Evil Time Warp Maesty

Ed · 18th July 2004, 11:57

I am quickly falling out of love with the Time Warp Maesty. Before any one says it, yes I know the car has been off the road 17 years and what do I expect, but that is no comfort when you are stranded in the pouring rain while other cars watch and laugh at the broken down Maestro. Oh yes, and out of about 100 cars, two stopped and asked if I was ok. A sign of society today??? As you can tell I am a little worked up but i'm sure i will be my cool self again shortly. :laugh:

The Maestro is now fully road worthy (taxed and mot'd) but is already developing new problems. Firstly, the other day i noticed that with the engine running, the windscreen wipers didn't work and neither did the clock or the heater fan. I checked the fuses and all were ok. I then found that with the ignition set to one, all these things did work but as soon as the ignition turned on, they didn't. Also, the temperature gauge has started to work intermitently. Today, she just died on a very busy and rainy road. Stranded for 25 very wet minutes, she finally restarted and strangely all the items were working properly again as they should. When i got home, i restarted her, and they had stopped working with the ignition on again?

To top things off, i think the bulkhead may be letting water in.

My present state of mind has me thinking "Go back to your Montys, they have never let you down" but I am hoping that i can be convinced that these are simple teething problems and to keep at it.

Can anyone help? She will spend another 17 years in the garage if she's going to continue misbehaving.

Rich · 18th July 2004, 15:40

Its possible you may have some ignition relays sticking or not working properly?? I would suspect that someof the electrical components have succum to the lack of use, and moisture of sitting about for 17 years. Is there any sign of corrosion on any of the multiplugs? If so give em a good clean up and put some sillicone grease on them, espeically in engine bay areas.

18th July 2004, 19:00

With a car that has been unused 17 years, you really have answered your own question. Every single earth needs stripping and cleaning for a start. I would give most of the car a strip down and replace certain parts that fatigue with age. All new ignition components etc, which are prone to breakdown with damp weather. And i certainly wouldnt consider using it until everything was sorted, regardless of a past MOT. IMO.

e692wtt · 18th July 2004, 20:05

I would say that if things work intermittently when the ignition key is turned to different positions on different occasions, then you have answered the question. If the car cuts out after a certain time then starts again after a short delay then this would make me suspect even more that it's the ignition switch causing a problem.

Of course, it could be a sticking relay (are there any? I don't think there are any triggered by the Ignition Switch at positions I and II on these early Maestros) and may well be a dodgy connection elsewhere as well

- or several...

.

If the electrical connector will fit, try fitting the ignition switch 'base' off one of the Montegos to the Maestro and see if that cures it. Hopefully things will be better if not totally cured. I would say use the 'switch base' on its own using a screwdriver to operate it, as a temporary measure, just to see...

crippsacars · 18th July 2004, 21:25

Don't loose heart. You will get lots of problems but gradually it WILL get better. Electrical connections in relays and switches do seem to be a problem when left for so long-a electrical contact cleaner will help as will cleaning all those earths etc as previously posted.
Should you break down again when you think they are laughing at you just think how much those new cars have depreciated in the time you've sat there! Good luck with it.

e692wtt · 18th July 2004, 21:50

I forgot to say that bit, Ed... stick with it, it'll all be worthwhile when you show the Time Warp Maesty at BL Day!

And thinking of all the money we save driving these cars helps me through the, errm, *difficult* bits too. :laugh:

Good luck, it'll be fine.

Ed · 19th July 2004, 11:08

Cheers for all your positive words guys. I have calmed down a bit now and the Maestro is not receiving as much rage as it was yesterday. I've got a good couple of weeks before BL day so am going to take everything apart and check all the electrics and all that stuff. Theres a lot of greeny blue mould on a lot of the connectors, probably not helping.

My Countryman is still playing up too so its hard to keep positive but will try my best!

MG1600S · 20th July 2004, 10:39

Open the glovebox and drop the panel down above it. You should find 3 relays there, 4 if you have optional electric windows. They are labeled as to what relay does what. One of them is a main ignition / accessory feed. Swap them round see if it does anything. As for checking electrical terminals, pay atention to the big block connector next to the washer bottle. Having said all that, it does sound like a sticky ignition switch. Also with that panel down, you can check the 2 big block connectors from the main harness to the dash harness there. There is also an earth point to the body via a 13mm bolt to the bulkhead just below the fusebox. The other 2 earth points worth checking are on the chassis legs behind the headlamps, also with 13mm bolt fixings...

macwomble · 23rd July 2004, 21:58

Hi Montyboy,

I'm new on here and don't know that much about maestros or montys yet, still I've just bought ex- your mod monty off ebay for a good deal more than you paid for it so you can have a laff, instead of thinking about your breakdown.

Strikes me that your timewarp will need all the electrics cleaned at the least, and have you replaced all the rubber belts , (timing belt, fan belt etc) in the engine if not you are asking for big troubles.

Graham (Inverness)

Ed · 24th July 2004, 17:50

luckily this engine is chain driven and the fan belt looks like new still. It doesn't appear to have been affected by the elements.

I am certain its the ignition switch as its now doing all kinds of things when I try to start it.

Does anyone know if a 1991 MG Monty one will be the same?

macwomble · 24th July 2004, 18:02

See thread on Vandlised maestro, according to that switch should be ok.

Graham

Ed · 24th July 2004, 21:31

I'll have a go at changing that tomorrow then. Only a week til BL Day and i can't have her playing up then!

Ed · 25th July 2004, 16:47

Hi Guys

Today I have attempted to change the ignition switch for the one out of my MG Monty that I am breaking (a 1991 H reg car). Unfortunately there is one less wire on the Montego switch and the multi-plugs are different. I have taken out the old switch for the Maestro and cleaned it up and lubricated it as it was very mouldy and the terminals were covered in powdery greeny/blue deposits. I put it back in but the car is no different.

The problem is very intermitent now and worse than before. Some times when I go to start it (key position 3), nothing happens at all, not even a click and all the ignition lights and clock go out even though they come on at position 2. Other times it will start normally and other times it will not make a sound when I turn the key to position three, but when i release the key, it starts!??

Does this still sound like the ignition switch and if so, does any body have one for an early Maestro that I can buy off them?

I am getting preparing for the fact that I may have to take my chances at BL day as she is.

Ricky · 25th July 2004, 22:38

I've just thought about it (yes, it hurt!), somewhere around here I should have an ignition switch for an early Maestro as I had to replace the barrel on the MG after the key decided to lose a bit inside it and make the barrel jam up! I believe the difference with the early switch is that there is no way of stopping you turning over the car after it has started, so that you can mash the starter motor

I'll see if i can find it, it can't be that far away, but I also have a sneaking suspicion i have cannibalised the multiplug from it for the stereo wiring

If I can find it though, you can have it, save you buying a brand new switch (from memory it cost me about £75!) not knowing whether it is actually the fault or not.

Ricky.

Ed · 26th July 2004, 11:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky

I've just thought about it (yes, it hurt!), somewhere around here I should have an ignition switch for an early Maestro as I had to replace the barrel on the MG after the key decided to lose a bit inside it and make the barrel jam up! I believe the difference with the early switch is that there is no way of stopping you turning over the car after it has started, so that you can mash the starter motor

I'll see if i can find it, it can't be that far away, but I also have a sneaking suspicion i have cannibalised the multiplug from it for the stereo wiring

If I can find it though, you can have it, save you buying a brand new switch (from memory it cost me about £75!) not knowing whether it is actually the fault or not.

Ricky.

Thanks Ricky

Appreciate it. Let me know if you find it.

Ta