Stugees Firefrost 1.8T

stugee · 6th November 2012, 12:43

I thought I'd start a wee blog so I can track what I've been doing and spending on the car.

I bought the 2005 ZT+ 1.8T at the start of October. When I went to view the car I noticed a few issues, mainly was the serious missfire and dramatic loss of power at 4k revs. I know its not good practice to buy a car with issues but after the test drive I couldn't say no. It is such a nice place to be, it handles well but is still comfy.

Here it is the day I bought it:

The known issues are:

Misfire - fixed
Lack of Power
No Service History
Wet Boot Carpet - fixed
Airbag light on in dash - fixed

The first job was to address the misfire and lack of power. I changed the solenoid vacuum pipes for silicone items, tested the solenoid and regapped the plugs. There is a significant improvement but not 100% so I'm going to check the actuator rod is moving freely

I sorted the airbag light by shoogling the connectors under the drivers seat... job done.

The boot carper was wet on the near side. My first guess a leaking light cluster. When I removed it there was a fair bit of silicone already there so I removed it, fixed the gasket and replaced. The leak was still there. I took all the carpets out and noticed that the leak seemed to be coming from above. So at the weekend I remove the trim and found more silicone!!! Someone had already had a go unsuccessfully. I cleaned it all back at used some clear sealant, two days of rain later and boot is still dry

After all the rain and reading loads of plenum problems I thought I'd better have a look. Took the cover off to find a fair bit of water and a blocked drain, once drained I also removed the pollen filter.

Next on my list is to check the actuator and give it a good service including timing belt and water pump.

stugee · 6th November 2012, 12:46

Spent So far:

2012
Car - £1200
Silicone Pipes - £5
Service Materials - £100 (wipers, plugs, coil packs, leads, oil filter, air filter, pollen filter)
Inlet Manifold Gasket - £3
OE Boost Solenoid - £42
Timing Belt Kit, Water Pump, Thermostat and Head Gasket Set - £160

2013
Upgraded Resistor Kit - £15
Correct Oil Filters (x2) and correct thermostat -£18
Dummy thermosts - £5
Rear brake shoes and back plate securing - £100

Total- £1,648

Jay160 · 6th November 2012, 14:08

very nice there

love the colour

look forward to seeing whats going on here

another 1.8 blog

alanw · 6th November 2012, 18:46

Hello Stugee, you've done well Chief ...... Best model ( MG ), best colour ( firefrost red), best engine 1.8t) best wheels. silly purchase price. You only need black leather with red alcantara interior & you'll have the full house. Alan.

VVC-Geeza · 6th November 2012, 19:19

Nice looking car,stick with it regarding sorting the small issues.

It will be well worth it

bigrob73 · 6th November 2012, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanw

Hello Stugee, you've done well Chief ...... Best model ( MG ), best colour ( firefrost red), best engine 1.8t) best wheels. silly purchase price. You only need black leather with red alcantara interior & you'll have the full house. Alan.

Lucky me then!.............

Jay160 · 7th November 2012, 09:45

i see youve got the red seats to

very nice arnt they

danbmx_69 · 7th November 2012, 10:40

lovely looking car you have there

stugee · 7th November 2012, 10:43

Having read this thread:

clicky

It makes me want to try the solenoid valve from a different car (ie know to work) does anyone have a spare they could lend me to try out? I don't want to spend another £40 on something if it isn't the issue.

Cheers
Stu

Ian G · 7th November 2012, 11:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigrob73

Lucky me then!.............

Hi Rob
Looking at the pier you may have had crab for lunch..
Cheers Ian

6th November 2012, 12:43	#1
stugee Avid contributor MG ZT+ 1.8T Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: West Lothian Posts: 249 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Stugees Firefrost 1.8T I thought I'd start a wee blog so I can track what I've been doing and spending on the car. I bought the 2005 ZT+ 1.8T at the start of October. When I went to view the car I noticed a few issues, mainly was the serious missfire and dramatic loss of power at 4k revs. I know its not good practice to buy a car with issues but after the test drive I couldn't say no. It is such a nice place to be, it handles well but is still comfy. Here it is the day I bought it: The known issues are: Misfire - fixed Lack of Power No Service History Wet Boot Carpet - fixed Airbag light on in dash - fixed The first job was to address the misfire and lack of power. I changed the solenoid vacuum pipes for silicone items, tested the solenoid and regapped the plugs. There is a significant improvement but not 100% so I'm going to check the actuator rod is moving freely I sorted the airbag light by shoogling the connectors under the drivers seat... job done. The boot carper was wet on the near side. My first guess a leaking light cluster. When I removed it there was a fair bit of silicone already there so I removed it, fixed the gasket and replaced. The leak was still there. I took all the carpets out and noticed that the leak seemed to be coming from above. So at the weekend I remove the trim and found more silicone!!! Someone had already had a go unsuccessfully. I cleaned it all back at used some clear sealant, two days of rain later and boot is still dry After all the rain and reading loads of plenum problems I thought I'd better have a look. Took the cover off to find a fair bit of water and a blocked drain, once drained I also removed the pollen filter. Next on my list is to check the actuator and give it a good service including timing belt and water pump. __________________ "Understeer" is when you hit the wall with the front of the car. "Oversteer" is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. "Horsepower" is how fast you hit the wall. "Torque" is how far you take the wall with you. Last edited by stugee; 6th November 2012 at 12:48..

