Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax Couple of common problems

Looks like I have the starter click problem - although it always starts after a couple of clicks.

More worryingly (on a 2003 car) is that I think something's wrong with the power steering. How do I tell if I have the infamous power steering pump problem? It seems to be working sometimes and not at others.

I also have a grinding noise at tickover that disappears when I turn off the aircon.

All ideas gratefully received

Jap

Well, in almost every case of starter clicking I've had (not Mog), it's been a bad connection on the solenoid, but a dodgy battery connection could also do this. Make sure they are sound first.

Grinding from the aircon points to compressor bearings, but the compressor may load up something else driven by the same belt, so you need to look. If the power steering comes off the same belt drive, it's connected..... (no pun etc etc .....)

I have just noticed that there is a wheel arch liner in the offside arch hanging down (flapping about) only held in place by the side lamp fixing bolt and resting on the front most silencer box ( While following up on DaveW's topic on Greasing CVJ's)

It appears to have only been held in place by a squiggle of White adhesive something or other from a tube.

The nearside one seems to be an integral part of the wheel arch having been bonded and then covered in whatever the underseal is. That one looks set for life.

Has anyone seen this sort of thing before? I cannot think of an easy way to fix it back in place? I thought of a temporary 'L' shape bracket if I can find somewhere to fix it, just to lift it off of the silencer and reduce the flappability.

Being a young car 2007 It seems an odd thing to happen. It could be a warranty issue. It may have to come off until after Cheltenham.
Ideas welcome please
Frank

I wouldn't bother with a temporary fix Frank. Ring the factory and ask their opinion. I have heard of this happening, but can't recall 'the fix'. I would try a 'no more nails' type adhesive, although it will need holding firm overnight until the adhesive sets.
If you run without it you may 'star' the paint with flying stones.

Thanks for the advice Dave.
I have sent them an e mail this evening but will try phoning in the morning.
I wont take it off as I had thought about the flying stones.

Hey, my thread has been hijacked.

Same thing happened when our 2008 4-seater was brand new. The lining fell down on the catalytic converter and melted. I hope the factory was notified so that they stop saving pennies on glue.

Harald

Hi Jappo,

Just to rescue you from a Trad takeover(!!!!)

Starter click - do a search on here - many threads about it.
In most cases it's a blown fuse on the starter (the fuse number is detailed on the inside of the fusebox (RHS bonnet of engine if you are sat in the driver seat.)

From memory it's only a 10 or 15amp fuse - most people uprate it to a 20amp fuse which seems to solve the issue.

Also, it only tends to happen when the battery is getting flat - so if you're not trickle charging the car on a constant basis it's worth doing.

Sounds as though the car you have is missing some of the 'standard' user fixes fitted by an owner in the know.

In terms of steering rack :
Get it checked - though sounds like it might be the mechanical linkage broken. Few of these have lasted mnore than 10k miles and it's a standard fix to be done (again - suprised given the age of the car it's not been done already). Costs around 1k to do or thereabouts.

Jappo

From your description of the power steering problem this doesn't sound like the usual pump problem. When the gears on the pump fail, they fail. There is no in-between.

You can test the pump by reaching your hand down onto the pulley and seeing if you feel any free play. If you have 1/2 inch of circumferential play then failure is likely soon.

The standard mod is the mini (BMW) electrical pump but this is noisy. An alternative is fitting a replacement mechanical pump but after some modification to prevent further. I know of a Morgan dealer who has gone down this route with success.

For info my car has 39000km and no excessive play yet (famous last words) on the pulley so the problem does vary from car to car.

Cheers

Hi Jappo,
Sorry for starting my thread in your topic. I'll get the hang of this eventually.

I contacted the factory today and discovered that wheel arch detachment has been a common problem recently. Dealership confirmed this. The solution is to take it in (booked for next week - 24 hours for the Glue to set before sealing the edges)

Apparently they have to take the liner off completely and if not servicable, replace the liner.

A Two part adhesive is used to attach it apparently and sealant applied around the edge.

I presume the problem could appear on all recent Mogs of all types, not just trads. It may be worth a look at yours ?

Happy Days and Thanks for the use of your thread.