PrinceRupert's Cars - MG4 and TVR Tuscan

[RoverFolkUs]

Don't worry too much about aligning them. You can make some marks to help you out but it's not crucial 👍

[wesacosa]

11 minutes ago, PrinceRupert said:

Thanks both. I don't really like disturbing engine mounts after having a nightmare relining them up on my 205 (and helped @wesacosaonce with a similar problem on his xm) but seems silly to put it into a garage for what should be relatively straight forward so will try and find some time next weekend to try again.

its not normally like it was on the XM! The engine canted back massively on that and quite heavy and the front mount had been disconnected for months so the other mounts had likely sagged a bit

[PrinceRupert]

Just now, wesacosa said:

its not normally like it was on the XM! The engine canted back massively on that and quite heavy and the front mount had been disconnected for months so the other mounts had likely sagged a bit

Haha yeah i know i did two mounts on the 75 and it was pretty straightforward i just have this fear of getting it apart and not getting it back together (for some reason took me bloody ages to work out how to line them up in my 205, but i was a very very amateur home mechanic then (now only very amateur 🤣)). Way my drive is it also means the tvr is then stuck and atm would have no working car (well not that the tvr works 🤣)

[PrinceRupert]

Bought a Haynes manual and in classic Haynes manual style, it simply says "unscrew and remove the centre bolt from the crankshaft pulley".   No mention of the metal in the way ...

Also, it seems you don't need extra large circlip pliers for the Mk2, only the Mk1. Glad I bought a set. Wonder if they will ever come in useful ...

[PrinceRupert]

Thanks to @worldofceri for another smooth collection.

Let's hope it is nothing major...

Ceramic coat works at least

[PrinceRupert]

Tackled the front crankshaft seal today as promised.  Went okay, with a couple of snags.

Car in air, onto axle stands, wheel off, arch liner off.  Air box off, chassis cross brace off (eight bolts).  

Support engine on jack, remove six bolts. First snag, three of the bolts were an unusual star shaped bolt I didn't have a socket for. Luckily @wesacosa came to the rescue, as he had a set in his garage.  Apparently a GM thing, why normal bolts wouldn't work no idea.  Marked a few alignment marks with tipex just in case.  Mount off, drop engine three inches.

Next snag, no special tool for the belt tensioner and a socket wouldn't fit into the square slot. However, managed to get purchase on the tensioner with a pry bar to release tension.

Belt off, very oily, gave it a quick clean and tried my best to clean the surrounding area but wasn't easy.  Locked crankshaft in place by selecting fourth gear and jamming brake with long bar.  Spun crankshaft bolt off with impact wrench easily.

Pulled seal out with seal pick, thing was very hard and broke apart.  Greased new seal, hammered in with a socket.  Crankshaft bolt in.  Next snag - Haynes send 100nm + 75 degrees. Got to 100nm with torque wrench but couldn't for life of me get further. Very little room for breaker bar.  Got it maybe 35 degrees round with impact wrench (950nm so pretty serious one). Managed to find a way to get breaker bar levered but it wouldn't tighten any more as the crankshaft just moved.  Figured it would probably be fine but views welcomed   ...

Getting aux belt back on was a pain, had to rope in a very unhappy fiancee to hold the tensioner with the pry bar whilst i got the belt back on. Belt got pretty oily, cleaned it up as much as i could but not much i could do.  Hopefully not likely to lead to belts quick demise?

Jacked engine back up, mount back on, bolts in and torqued to spec.  All went back together easily. By this time it was dark and had been at it all afternoon so time for beer and pizza and will put rest back together tomorrow. Hopefully nothing falls apart when engine is turned on...

 

Few pics below.

[Jazoli]

Nice to see the old thing getting some TLC, it was always a bit oily down there but was good at keeping the rust at bay.

[PrinceRupert]

43 minutes ago, Jazoli said:

Nice to see the old thing getting some TLC, it was always a bit oily down there but was good at keeping the rust at bay.

