Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms ARP4 Hand Brake

Whilst it must be disappointing to have this problem on a new car, issues with handbrakes are by no means uncommon.

Honda had to recall nearly 80,000 Civics and VW and General Motors have also had problems.

Agree that this should have been sorted out in the development stage, but even the big manufacturers don't always get it right

You're telling me, I have had a BMW X5 for the last 11 years, and the handbrake is even worse than the ARP4, the only saving grace is that it is an auto, so has a Park lock. BMW were never interested in fixing it and liked the car too much to park it outside their showroom and walk away. Maybe I should have?

Bob, with my comment about charging for labour, but giving free replacement parts, I was referring to the way that MMC reacted when some journalists discovered the hard way that the early Three Wheeler bottom wishbones weren't up to the job of supporting the car. They were lucky someone wasn't killed when it collapsed completely. To placate the journos, they were told that wishbones on customer cars would be replaced FOC, but they didn't mention at the time, that they would charge labour, from memory about £70 or so.

I have now taken the view that it is up to owners to finish the design and build process in order to keep my blood pressure down to a reasonable level. This does of course open one up to all sorts of potential legal problems, some of which you have kindly highlighted, although, frankly I can't see it is any worse than people who build their own kit cars, or who modify existing cars. I refuse to be frightened of my own shadow by the threat of real or imagined legal issues.

My 'comfort' jibe was again aimed at the way they dealt with the notorious and often denied bump steer issue on the first 2 years of Three Wheeler production, in which they eventually developed a way of raising the track rods and sold it as a 'Comfort Kit' for £200, ostensibly to placate our American cousins who had been as vociferous as we had been.

The Throttle body is the bit hung on the side of the engine which has replaced the carburetor, and now injects fuel and air into the engine, controlled by the cars' own Electronic Control Unit [ECU] hidden away under everything in the fuse box. I don't yet know what is wrong with it, but just heard that Cosworth are supposed to be replacing it, although I don't actually know if any have been done, or even if this is true. It is supposed to stop the 'rev hang' when the coolant is less than 60 degrees, although to me it would seem to be a software mapping issue not hardware. But then again, what do I know, I'm just a well meaning amateur doing my best to improve the product.

I supported Sean's post because I understood what he was getting at. Yes, the handbrake issue needs sorting but instead of a number of non ARP4 owners laying into Morgan...where the issue doesn't affect them, why not give the factory a chance to work on a solution?

As I work there it's probably sensible for me not to post comments on this forum but the small number of regulars on here who jump at the chance to rubbish Morgan gets me annoyed.

Rant over....I'll only be posting on social comments from now on.

Had exactly the same issue with the handbrake on my old BMW X1 when it was new

I took it to the dealership who had a look at it and just came back to me 2 hours later and said they had done all the tests on it, didn't find any problem and it "was within the manufacturers tolerances"



Got back into the car hacked off to find they'd fixed it

Ah ha! Thanks Paul for your elaboration re parts/labour bill - seems I misunderstood your post - particularly as I've not been privy to the M3W history. For reasons previously noted I shall remain of the view that this a pickle for MMC to resolve. Mind you, with my lack of technical ability I don't actually have a choice! Let's see how it all pans out.

Thanks too for the explanation re throttle body - I'm learning a lot from this site - there's a lot of very knowledgeable people out there (Morganistas? Morganites? TM'ers?).

OK it doesn't affect me personally as I'm not lucky enough to own an ARP4 so perhaps I shouldn't comment, but it seems to me that this seems to be getting out of hand and TM er's are falling out over it. What's the point?

It is an MMC cock up for sure, to release cars that are not fault free and it be such an obvious one to spot is disgraceful, BUT instead of having a go at them why not let the owners say their bit and then let MMC find the solution and sort the darn thing out?

If and its a big IF, I had an ARP4 I wouldn't be chucking it back and getting all legal on MMC, I'd be using it, enjoying it and expecting to hear when a fix is ready. Its not the end of the world is it? and even major manufacturers get it wrong and have recalls regularly, I say give the guys a break.

well said

Hi Jay. I note your comment about giving the factory a chance (excuse me but I've given up trying to use the quote system properly!) and seeing as you're our man on the inside, would you feel at liberty to provide any info re how this matter is being treated and/or progressed from within MMC? Your insight would surely be much valued by all of us. Everyone's flapping around in the dark here. Some reassuring noises from MMC would surely help to keep everyone chilled - whether official or unofficial.

PLEASE, Jays, keep posting as usual, your comments are all very welcome. I speak for myself, of course. <vbg>