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MG MGF Technical - The HGF that never was - an update

Just thought some of you kind folk who contributed to a previous thread, now in the archives, might welcome news of the final outcome.

The story:

1998 VVC with 45,700 miles - carefully maintained from new. Local MGR dealer for first three years - thereafter TechSpeed Motorsport.

Coolant being lost over time - no obvious signs of leak - no overheating or mayo on the dipstick.

MGR dealer pressure tested and found no leaks. Put MOT emissions sniffer in coolant bottle and pronounced HGF.

After advice from TechSpeed, decided to have another local garage carry out a chemical test on coolant. This showed no combustion gases and hence no HGF.

Car went to TechSpeed last week for investigation of possible weep of coolant hidden around water pump area. This turned out to be the problem - the water pump itself was at fault and was replaced. Cambelts and alternator belt were changed whilst they were at it. Cam belts showed no sign of problem, but alternator belt was looking tired.

All in all a job well done and far more satisfactory than following the dealer's advice of replacing the head gasket.

Thanks again to all previous thread contributors.

Dave

Dave

Thanks for that interesting update. Appears you've hooked up to a competent outfit there .... moral, ALWAYS get at least one 2nd opinion.

JMcF
John McFeely

Can you have more than one second opinion?

Good news!
Patrick Beet

Patrick on this board you can have hundreds of 'second opinions' :-)

But a very interesting report - it seems that my predictions from 5 or 6 years back are about to come true - that people will be 'blinded' by HGF syndrome.

Ted
Ted Newman

I agree with you there Ted - I firmly believe that HGF is being thoroughly 'over-diagnosed'

If I were being cynical, I could point out that this is quite a money-spinner for service departments, but I don't believe that anyone is THAT evil. Muhahaha muhahaha muhahahaha!
Rob Bell

So why isn't every car dealer diagnosing HGFs on all brands of cars.
Dot

And if they had of replaced the HG they probably wouldn't have found the problem with the water pump anyway.

Good news all the same Dave
Kingsley

Dot

I think you have missed the point - the HGF has been talked up on the MGF.

However I am sure that other cars have their special 'problems' that can earn the garage good money!

Ted
Ted Newman

>>So why isn't every car dealer diagnosing HGFs on all brands of cars. <<

I gather this is a favourite amongst VW dealers... ;o)
Rob Bell

Ted, I don't think I did miss the point. It's good news for Dave in this case, and does indeed highlight the importance of a 2nd opinion.

I don't doublt that some unscrupulous dealers do make a play on this issue - but if it wasn't such a common issue they'd pick summat else.
Dot

I'm certainly not implying my local MGR dealer was trying to find work unecessarily. However, I do think that they jumped to the HGF conclusion a little too quickly. IMO this is probably because of the tendency of the F to HGF - for all the varied reasons we have discussed on this board for years.

For me this experience simply prompts me to record three items for the archives - our incredibly valuable community knowledge-store:

1. An MOT emissions test device used in the coolant expansion bottle would not seem to be as reliable as a chemical test for detecting traces of combustion gases and hence an HGF.

2. Coolant loss can occur through small weeps that do not show themselves easily, either visibly or under pressure tests.

3. It's always worth gathering 'other' opinions and comparing notes rather than taking the first diagnosis.

Dave
Dave

Good points Dave, and due noted.
Rob Bell

Ive been stung recently, being diagnosed a HGF, paying out for the HG to be done and then finding out a week later it was a gaping hole in the rad. Moral always get a second opinion.
Mark Catterall

In my case (2 month ago), both HG & water pump failed. In which order, I don't know.
Fabrice

This thread was discussed between 12/08/2002 and 13/08/2002

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