Topic

Hi there,

I've had the anti roll hoops removed so that I can put the hood down on my MGF, but it only goes so far and won't go down any further? What am I doing wrong? The rear panel is glass and not plastic, I did try unzipping that to see if that made a difference, but it didn't?

Any help would be much appreciated. 🤗🤗

I'm not sure that I can be any help as I own a TF but, the hoods on all our cars are virtually identical apart from the plastic or glass screen as far as I am aware . There is a problem on all of them folding flat that is cured by way of two elastic / velcro straps that attach to the first two hood bars above both seats . Basically the straps pull each other towards one another to stop the hood binding / jamming . As these straps wear or stretch, the hood starts to jam when closing but, you simply put gentle forward pressure on the second bar and the hood should fully fold back . To be honest it shouldn't take much effort to fold it unless the upgrade to the glass screen is causing an issue . I'm sure someone on the T bar will eventually post what they do to avoid this with an F that has a glass screen .

John

Thank you, I'll try that tomorrow! x

Fortunately when I bought my TF the seller showed me the trick of pushing back the second bar. I don't think the elastic in my hood provides any assistance, so I just have to push the bar back each time I fold the hood. I only found out about the elastic on here and thought that pushing back the bar was part of the process.

Brilliant! That solved it, have managed to get it down now, thank you for the tip! My next question is it ok to drive it without the hood cover? As the car didn't come with one? x

Yeah, you can drive it without the cover, i do it all the time when I can't be arsed putting the damned thing on

Great! Thank you!! xx

Great stuff Cathy , enjoy some top down cruising in your F . Just be gentle when folding it back . I've seen some spectacular results of just letting them drop !
Cobber , your replies always put a smile on my face .

John

cathy wrote:

Brilliant! That solved it, have managed to get it down now, thank you for the tip! My next question is it ok to drive it without the hood cover? As the car didn't come with one? x

Online there is some dashcam footage of a TF involved in head on crash (20-30mph??) and the hood comes flying over, which could be nasty.

Not sure if the cover could help prevent this, but MG Rover manual said it should be fitted when hood was down.

I didnt always drive with cover on, and a few times going over bad road surface it would lift up significantly scaring the life out of me!

I only have an F cover from my girlfriends old car which doesn't really fit the TF. It's only been on once or twice, so I've pretty much always driven the car without it. Certainly wouldn't hold down the hood in any kind of accident.

I think ie I don't know that the F has a different fixing at the rear, the TF one is pretty well secured by the boot lid and I think would stand up to a low speed impact at least, but MG would obviously say it's an asset as they were selling them (with a crappy foam lining).

In my opinion the car looks neater and prettier with it fitted but it is a faff to fit and normally by the time I've fitted it the clouds have gathered and rain is threatening, oh the joys of living here.

The earlier cover was more difficult to fit and doesn't have the tail that fits under the boot lid...