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MG MGF Technical - What else could it be?? (electrics)

Am still having big problems with my 1996 1.8i F
The symptons have been that the engine will just die.
We have replaced cam sensor, coil, and also the ECU. Have also checked that the wires to the ECU are all good. Also one can hear the petrol pump prime up, so don't think it is that
When the car has stoped if one unplugs the ECU and counts to 10 (as though there is a capacitor waiting to be discharged)and then replugit it will start and may go for anything from between 3 and 70 miles before it fails again. This is the sympton before the ECU was first changed. The garage are baffled and nothing shows up on Test Book.As this is an intermittant fault we are all puzzeled One other point which I think points to the ECU is that when the car has failed and one tests for a spark at the coil there isn't one. As I have been told that the ECU sends the message to the coil. It seems very strange that there could be two faults on two ECU's.
Any help in ths area would be much appreciated.

Regards Richard
Richard Hyde

Richard

I know how you feel as I had problems which went on for 4 months with the car misfiring, cutting out and no matter what was done nothing would solve it and to this day do not know what the problem was. It was intermittant so took ages for a dealer with a computer to see the fault although computer showed nothing even when the car would not start or run. Sensors, ecu, engine bay wiring loom all got changed and for 1 weekend and 800 miles later I thought it was cured only for it to return which was good (or bad) as I was supose to be touring with it to france for 2 weeks and with a car which was not properly tested after a major unknown fault.

In the end the whole wiring loom was changed at my expense as the dealer reckoned they had changed everything on the car except for it. They reckon a short as when the new loom was fitted the ecu had blown up although was working.

That was 2 years ago and it is still running (touch wood.

Moral of the story do not give up, maybe try a auto electrician the fault will eventually be solved and you can resume happy motoring.

Maybe get MGRover involved as they might have records of similar problems which could help, if you are using a main dealer they might have already done this.

Good luck

Tom
Tom Randell

I'd definitely go the specialist autoelectrician route Richard. Hopefully you'll find the solution soon - but it could be something simple like an earthing fault...
Rob Bell

Richard

Have you checked the petrol tank breather pipe for a blockage?

Chris
Christopher Marshall

>>when the car has failed and one tests for a spark at the coil there isn't one.<<
I assume you are testing the HT side - but how are you testing ?
Also, test the LT side to see if the ECU is trying to drive the coil. The best way (both LT and HT) is with an oscilloscope.
I would agree with the recomendations to get an auto-electrician on this.

(I didn't know the 1.8i had a cam sensor, only the VVC has this, or so I thought)
Steve

I assumed he ment crank sensor - the cam sensor (which is on the new 1.8's and all VVC) would only make the emmissions slightly worse if it failed.
Will Munns

Had EXACTLY the same with a Subaru ,would go for 1 mile or 50 and just stop,anytime,any speed ,any temperature,great fun in lane 3 at 80! Changed everything,nothing showed on diagnostic,Subaru baffled Eventually sold it (it stopped 11 times on the journey to deliver to new owner)Buyer called me a week later to say it was best performing Subaru he had driven!Must be me!!
p withington

Thanks Guys for your input. I meant Crank sensor !!! Also not sure how the garage tested for the spark. The car is still with them for further investigation they are now going to look at the 2 relays.
If no luck there I will have to find a good auto electrician in Northampton to get it sorted Any suggestions of who to contact in the area apart from choosing one from the Yellow Pages:?
The garage have at least given me a loan car till next Wednesday.I drove the F over to them yesterday and it was fine for 30 odd miles.
As I said earlier the tempory fix is to disconect the ECU count to 10 and reconnect thoughts there that it maybe a sticking relay.
If no result by then will have to go the Electrician Route.

Richard
Richard Hyde

Maybe a problem with the Alarm ECU or its wiring?

Bruce
Bruce Caldwell

It's the Coil.
change it and it will be ok.
Cheers
MG boy

This thread was discussed between 19/10/2004 and 21/10/2004

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