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MG MGF Technical - Refuses to start...

Hi

I have a 1999 MGF VVC 90k miles that has just refused to start.

I drove it to the shops - it was perfectly normal. I came out of the shops (after maybe half hour, engine still warm, but not hot) and it wouldn't start. All the electrics worked as normal up to switch position I (i.e. the normal driving position) - e.g. could hear fuel pump etc., but it refused to turn over when switched to position II. It knew the key was turned to position II as the radio switched off, the oil temp gauge dropped, and the various dash lights changed around, but not a peep from the engine. I couldn't even hear a relay.

I tried about 15 times over half hour, checked fuse 24 (starter), prodded various other fuses, played with the alarm buttons, no joy. Then out of the blue it just started as normal. I hadn't done anything particular before that attempt compared to the previous attempts.

Drove home as normal (though scared of stalling!).

I've tried restarting it and it turns over ok, there seems to be a slightly odd fueling behaviour (hesitating / stalling on one attempt, then working fine on the next, then back to hesitating in an alternating cycle.

Any ideas where to look first?

cheers
Darren




D Lewis

See for the starter motor and it's electric connections.
Also the batterie ground wire condition and connection to the inner wing.
Dieter

Could also be worth checking the earth lead from the gearbox to the chassis in the engine bay as my car failed to start the other week. The break down service found that the lead had been incorrectly positioned when my replacement engine was installed onto a painted surface instead of the bare metal of the gear box and the earth lead connection was not as tight as it could have been.
Keith A Williams

You mention the odd fueling issue

Check that you haven't got some sort of fuel tank vaccum.

Put key in the petrol cap and remove if there is a massive hiss as the air rushes in, then it could be some sort of lock. If it was it will restart no bother

Brian

Brian

but that wouldn't stop the starter from turning

It could be a sticky solonoid, or the wire that drives it.

If the solonoid is sticky then a swift thunk with something often frees them up for a while, but ultimatly you'll be looking for a new starter
Will Munns

Hi

Thanks for the pointers so far - it's raining here and so I've not had a chance to look at it yet, but I am glad to hear the views are it's lilely to be a straightforward mechanical / electrical issue.

My concern was the onboard computer might be responsible by deciding there was a problem with some far flung sensor somewhere and so refusing to let the starter engage. (I have a BMW motorbike that does this sort of annoying thing!)

I'll check out the starter circuit.

Darren
D Lewis

Can I second the concern about the engine to body earth strap that Keith mentioned, but do check the main battery terminals, both pos but also neg to wing strap - tight and less than 0.3 ohms.
C.R.B. Simeon

This thread was discussed between 26/03/2008 and 29/03/2008

MG MGF Technical index

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