MG ZT ...Millie's Story usual faults arising first 1.8 purchase

[Peakyblinder]

Hi All New member so thought I would say hello and provide a potted history of my MG ZT 1.8 non turbo Starlite silver 2004 3800 miles old shape. I wasn't really looking for Millie yes she has a name but my 'unbreakable' Korean diesel died on the motorway so I needed a comfortable fairly rare motorway drive which was still enjoyable to drive but didn't need a fuel tanker following on behind 😀 So I started a very long e bay search of one owner low mileage cars with a very limited budget and very open mind to spend as little as possible ready to pay more later. Just about to give up I found a very brief advert for Millie whose owner could no longer drive due to illness. Based some miles away from me I jumped on a train to Wolverhampton from Essex and there she was there before me shining paintwork and rusty metal bits where exposed to the elements or maybe garaged wet. Anyway interior was good but clutch on driving away suffered from annoying soft release spring screech. Negotiated a few hundred off the price and drove back 140 miles or so. This is where the saga starts if you are still with me. The old guy had purchased his ZT as a retirement present, sadly suffers now from dementia and could not remember where the locking nut key was so I was basically stuffed. The nuts were high security non standard and no one locally could remove them. After a frantic Google I found a specialist 70 miles away who had engineered his own kit and guaranteed success A miracle occurred on arrival and he got them off in seconds as I simultaneoudly pictured the possible alternative of scrapping the car . I drove home a happy man just needing the clutch and cambelt kit fitted. Then I looked at the tyres again and with 38000 miles on the clock they were legal but possibly 7 years or so old! Four new tyres later I finally thought I was done. My 2004 ZT drive like a new car except oh no, the passenger door lock had failed would only unlock from inside, ye another expense! This done I did a couple of 400 mile round trips even in the snow and slush including a nightmare seven hour journey back from Keele on the M1. Only niggle was very noisy tapping on start up but put this down to the extreme cold weather. On my next return journey in the cold I was not so fortunate. I should have mentioned a slight hesitation to start in the cold though fine when warm. At plus 2 degrees we chugged to a halt in almost my same previous breakdown spot about 60 miles from home on the M1. We sat frozen in heavy sleet dragged off the motorway by traffic officers to a lay by for 7 hours awaiting RAC recovery, another story in itself. The following day just before Christmas despair was setting in as my bargain appeared to be a complete lemon. You guys saved me though as I read up on it and suspected a fuel filter issue. Please note car started FIRST time following our breakdown saga running for 20 mins but then failed to start after that. Was relayed rather faster this time to my local garage. A and S Richmond Rd Havering and guess what Millie started first time for them too. Probably thinking I was mad I pursuaded them to fit the EBay kit of clip and thin black rubber fuel filter seal there was no sign of the unit coming apart as some do. The mechanic did find a small split in the original crushed seal and touch wood hasn't had issues since. So I thought just one more job an engine flush new oil and filter to cure the worse than a diesel start up tapping ....no it didn't. The staff at National tyres had put in 5w 30 the recommended lubricant according to reg mark. I was gutted the flush hadn't solved it so yes I succumbed to what some call snake oil and I call a life saver (so far). I purchased some Lucus oil stabaliser additive and added just over a third of a litre. This may just have thickened the oil but Millie was so much quieter she purred now like a cat no longer that dry top end I suspect which used to last for three minutes or more in the cold all noise was gone though to be fair it is less cold weather for now. Finally I had that ZT I had always fancied the look of when they first came out. Should have said the dreaded head gasket had been done at 20000 miles 5 years ago. Then the misfire appeared and the ominous change in engine sound. Thinking all sorts of worse case scenarios I checked the basics first no bulging top hose or milky oil. The rear tail pipe had instead all but snapped off even though system was changed only 20000 miles ago. The demon corrosion had struck during long term storage. Anyway the end of this saga for now is a new stainless rear box and twin pipe was fitted and even the basic twin cam only 1.8 model Millie burbles along quite nicely after an ECU hard reset sorted the tickover etc. It remains to be seen if this has all been a worthwhile project but I must confess I do love my dear old car and probably saved her from an early trip to the breakers yard. Look forward to getting to know you guys. Ps not a Peaky blinder myself but love the TV series.

