Just bought a CityRover

[dave-lew99]

A little update:

Temperature gague has now broken!

Hehe! This is fun!

I think its the gauge pack for fuel/temp which has gone - the service manual says replace these rather than the sensors so i'll take it to bits and measure the inputs to see if they are correct then potentially connect it up to the car pc.

[MGexe]

Originally Posted by dave-lew99

A little update:

Temperature gague has now broken!

Hehe! This is fun!

I think its the gauge pack for fuel/temp which has gone - the service manual says replace these rather than the sensors so i'll take it to bits and measure the inputs to see if they are correct then potentially connect it up to the car pc.

I must say, your spirit and enthusiasm has to be admired! I wonder how many faults it'll take before you get sick of it!

I'm almost tempted to get one now, just as a hobby-car!

[MalcQV]

Yes I must admit Dave, I would be put off by this thread if looking to buy one

[dave-lew99]

Well you have to be optimistic - my car mostly works, i fixed my tv (psu blew up) but now i appear to have gone deaf in my left ear...

[MGJohn]

A family friend asked me to give her CityRover Sprite an oil and filters change last week. I've driven this car a few times and it one of those cars which does exactly what it says on the tin. One thing I really liked about the car when I drove it ... The brakes. They give that immediate 'feel' of confidence as soon as you use them. That includes the handbrake too. Before I drove this one, the only one I've ever driven, because of the huge negativity surrounding this model when it first appeared, I was expecting the worst. Not my cup of tea but then most cars are not, but, I was pleasantly surprised when I drove this car as I was expecting the worst based on what I had read previously.

I used MG-Rover parts including X-Part 10-40 Semisynthetic engine oil. The Oil filter I removed from the car was considerably smaller in size than the new replacement which incidentally, came in a blue and white TATA box. The Air Filter in the MG-Rover black and silver one. The old air filter looked quite clean and new but was discarded anyway.

I filmed the engine running for a few seconds with the Acoustic Cover removed... the 'extra' bubbling noise is that made by the strong wind blowing in the little camera's sound pick up as I moved around. Click on the image.

...

Some of the parts are common with other Rovers and MGs of the time. The current owner has had the car for five years now and apart from a nearside wheel bearing, and oil/filter servicing it's needed very little attention. It has that tough as old boots feel about the car when both working/servicing and driving it.

[dave-lew99]

It looks like that one there has been considerably better looked after than mine i have to say - mine doesn't even have the engine cover!

As for parts, i have no problem using compatible parts, they're mostly made by a small handful of companies anyway with manufacturers branding on.

I'm not sure i'd agree on the brakes, more than once the thought 'is this going to stop?' goes through my mind when driving it.

What i do need to do, as it's almost due, is get the timing belt changed, i think i'll ring round the local ex MGR dealers and see if i can get a fixed price.

[dave-lew99]

Ok so whats broken today Mr Dave?

Today the fuel filler nozzle has broken - so when i went to unscrew the cap the whole thing came out in one go!

Looks rusted to hell too, i gave it a good shove back in but i'm not sure how long it'll last.

On the other hand, the temp gague is now working - i hit it quite hard.

[MGexe]

Originally Posted by dave-lew99

Ok so whats broken today Mr Dave?

Today the fuel filler nozzle has broken - so when i went to unscrew the cap the whole thing came out in one go!

Looks rusted to hell too, i gave it a good shove back in but i'm not sure how long it'll last.

On the other hand, the temp gague is now working - i hit it quite hard.

What else could possibly go wrong?

I'm enjoying your little 'blog'. Perhaps we should all place bets as to what's next!

I'll have a pound on a wheel bearing.....

[MGJohn]

Originally Posted by dave-lew99

Ok so whats broken today Mr Dave?

Today the fuel filler nozzle has broken - so when i went to unscrew the cap the whole thing came out in one go!

Looks rusted to hell too, i gave it a good shove back in but i'm not sure how long it'll last.

On the other hand, the temp gague is now working - i hit it quite hard.

Ahah ... the magic thump ... since my MGZS was rear ended and repaired, the offside tail lamp sometimes fails to illuminate when switched on. Always lights up with a thump! I have checked and checked all likely suspects but, still fails to come one sometimes so I deploy the magic thump!

Are you winding us all up Dave ? ... .... everything you have posted suggests that car has had the worst previous owners and neglect in the history of the known universe.

My lady friend sometimes mentions petrol smells with her Sprite... I never noticed it but she insists it's there sometimes. I'm wondering if when she fills it right up ..... and there's holes there .... :thinks:
..

[MGexe]

Definitely worth checking that, John...

[dave-lew99]

I've noticed the petrol smell too, some of my mums old cars did this too so i've put it down to the antique under the bonnet (engine). It's only with the window open and only some times - i've just been driving around to the shops, filled up - it's a lovely day so the window has been down - and i didn't notice it.

It does seem pretty poorly looked after tbh but as i said originally, it's what i've been stuck with (due to the crap insurence payout, short time frame to replace it and some personal finance issues).

Aside from service items, Scott at the garage said there wasn't much wrong with it - and there isn't there's been no major problems - ok so it's badly made and not everything works but it still drives at the end of the day!

I'll be looking to replace it in the next 12 months.

[dave-lew99]

Nothing broke today!!

I've done over 700 miles in it already and apart from that brief glitch on the second day, it's been really fine.

The seats are very supportive actually and i have no back pain despite the large amount of driving.