Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Need reassurance

Grease the front end. https://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/front.html
It sounds like it needs it.
Check the tyre pressures they should be 22 psi.
Grease the rear leaf springs.

I got exhaust blow back on my Rover +4 but only at high speed. You definitely shouldn't get a petrol smell. Check the hoses.

The fact that the car has been fully serviced and examined by a Morgan dealer makes it doubly frustrating . Very annoying that they are quite a long way. If it was mine I would ring them and explain everything and I'm sure they would sort all this out after organising a date to get it back there , maybe they could collect it from you possibly .

My 2011 Plus 4 was too uncomfortable for me and had vague steering when I bought it in 2018. After having it only a couple of weeks, I arranged for Williams to fit SSL suspension upgrades to front and rear, which substantially improved the handling. Very precise steering, and slightly smoother ride.

Since then, I did about 10,000 miles in 18 months, and it felt very comfortable most of the time - but still not good on rough surfaces....

I also experienced petrol fumes sometimes, but can't remember any particular reason for it!

This is not a normal Morgan experience. Do you ever have driven another Morgan before, as a comparison to what you experience now? Our 4/4 4-seater from 1990 is older, but we drive it al a lot and so she isn't stiffened. Very important is the condition of especially your front suspension, as mentioned by others above. I realized years ago, when I had new kingpins, springs and reboud springs and Koni shocks that it made the ride more comfortable. Steering is always steady and relaxing, my only car with a more relaxing steering is the Tesla, but it has auto steering!😉 No fumes in our Morgan, apart from the typical Morgan smell, which we like so much. As someone who has a vulnerable back I had inflatable lumbar supports fitted and really, a long journey in the Morgan doesn't cause more backache than in previous, Volvo's, BMW's or Tesla. Two years ago, when the cartrain wasn't able to take us from Innsbruck to Dusseldorf, we managed to drive from Tuscany to the Netherlands in 3 days, and that meant also a lot of B-roads, because traveling is also part of the fun. And we felt certainly not broken when we arrived back home! So the message is: just be sure that your Morgan is really okay, before you take a premature decision! That would be a pity, you have waited so long for a Morgan!

Well my advice is keep heart! My Morgan came from a main dealer (no longer a Morgan dealer thank goodness) and broke down on the first run. Thankfully I found our local excellent dealer (Krazy Horse) who were able to sort out all the issues - and thankfully negotiated with the original dealer to have them pay for it.

I think that cars like Morgans make you realise how much we take for granted the robot-built tin cans that most of us use every day. My experience of taking on classics and Morgans is that it takes a bit of patience and time to get things sorted to my own satisfaction. And that even small and simple things can make big differences. Tyre pressures, suspension greasing, the state of suspension components etc etc need to be gone through methodically to monitor the improvement. And one day you will realise that it drives how you want it!

If I were in your position I would phone the supplying dealer (rather than email in the first instance) as soon as they are open and say what you have gone through, including how it makes you feel. And ask for help in sorting what seems to be a car in need of some TLC. Then back up with emails and stuff in writing.

Might be worth mentioning the dealer - someone here may have some links.

From your previous posts, looks like it was Allon Whites?

I got mine from there, had to take it back a couple of times for a few snags under warranty, but ended up having to fix most of them myself.

I can't imagine Allon Whites deserting a customer. Give Phil a call. They are good guys.

I'm pretty sure they're working, albeit on a reduced staff.

Edit - from an email:

Also, if anyone is trying to do any work to their cars at home and would like some advice, Neil our workshop manager, and Steve and Marlon, two of our Technicians are still working in the dealership for now.  So by all means put a call or phone call into Neil – 01234 750205 or neil@allonwhite.co.uk – and he’ll try and provide assistance.  But please, no unnecessary visits to the dealership.

Tyre pressures checked at 22psi before setting off.
Journey was with sidescreens in place.
Car has only done 19900miles since 1995 and most of that was done in early years. It looks like recent years have only seen approx 200 miles per year, so by all the comments received this would play a large part, however its dissapointing to think the dealer service would not have gone some way to rectifying this if its a well known fact that infrequent use leads to these problems.
Part of the service schedule states ...tightening of fuel filler pipe and renewing in line fuel filter, I will recheck that.
Just checked and the three month warranty will expire in 6 days, however cant get hold of anyone by phone so will send covering email.
I was assured king pins had been checked and didnt need replacing.

If spending more money to update suspension is required, I would consider it but need reassurance that the end result will solve the problems rather than get rid now.
I will contact the local MSC to see if a local Morgan owner could possibly drive this car and give his opinion.

Thankyou everyone for your input, I will keep you informed of the outcome.