MGF Handbrake ?????

[Justin Case]

I had a look at an MGF at the weekend and I was quite taken with it, but on the test drive, every time that I went over a slight bump, the handbrake on warning light came on; just pushing the lever down a fraction turned it off (until the next bump. As the MGF is an Autoshite favourite I wondered if that was a common problem and is there a simple (ie cheap cure. It has recently had new pads and discs, but no record of the calipers having been changed. The car is quite cheap, even allowing for a new cambelt and water pump being due in the next year or so, but not so if it needs any other money spending on it. BTW, the handbrake seemed to be working OK, unlike a TF I looked at where it wasn't

 

Thanks

[Pillock]

Gaffer tape a medium sized rock to the lever to weigh it down

[purplebargeken]

That is about it. Mine did that. I lobbed some WD40 at it and it went away. It is a quirk.

[Barry Cade]

Usually caused by sticky levers on the rear calipers, a bit of a clean and lube sorts it out. The return springs aren't very strong.

[AlabamaShrimp]

[Taff]

http://www.the-t-bar.com/forum/21-david-aiketgates-guides/204-handbrake-light-flickering-how-to-cure-it

 

as a general MGF point, there are some very good how-to's on there. bit of a cliquey forum though

[Taff]

I had a look at an MGF at the weekend and I was quite taken with it, but on the test drive, every time that I went over a slight bump, the handbrake on warning light came on; just pushing the lever down a fraction turned it off (until the next bump. As the MGF is an Autoshite favourite I wondered if that was a common problem and is there a simple (ie cheap cure. It has recently had new pads and discs, but no record of the calipers having been changed. The car is quite cheap, even allowing for a new cambelt and water pump being due in the next year or so, but not so if it needs any other money spending on it. BTW, the handbrake seemed to be working OK, unlike a TF I looked at where it wasn't

 

Thanks

 

Mine came with no history at all, so I had the belt & pump done. I think they came to £70 on ebay for the parts and the garage charged me 4 hours labour to do the belts and pump (two belts if it's a VVC).

TBH, if I was doing it again, I would be inclined to change the belts myself as it doesn't actually seem as daunting as it first looked.

 

BTW, My handbrake only comes up two clicks and it will stall the car, it's very good.

 

Lot of love the F around here, it's the discerning 'shiters drop top of choice (unlike that MX5s, built by those slitty-eyed japs who bombed my grans chippy. probably)

[Mr A Lawrence]

I bet they never changed the vvc belt, nobody ever does!!

 

All 4 of the MGF'S we've owned have had the handbrake light flash on.

[Justin Case]

Thanks for all the hints and tips, muchly appreciated especially the link to the forum:)

Gaffer tape a medium sized rock to the lever to weigh it down

 Good lateral thinking, unfortunately the lever would be on Mrs Case's side, and although she  is no mechanical genius (except for diagnosing that ferries are about to burst into flames, but that is another story she would have little difficulty in seeing through that one

 

I'll proobably try and see if I can look at one or two others before I decide either way

[New POD]

 MX5s, built by those slitty-eyed japs who bombed my grans chippy. probably)

 

Oh come now, I think that unless your gran's chippy was in Pearl harbour, it was probably NOT the slitty eyed japs, unless, you have mistaken them for Chinese, and she's upset another Competitor.

 

I raise the arse of an Mx5 to you.

 

[Pillock]

Tell Mrs Case her job as co-driver is to hold the lever down. Now you don't even need to buy a rock OR any gaffer tape.

[purplebargeken]

You mean

 

The Tasty Cod

115 Kalaoa Blvd

Near Honolulu

 

Best chippy in the area until they bombed it.

[HH-R]

Keep it jammed in the down position with a 20p piece.

 

Then damage the bootlid with a 50p sized dent.

[Taff]

Oh come now, I think that unless your gran's chippy was in Pearl harbour, it was probably NOT the slitty eyed japs, unless, you have mistaken them for Chinese, and she's upset another Competitor.

 

I raise the arse of an Mx5 to you.

 

2015-08-28 08.15.29.jpg

 

ha! that made me chuckle. There is a lad near me who has an MX5 in a similar state to my F (tatty) and we have developed a friendly banter about each others cars. He has never been rude enough to lift his arse at me though, that's NBAG, mate

[Station]

Tighten the nut under the handbrake lever.

The calipers will need rebuilding. The share the same rear calipers with 800 and legend/accord etc

[Barry Cade]

Tighten the nut under the handbrake lever.

The calipers will need rebuilding. The share the same rear calipers with 800 and legend/accord etc

NOOOoooooo..

 

The calipers are probably fine, it's usually the case that people don't set them up properly when changing pads.Take adjustment all the way off the handbrake, wind caliper pistons right back, making sure any nibs on the pads sit in the caliper groove, reassemble calipers without connecting handbrake cable, pump brake pedal 15-20 times, reattatch cables then adjust cable to get 4 or 5 clicks. If you don't do this you get the loose handbrake issue, or just a shit handbrake. Remember on a mid engined car rear brakes do more work, and should get a better handbrake reading on the MOT rollers.

[Bear]

Ignore all of these people. It's a bulb test. It periodically flashes so you know it works.