ENGINE CHECKS & SERVICE ITEMS

13 BETTER ENGINE ACCESS

There’s not much space to access the engine with the boot lid open (unhook the metal grille). However, by unclipping the back of the hood (remove the parcel shelf carpet to expose five clips) and pulling it forward, you’ll find an engine access panel secured by several 10mm bolts. Once removed, there’s more space to work on the engine.

14 AIR FILTER RENEWAL

The standard air filter panel is contained in a plastic housing on the nearside of the engine bay. Release the metal clips that secure the lid of the housing to be able to extract the old air filter and fit a new one. The air filter should be renewed every 12,000 miles or 12 months.

15 SPARK PLUGS & HT LEADS

The recommended renewal interval for the spark plugs is every 60,000 miles. A full set costs from around £25 and they require a 16mm spark plug socket. Be careful not to break the HT leads when prising the ends off the tops of the spark plugs. Early MGFS have a distributor, so the cap, rotor arm and HT leads should be renewed at the same time. Later models have two coil packs and the HT leads appear to be longer-lasting.

16 DRIVEBELT TROUBLE

The auxiliary drivebelt powers the alternator and, if fitted, the air-conditioning pump. Its tension is adjusted via an 8mm bolt on the alternator (slacken the alternator’s 13mm and 15mm mounting nuts and bolts), but this can seize or shear off. If this happens, the alternator should be removed to fix the tensioner bolt.

17 CHECK COOLANT

With a cold engine, release the coolant expansion cap and check the level inside. The cap should be renewed every two years as its pressure seal can become worn. Check the strength of the coolant with a hydrometer. The coolant should be changed every two years if it’s a blue colour, or every four years if pink. The coolant can be drained via the radiator and the steel coolant pipes underneath the vehicle.

18 FUEL FILTER

The fuel filter should be changed every 60,000 miles and costs around £7. It’s located on the nearside of the engine bay, close to the air filter. It’s sometimes easier to detach the quick-release fuel hoses for the fuel filter, then slacken the unions on a bench. This can also reduce the amount of petrol spilled over the engine.