👍 

I was actually intending to get in touch, @Split_Pin suggested you were the man to tell me if/how the Parrot system worked.  It connects to my phone and can get music playing, but seems to reset itself often and can't get it working for longer than a minute or two. Any ideas?  Also, there is an aux and a usb in the armrest, they don't seem to do anything, should they?

[Jazoli]

9 hours ago, PrinceRupert said:

👍

I was actually intending to get in touch, @Split_Pin suggested you were the man to tell me if/how the Parrot system worked.  It connects to my phone and can get music playing, but seems to reset itself often and can't get it working for longer than a minute or two. Any ideas?  Also, there is an aux and a usb in the armrest, they don't seem to do anything, should they?

It should just work, if not the wiring is hidden under the gear change, where the factory telephone connection hides, the USB and aux are connected to to parrot box and should be selectable through the remote, I'd try a factory reset to see if it resets things firstly.

[PrinceRupert]

Back together today, straightforward enough, other than i spent an embarrassingly long time trying to fit the chassis cross brace upside down.

Marked the crankshaft pulley with tippex so i can check if it loosens but can't actually see it without taking the wheel arch liner off which is a pain. 

Took it out for a spin this morning and nothing fell off so hopefully jobs a good un. 

Still can't get the parrot system to stay connected for more than a few minutes though. 

 

[PrinceRupert]

I am a total idiot - flew back from a trip to Madrid to Gatwick and went to get the Saab from the short stay car park, to find my keys were nowhere to be found.   I'd already left my work laptop in Gatwick security, and now lost my keys.  Shambles. 

Anyway, had to get a train home for the spare and go back the next day (40 quid overstay charge, ouch).  The spare key is not ideal - it has been chewed by a dog, has that horrible dissolving rubber that seems to afflict GM plastics - spent some time removing it today with brake cleaner and a small file, though the two remaining buttons fell off, and it isn't easy to get the key blade in and out so now the section to start the car is in the glovebox and the key on my keyring.  The fob doesn't work - not sure if it just needs a battery, but it is very annoying to have to open the passenger side (no lock on the driver side) and reach over to unlock the driver side, and vice versa on the way out.

So, if the missing key doesn't turn up, anyone know the easiest way to get a replacement coded to the car? I see you can get replacement keys cheap on eBay, but what is less clear is how you program them to the car - seems you need someone with 'Tech2' equipment?  Reckon a Vauxhall main dealer could do it?

[Split_Pin]

I know its frowned upon here but being in the Facebook groups is absolutely vital for older cars with obselete software or parts, no two ways about it.

You'd definitely find someone in the Capital with Tech 2. Alternatively  there's a dude on the FB group that sells and programs the keys.

I find that Saab Convertible and Saab Owners Club GB are very good, as well as my local Scottish Saab Enthusiasts page.

[PrinceRupert]

28 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

I know its frowned upon here but being in the Facebook groups is absolutely vital for older cars with obselete software or parts, no two ways about it.

You'd definitely find someone in the Capital with Tech 2. Alternatively  there's a dude on the FB group that sells and programs the keys.

I find that Saab Convertible and Saab Owners Club GB are very good, as well as my local Scottish Saab Enthusiasts page.

There's a guy in Medway that will do 100 for 1 / 175 for two, using genuine fobs, which doesn't seem too bad.

[Split_Pin]

Just now, PrinceRupert said:

There's a guy in Medway that will do 100 for 1 / 175 for two, using genuine fobs, which doesn't seem too bad.

That sounds decent enough. My spare  key is brand new but has never even been built and is a bag of bits. I started trying to follow the instructions and gave up after a few minutes 😂

[PrinceRupert]

Got a new key programmed in, 100 quid and I didn't even get the blade section, so have to go get that separately. Grr.

The guy that did it also does tuning etc and plugged the car into Tech2 and gave me some suggestions of things to do based on the diagnostics result.