[Simondi]

Thanks for your post and welcome to the club.
Sounds like you have had your hands full but hopefully that's you up and running now.

Enjoy your ZT they are brilliant cars, oh and
.

[FLYING BANANA]

There's a MG-Rover meet at the Halfway House on the A127 on Sunday 21st January. Pop along if you have the time. I'll be there with my Yellow 1.8t ZT.
Or just keep an eye on the events page for any other meets/shows that are happening around the country.

And Welcome aboard.

[oswestryalex]

a heart warming tale of perseverence - but the cars are worth it, for those as appreciate them, and nothing drives like a MG ZT or looks like one. More and more classic looking. Good luck with it and enjoy!

[Sheraton]

the reward will be worth the effort - i enjoy my 75 more and more as time passes


you should have a look on here for some info r.e the"fuel vapour purge valve" or "Slack Tappet Simulator" (i forget who termed the phrase) it's on the side of the battery box - and ticks away giving the impression of a noisy top end



Paul.

[Ravinder]

Sounds like you’ve had your fair share of problems. Hopefully, things are a lot brighter going forward.

[Peakyblinder]

Picture of Millie the MG will be attached for all to see if only I wasn't do dense as to see how to do this on my IPad doh!

Short update that the snake oil additive has improved the noisy start up but not solved altogether. Tapping goes after a minute or so hence I guess this is the norm for most if not all k series engines. I think I may just have to live with it. Strangely if I put my hand on the injector unit above the head it goes a bit quieter that might be a hint.
Finally sure you have one already but just bought an oil service reset for BMW for a rediculous low price from China yet it worked first time if anyone lives nearby and needs one. Can attach the link for the unit once I learn how to insert such things 😳
As for Peakyblinders well worth a watch...you will be hooked by this northern gangland tale from the 1920s based partially on fact...brilliant! On third series now.

[marinabrian]

Originally Posted by Peakyblinder

Picture of Millie the MG will be attached for all to see if only I wasn't do dense as to see how to do this on my IPad doh!

Short update that the snake oil additive has improved the noisy start up but not solved altogether. Tapping goes after a minute or so hence I guess this is the norm for most if not all k series engines. I think I may just have to live with it. Strangely if I put my hand on the injector unit above the head it goes a bit quieter that might be a hint.
Finally sure you have one already but just bought an oil service reset for BMW for a rediculous low price from China yet it worked first time if anyone lives nearby and needs one. Can attach the link for the unit once I learn how to insert such things 😳
As for Peakyblinders well worth a watch...you will be hooked by this northern gangland tale from the 1920s based partially on fact...brilliant! On third series now.

Dump the 5w 30 and refill with 10w40, along with a new oil filter.

Wrong grade of oil, despite what the boys at National Tyres told you

Brian

[Peakyblinder]

Thanks for the 10w 40 oil change advice it seems the 5w 30 recent oil change even with added oil stabiliser does nothing after running it for an hour or so and then leaving for a couple of hours and restarting. I really could do with anyone living near me in Havering to have a listen to top end noise for a second opinion. I have read on the forum that Texaco Havoiline 10w 40 is the best semi synthetic high ash oil apparently and yet when you put it in a search for compatible vehicles it says my bulk standard 1.8 non turbo is not on the list of compatible vehicles. Any further advice isgratefully received these oil changes and additives are starting to cost and have proved a waste of money!

[madeupname]

Hi Steve, and welcome to the club
Pictures...... when you click on the new post button look at the top of the window that opens. You will see a paperclip icon. Click on this and a separate box pops up. At the top of this it says 'upload file from your computer'. Get the cursor flashing in this cell and click on 'browse' Use browse to find the piccie on your computer you want to upload and click on 'upload'
This will put your piccie on the post as a thumbnail at the bottom. We then right mouse click on the thumbnail, select 'open link in a new tab' and hey presto! your piccie can be seen in full size
If it tells you the file is too big to upload, use Windows own photoshop facility to shrink the piccie down to a smaller size.
It might take a while for the image to upload, but when it has it shows you the filename as an attachment in the attachment box. Then just click on 'close this window'. All done.
Hope this helps.