Phudd

Good day all and …….help!

Sorry it’s a long one – but at least gives the big picture!

I am the proud new owner of a 2003 Stepspeed with 36500 on the clock and which is currently languishing in the car park of my local mechanic and has been for three weeks, note I think he is scared of it and suggests I find a specialist!

As an FYI I have driven petrol CVT’s previously and extensively so do know how they are to drive and have a very basic understanding of the pulleys. Down side I am (or used to be) a spark!

I will summarise events below and having read a lot already I am looking forward to your guidance and advice as you all appear to have already been through the pain barrier and back several times.

Vehicle history – one owner from new with a very good service history – but nothing jumping out specifically about gear box oil and filters – but serviced by an MG specialist near Luton. Only issues in the service reports – loose flexplate will need gearbox out

Not MOT’d in 2020 or 2021 but had 33000 miles on the clock when MOT’d in 2019, last MOT Sept 2022 with 36466 miles – so I assume has been standing for a couple of years.

I bought it trade and checked the oil and water (at this stage was not aware of the gearbox dipstick – not that I could get to it with only a Swiss army knife! All was OK – I drove it up and down the road – it started brilliantly no smoke etc. and sounded very sweet, manual shift was Ok slight whine coming downhill – foot off the gas, so away we went to take it home – around 150 miles. Starting off with a quarter of a tank of fuel.

About 60 miles in – it had been running fine and I had been taking it gently – no temperature, smoke or noise issues, but I had to stop for fuel – the filler cap was encrusted (obviously not been off in years) and away we went again – after about 5 more miles it started to develop a misfire – I assumed the super duper fuel that had gone in had moved some crud from the fuel lines initially stopped and gave it a rev or two and it ran fine – only when putting it under load did it play up, kicking and bucking – suggesting then a blocked injector or breakdown on the HT / Plug side. I was in the middle of now where on a busy A road with a queue of traffic behind and had to coax it to a safe place to stop – this consisted of the car bucking and kicking and not being able to use auto as such I had to use manual and keep putting the revs up, this is when the fun started - I started to get a metal to metal grating noise – quite loud, even my wife in the car behind could hear it – all in all I limped along for about three miles until I could get off the road, I thought at this time – flex plate / broken / trapped spring, but… the noise changed with road speed not engine speed?

I was recovered and the next day – it drove gently to my local mechanic – nice and slow, no excessive noise, he took it for a test drive the day after and said yes metallic noise and he could see some broken spring in the bell housing, advising need to book it in with a specialist. A couple of days later – he tells me he went to move it and it went all of 3 cm and spilled its gearbox oil “I need a new gearbox” and this leaves me asking…. or do I, have I just lost the oil – a blown seal perhaps, and hence no hydraulic pressure, or am I looking at a big bill even so where do I go – I have tried some local dealers / MG specialists by phone and email and – no joy. I live in the North West between Liverpool and Manchester so all / any help and advice appreciated.

I am contemplating spending some money getting the seals checked / replaced, if I am wasting my time please let me know, also how are we fixed for filters and oil nowadays – again advice appreciated. regarding the flex plate - if I do not need the gearbox out / replaced, for a broken spring is it vital (MG Tf on a budget!)

Thanks in advance Paul (Feel free to tell me off or make comments such as more fool you etc. I have broad shoulders!).