• Clean MAP and MAF sensor.
• Clean throttle body.
• Reversing light out.
• Drivers door module is for a saloon, not a convertible - which means it can't be coded to the car, and explains why I've had some funny behaviour from the driver side window (not going up and down with the roof like it should etc.).
• The ACC module had also been replaced and was showing a different VIN - he coded it to the car.
• Each cylinder was showing 1000+ misfires.  What was unknown was whether these were historic or recent.  I certainly have never knowingly felt it misfire ... he sells his own maps (Nordic?) and wasn't hugely complimentary of Noobtune maps, but then you wouldn't expect him to be being a rival who sells maps at three times the price.   He cleared it and if I'm ever back that way I can get him to check it again to see if they are still happening, but in meantime maybe it makes sense to change the spark plugs?

 

 

[wesacosa]

Not sure what engine is in these but if it has the module with the coils and HT leads built in to a single cassette they are a bit fragile and apparently don't like being laid on their side when off the car 

[PrinceRupert]

25 minutes ago, wesacosa said:

Not sure what engine is in these but if it has the module with the coils and HT leads built in to a single cassette they are a bit fragile and apparently don't like being laid on their side when off the car 

Seems they have individual coils and leads - looks like the 3.0 V6 and the earlier four cylinders had the cassette.  Ignition coils are close to fifty quid a pop so will probably start with changing the plugs ...

[Split_Pin]

1 hour ago, PrinceRupert said:

1000+ misfires.....he sells his own maps (Nordic?) and wasn't hugely complimentary of Noobtune maps, 

1000+ misfires 😂

I'm sure Karl at Noobtune is perfectly comfortable with his hundreds of happy customers.

The problem with a lot of these specialists is they are so far up their own arses. They find a million faults with what is essentially a 20 year old 1300 quid car. He needs to have a word.  Did he have an embroidered polo shirt?

Car drove great when I had it and it sounds like that is continuing for you. I'd leave it alone and enjoy the sunshine personally.

For info these have what is essentially a DI system split in 2. You've got your coils and leads but then there's the ionisation module bolted to the side of the head, gearbox side. 

[PrinceRupert]

Just now, Split_Pin said:

1000+ misfires 😂

I'm sure Karl at Noobtune is perfectly comfortable with his hundreds of happy customers.

The problem with a lot of these specialists is they are so far up their own arses. They find a million faults with what is essentially a 20 year old 1300 quid car. He needs to have a word.  Did he have an embroidered polo shirt?

Car drove great when I had it and it sounds like that is continuing for you. I'd leave it alone and enjoy the sunshine personally.

For info these have what is essentially a DI system split in 2. You've got your coils and leads but then there's the ionisation module bolted to the side of the head, gearbox side. 

Yup is driving well for me too and certainly no obvious sign of misfires!  I did roll my eyes a bit at his commentary about maps and tuning and what not.  He was trying to sell me some kit to reduce vibrations on the ECU that he designed ... I was like its an old cheap car I mightn't have for very long, I'll pass haha.  I'll chuck four new spark plugs in as not expensive and keep driving it. 

[Split_Pin]

3 minutes ago, PrinceRupert said:

Yup is driving well for me too and certainly no obvious sign of misfires!  I did roll my eyes a bit at his commentary about maps and tuning and what not.  He was trying to sell me some kit to reduce vibrations on the ECU that he designed ... I was like its an old cheap car I mightn't have for very long, I'll pass haha.  I'll chuck four new spark plugs in as not expensive and keep driving it. 

I might do the plugs on mine too as I don't know when they were last done.

[PrinceRupert]

In fairness to the bloke I did see the system and the Tech2 computer did say 1000+ misfires from each cylinder. I just don't know what that means in reality haha.

[Split_Pin]

Me neither!

[PrinceRupert]

So, the TVR has a real test this week.  800 mile round trip from London to Scotland and back, departing Thursday morning.  Crucially, it CAN'T BREAK DOWN.  Break down on the way up,  I miss my wedding.  Break down on the way down, I miss my honeymoon.  Pressure is on ...

