MG TF 160

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Wed 3 Jan 2007 20:57
MG TF 160 - psych
The heater on my MG seems to be ineffective, only blowing out cool air even when the water and oil temperatures are up to normal running temps. Also the car windows suffer from a lot of condensation that the heater struggles to clear, presumably because the air is never warm. The water level seems ok and the running temps of both oil and water are not elevated. Do all MG TFs have poor heaters or do I have a fault?
Andrew
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Thu 4 Jan 2007 12:58
MG TF 160 - SteVee
>>Do all MG TFs have poor heaters or do I have a fault?<<
MGF/TFs have very good heaters - I would guess that you have an airlock in the heater circuit. This should be an easy job for an MGF specialist, and I recommend that this is fixed ASAP.
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Thu 4 Jan 2007 19:04
MG TF 160 - stuartl
If this has been like it since you got the car it could be that a previous owner has put radweld or something similar in there that has clogged the matrix. Given the nightmare overheating reputation of the k-series engine I would, as SteVee suggests, get it sorted a.s.a.p.
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Thu 4 Jan 2007 19:57
MG TF 160 - Micky
Do you have a local MGF specialist? K-series coolant circuit needs careful attention, the concept of a mid-engine with thermostat on the coolant inlet to the engine is bonkers, but all very fixable. I'm tempted at the current S/H prices, but HGF has to be factored in.

It could be a simple airlock. But airlock in the K-series coolant circuit can equal disaster.

In fact, I would suggest don't drive it until fixed. If you can't find a local MGF specialist then search for an independent Caterham specialist. Where are you geographically?

www.mgfmavhh.ukf.net/
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Thu 4 Jan 2007 20:13
MG TF 160 - stuartl
I have to say I agree with Micky. My brother has a three year old factory built K series Caterham 7. It did it's first head gasket at 7000 miles and he drives it very sedately really. As Micky says, ad the fact that the MGF is a mid engined car and things quite often, unsurprisingly, end in tears. Any coolant loss is serious as the coolant capacity isn't huge to start with. Then add plastic dowels etc and mmmmmmm : o (

Old saying is that there are plenty of immaculate K series Rovers in scrap yards with popped engines.
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Thu 4 Jan 2007 20:47
MG TF 160 - Micky
.... and yet all the problems are so avoidable. Perhaps the finest 4 cylinder mass production engine of the late 20th century, and "they" couldn't get the cooling right. I nearly cursed there, but fortunately I replaced pink fluffy dice with "they".

< wanders off to find a suitable grossly overweight pinto engine to repeatedly headbutt >
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