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MG Midget and Sprite General - Problems with my latest Midget

I have had my Midget for about eight weeks and love it but.......

It has now been fitted with new dampers and poly bushed front and rear refurbished carbs fitted and it runs very well.
I have a squeak that seems to come from the dash area or steering wheel, I have hunted high and low but just cannot trace it and its starting to pee me off. I have tugged and pulled and cannot find anything that might be to blame. Ideas please!

The battery is I am told only a few months old but on a cold day will not spin it over for long before it is flat, should I replace the dynamo with an alternator and what is involved?

Just to add to all this I now have a split in the windscreen, I was told that most people would replace the screen and frame as it will need new rubbers and is a sod to take apart.

Apart from that its a nice little car!

Alan
A G L BRADLEY

Hi Alan. Possibly the battery may be on it's way out or it has too small a reserve (cold cranking amps) for cranking the engine. I'd check the size of it and have it load tested to see if it is indeed failing. It shouldn't matter if it's a dynamo or alternator when it comes to putting out a charge.

A good charging system will do about 14.5 volts when running.

As for the windscreen, I obtained the new parts and farmed it out to a professional shop. Sorry I can't recommend on there. Make sure the screws go back into the correct holes. I think some are longer than others and putting them in the wrong hole will crack the new glass as they are tightened up.
Clive Reddin

Alan
Squeeks are a part of the midget experiance!

I would switch to an alternator.
If every thing is 100% ok then a dynamo is fine but in real life with headlamps and blower on in this weather it is marginal.
It involves removing dynamo and regulator (black box on the bulkhead) and a little bit of rearranging wires.
Google for it plenty of advice.
I would also get good battery clamps as the connection there is key.

As for the window let the pro do it it realy is a pain!
Onno K

Alan,
I had a squeek / rubbing noise that was caused by the the horn push contact behind the steering wheel. Try jacking up the front wheels & turning the steering wheel from lock to lock, this should help you locate the noise.

I cured mine by cleaning & bending the contact until it was o/k.

As for the starting problem do as advised & check that the charging system is supplying about 14.5 volts, have the battery load tested, if all is o/k then the next step is to clean & tighten all the joints in the 12 volt supply from the battery via the solenoid to the starter motor.

The change from dynamo to altenator is best left until you have solved the startin problem.

Alan.
Alan cotterill

This thread was discussed between 11/12/2011 and 12/12/2011

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