6th November 2012, 12:46	#2
stugee Avid contributor MG ZT+ 1.8T Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: West Lothian Posts: 249 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Spent So far: 2012 Car - £1200 Silicone Pipes - £5 Service Materials - £100 (wipers, plugs, coil packs, leads, oil filter, air filter, pollen filter) Inlet Manifold Gasket - £3 OE Boost Solenoid - £42 Timing Belt Kit, Water Pump, Thermostat and Head Gasket Set - £160 2013 Upgraded Resistor Kit - £15 Correct Oil Filters (x2) and correct thermostat -£18 Dummy thermosts - £5 Rear brake shoes and back plate securing - £100 Total- £1,648 __________________ "Understeer" is when you hit the wall with the front of the car. "Oversteer" is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. "Horsepower" is how fast you hit the wall. "Torque" is how far you take the wall with you. Last edited by stugee; 2nd May 2013 at 10:46.. Reason: spending more money :(

6th November 2012, 14:08	#3
Jay160 Gets stuck in ZT160T RioRed "Lucifer" Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Nottingham Posts: 749 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	very nice there love the colour look forward to seeing whats going on here another 1.8 blog __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Mods done so far: 18in Black Inovit Redlines Upgraded 190 Brakes(not yet as they sent 160 brakes) Calipers painted Black Auto Boot Lift Handbrake Mod LEDS changed to blue Inside Vanity Visors Added Red Silicone Turbo Pipes Coolant Pipes being changed Silicone slowly Turbo Feed Moved from T-Piece Alloy Inlet Manifold ..Being Done Dvd Player http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...d.php?t=120739

6th November 2012, 18:46	#4
alanw Avid contributor mg zt t Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Alnwick Posts: 129 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hello Stugee, you've done well Chief ...... Best model ( MG ), best colour ( firefrost red), best engine 1.8t) best wheels. silly purchase price. You only need black leather with red alcantara interior & you'll have the full house. Alan. __________________ A verbal agreement isn't worth the paper it's written on ! I wouldn't join any club that would have me as a member.

6th November 2012, 19:19	#5
VVC-Geeza This is my second home 2005 Connoisseur SE 1.8 Turbo,2004 45 1.8 Connoisseur and my beloved 1998 VVC Coupe. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Derby. Posts: 8,843 Thanks: 2,022 Thanked 1,016 Times in 739 Posts	Nice looking car,stick with it regarding sorting the small issues. It will be well worth it __________________

7th November 2012, 09:45	#7
Jay160 Gets stuck in ZT160T RioRed "Lucifer" Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Nottingham Posts: 749 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	i see youve got the red seats to very nice arnt they __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Mods done so far: 18in Black Inovit Redlines Upgraded 190 Brakes(not yet as they sent 160 brakes) Calipers painted Black Auto Boot Lift Handbrake Mod LEDS changed to blue Inside Vanity Visors Added Red Silicone Turbo Pipes Coolant Pipes being changed Silicone slowly Turbo Feed Moved from T-Piece Alloy Inlet Manifold ..Being Done Dvd Player http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...d.php?t=120739

7th November 2012, 10:40	#8
danbmx_69 Gets stuck in zt 160 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: swansea Posts: 970 Thanks: 21 Thanked 62 Times in 43 Posts	lovely looking car you have there __________________ Now 320BHP 407nm 1.8T ZT https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=122691

7th November 2012, 10:43	#9
stugee Avid contributor MG ZT+ 1.8T Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: West Lothian Posts: 249 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Having read this thread: clicky It makes me want to try the solenoid valve from a different car (ie know to work) does anyone have a spare they could lend me to try out? I don't want to spend another £40 on something if it isn't the issue. Cheers Stu __________________ "Understeer" is when you hit the wall with the front of the car. "Oversteer" is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. "Horsepower" is how fast you hit the wall. "Torque" is how far you take the wall with you.