Hissing noise then......steam/smoke everywhere

[ypauly]

what happened? to my MGF

I was sitting at traffic lights when the hissing started then steam everywhere was a mile or so away from home engine sounds fine so continued watched the temperature guage going up but hadn't got to the red by the time I parked up.

I am new to MG ownership and a faint ticking noise that I was going to get looked at has now stopped (since the steam/smoke incident.


IT's very late now as you can see but I will need to know what's wrong so I can get it fixed and also need to know if it is ok to drive to the garage.

any help will be much appreciated

P.S bought from a dealer only 3 weeks ago!

Edited by ypauly on Saturday 10th October 00:33

[Kentish]

More than likely that the head gasket has gone I'm afraid.

You should really have stopped as soon as you noticed the hissing and steam as you may have cooked your engine driving further with it like that.

There is another thread running posted by pattycatty (IIRC) with details of a good mechanic.

All the best!

[Derek Smith]

ypauly said:

what happened? to my MGF

I was sitting at traffic lights when the hissing started then steam everywhere was a mile or so away from home engine sounds fine so continued watched the temperature guage going up but hadn't got to the red by the time I parked up.

I am new to MG ownership and a faint ticking noise that I was going to get looked at has now stopped (since the steam/smoke incident.


IT's very late now as you can see but I will need to know what's wrong so I can get it fixed and also need to know if it is ok to drive to the garage.

any help will be much appreciated

P.S bought from a dealer only 3 weeks ago!

If you bought from a dealer then you have some recourse. If, as seems probable, the car was not fit for purpose then the dealer has to repair the car or refund your money.

Don't be confused by any warranty offered if it limits the above rights.

[eddie1980]

Could be the radiator pipes that have ruptured, its very common on these. Check the coolant level, if its low don't drive it.

[GingerWizard]

I would say cylinder head or gasket. They are notorious on these. The temp gauge went up as your engine emptied its self of its coolant. Get it to a garage pronto (probably best to take it back where your bought it from....)

best of luck..

Gwiz

[ypauly]

Dealer said he will have a look at it in the morning, seems nice enough but if it is the head gasket can I refuse the car?

how far do my rights stretch?

[grahamw48]

To be fair, headgasket could have gone at any time, so don't know if the dealer can be held responsible, even if that particular engine is prone to it.

[ypauly]

I have just stood and watched a mechanic investigate and it looks like the water pump decided it no longer wanted to be a water pump. Though they can't be sure head gasket hasn't gone until a new pump is fitted it looks like gasket is ok.

anyway The dealer seems like a Top bloke and will sort it whatever it is.

[bazking69]

The 'must be the HG' brigade strike again. Brilliant.

However in their defence, it will go at some point...