Ordered a few spares, couple of belts, throttle cable repair kit, some fuses, a relay; put some cable ties and a socket set in the boot (wishful thinking, the chance of me repairing it at the side of the M6 is slim to nil); and will hope and pray. Should be fine, it's generally been a reliable car over the last two years, touch wood ...

I have cheekily booked in a quick detail on Friday evening so I can get some nice professional pictures on Saturday though ...   My wife-to-be just sighs (but not sure she is convinced if it came to it I'd pick her over the TVR ).

[New POD]

1 hour ago, PrinceRupert said:

So, the TVR has a real test this week.  800 mile round trip from London to Scotland and back, departing Thursday morning.  Crucially, it CAN'T BREAK DOWN.  Break down on the way up,  I miss my wedding.  Break down on the way down, I miss my honeymoon.  Pressure is on ...

Ordered a few spares, couple of belts, throttle cable repair kit, some fuses, a relay; put some cable ties and a socket set in the boot (wishful thinking, the chance of me repairing it at the side of the M6 is slim to nil); and will hope and pray. Should be fine, it's generally been a reliable car over the last two years, touch wood ...

I have cheekily booked in a quick detail on Friday evening so I can get some nice professional pictures on Saturday though ...   My wife-to-be just sighs (but not sure she is convinced if it came to it I'd pick her over the TVR ).

I'm not seeing any issues or risks. 

[Rust Collector]

1 hour ago, PrinceRupert said:

So, the TVR has a real test this week.  800 mile round trip from London to Scotland and back, departing Thursday morning.  Crucially, it CAN'T BREAK DOWN.  Break down on the way up,  I miss my wedding.  Break down on the way down, I miss my honeymoon.  Pressure is on ...

Trick question; it's going to break down on the way there and the way back.

Joking aside, all the best for your wedding and honeymoon mate 😁

[PrinceRupert]

19 minutes ago, Rust Collector said:

Trick question; it's going to break down on the way there and the way back.

Joking aside, all the best for your wedding and honeymoon mate 😁

It's alright if it breaks down on the way up I may not have anyone to marry in any event and she has told me she is going on the honeymoon alone 🤣

Also I see the irony in me calling it relatively reliable when there's a picture of it on the back of Ceri's tow truck at the top of the page ...

[Shite Ron]

That is a great looking car and ideal wedding / honeymoon transport. Mine has been laid up in the garage far too long but when it was in regular use it was extremely reliable and capable of long high speed journeys. If looked after reasonably well they should be perfectly reliable despite what some may try and lead as to believe.

Good luck! Congratulations and best wishes.

[PrinceRupert]

8 minutes ago, Shite Ron said:

That is a great looking car and ideal wedding / honeymoon transport. Mine has been laid up in the garage far too long but when it was in regular use it was extremely reliable and capable of long high speed journeys. If looked after reasonably well they should be perfectly reliable despite what some may try and lead as to believe.

Good luck! Congratulations and best wishes.

Thanks! I agree, I've done about 8000 miles in two years or so in it and I've only 'broken down' once for a puncture and twice for a low oil pressure warning, which in both cases was a dodgy sender - pressure itself was fine and car was driving fine, just some electronic glitch.   There, I've jinxed it ...

[High Jetter]

I'd get some breakdown cover, just in case. A wedding is too important too miss (unless you want to!)

Hope it all goes smoothly though.

[PrinceRupert]

6 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

I'd get some breakdown cover, just in case. A wedding is too important too miss (unless you want to!)

Hope it all goes smoothly though.

I have breakdown (I have a TVR; I'm not a masochist 🤣) but it would be a bit of a dilemma - ship the broken car home and make alternative ways up; ship the broken car to the venue and hope it can get fixed there; and you know how long the RAC can take to arrive....

I'm confident it will all be okay though !