
Rob Bell

A "square" 4 cyl. 2L engine with top hung liners,expandable to 2,3L,sufficent valve pockets in the pistons and with the much needed reinforcement ribbons seen on the outside of the block ?
Electric valvetrain controlled by a new MEMS ?

Well worth waiting for! / Carl.
Carl

Hi,

I too have this problem. Does anyone know which version(s) of the software contains the problem and in which version it's fixed. I guess knowing the release dates/common use would be useful too. If my dealer doesn't know anything about this, being armed with info about versions might be useful

Chris
Chris Rudge

Nothing was noted on my service invoice except - download latest tune.
John Ponting

I'll ask when I take mine in on Saturday morning - the guy was very helpful on the phone at least!

Cheers,
Tim.
Tim Jenner

Just had my TF serviced and new upload fitted yesterday at B&G. At £24.95 an excellent remapping and now much smoother - good value for money. I see that there are a few differences in prices mentioned on this thread so best to haggle a bit.

David
david stonehouse

Oh to have an upgradeable ECU - mine is just too old :-(
Steve Ratledge

£25 is a bargain - my nearest dealer (now Honda) wanted £45. :(
Tim Jenner

I was lucky, B&G loaded, told me they had but said it was f.o.c.

thanks Malcolm & team.
John Ponting

"Does anyone know which version(s) of the software contains the problem and in which version it's fixed" - no idea so again I suppose it is just the latest version that was uploaded. HTH.
Tony

Just back from the dealer - they reprogrammed the ECU for free and gave me a printout from TestBook. The page says:

===

ECM Checks and Renewal
MG TF - All Derivatives

ABOUT TO PROGRAM ECM

MEMS 3 ECU
ECM programming check is now complete.
ECM Programming is required.
Details of the program to be downloaded are shown below:

NNN000160 - Hardware.
NNW006950 - Assembly.
NNV001540 - Software.
NNS005950 - Tune.

===

Possibly those are the new version numbers? The guy said this is just the "latest" tune. First impressions - car is lovely and smooth now, but in all fairness it was never bad before. Will have to wait for a few cold starts to see if it's fixed the problem!

Tim.
Tim Jenner

Well done for a freebie Tim, what is it like this morning? Ours still seems fine so fingers crossed etc...
Tony

Fine this morning - but too early to tell really. Of late it's been really bad almost every time I leave work in the evenings (especially in the wet) so today should be a good test!

Tim
Tim Jenner

I've got my TF back at lunch time: 15 fault codes!!!
Engine bay fan tested - OK. Faults cleared and latest tune downloaded, hopefully removing the cold mixture run profiles that give jerky low throttle response.
I've also got 4 A4 sheets of what look like screen prints with various codes on - anyone interested?
BTW, the ex MG-R dealer was anxious to give me a price for my car, he has 7 in at the moment and selling well at good prices. Strange innit!
Jerry Herbert

Well mine still judders. :((( It's better - but by no means perfect. I'm beginning to wonder if it's an environmental thing - it ALWAYS does it when I leave work but hasn't (yet) done it at any other time!! Think I'll try parking in a different part of the car park tomorrow - maybe it's a bizarre combination of temperature, humidity, etc?

Tim.
Tim Jenner

A "workaholic" TF ??? Sorry.
roy bridge

I'm in the TF today(SWMBO wanted the A/C in the 9-5!) and it had a very slight judder this morning pulling out the drive so we will see what it is like tonight as it is usually at its worse leaving work - maybe we just shouldn't go to work! Tim, try parking in an even numbered space rather than an odd one, or sprinkle salt in a ring around the car - something spooky is going on here!!
Tony

Difficult to tell but I wonder if it's got progressively worse since the new tune map - almost as if the learning function of MEMS is de-tuning it instead of making it better! Parked in my usual space today but facing forward instead of back! That means the first time I engage the clutch when I leave will be reverse instead of 1st! Didn't fancy parking outside on the roof in 31 degrees...

Tim.
Tim Jenner

I haven't started up this morning yet, up on ramps gazing at the rear underside!
I felt it as a fuel/mixture glitch, if you left the engine running a few minutes to settle down, it pulled away cleanly.
I know you are not supposed to do this, but it worked for me, especially as I run down my drive and a steep hill before hitting the main road.
Ah well, back under for another session.
Jerry Herbert

How's it coming along Jerry?
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 15/08/2005 and 31/08/2005

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