Collected new car...few questions

[re-tread]

On the door handle surround, both mine have broken like this and my cheap fix is a little hot melt glue on the inside of the chrome frame then push it back on. this is strong enough to hold it in place but you can still get it off in needed. Not too much glue though.

[Coasting]

I can confirm battery light (other lights) flickering and this is normal.

Re the pedals, yes the throttle pedal can be stiff and the clutch heavy and low too, I think this might be normal?

When going for full throttle I really have to push the pedal hard, think they are just heavy?

ETA would like to see some pics of the car, I thought about the one you have when I got mine, but was put off by the black wheels, does it still have them?

[Keith]

The chrome surrounds break if some ham fisted person removes the door card incorrectly..
Fix for the flickering light is to buy a Supercharger as that runs the alternator in reverse , cheaper fix might be to replace the belt tensioner.

Throttle cables go dry and get gritty to operate also correct routing makes a big difference.

Clutch is very heavy, best way to check for anything unusual would be to compare to another car.
I did 200 Miles around some of Snowdonias finest roads yesterday, clutch and left leg got quite a workout

[wraith01mg]

as far as the door handle chrome is concerned. you can buy them only as a complete part ie with the handle, as the chrome bit is heat welded to the handle. so the glue option is the easiest option. as has been said already.

regarding the mirror motors. i did not know that cos my left one does not work well. ill have the back off to see if any cables have become detached. cheers.

[Keith]

I forget to mention 9 times out of 10 it is the mirror joystick so all the switch pack control needs is cleaning as dirt can get under the rubber membrane and the PCB

The design is near identical to any TV remote
dismantle it wash the membrane and clean the PCB contacts gently with a pencil rubber.

[wraith01mg]

ok i'll look into that first. sounds likely suspect to me too.

[colintf]

On the door handle surround, both mine have broken like this and my cheap fix is a little hot melt glue on the inside of the chrome frame then push it back on. this is strong enough to hold it in place but you can still get it off in needed. Not too much glue though.

Nick up at Austin Garages has done this to two of mine after Uplands did the speaker upgrade.

[kris214]

Thanks guys for all the replies, yous really have put my mind at ease about a few things.

I will attempt a glue repair for the chrome surround.

Coasting - Yes it still has the black wheels which I don't think look too bad. I plan to get them painted in a different colour though

[jenksman]

Hi Kris214
I don't wish to alarm you but this is a potentially serious problem.
If it loosens up after a drop of oil and some regular use, then fine.
However please check that the inner wire is not frayed, perhaps with one or two strands broken.
If this is the case then re-new the cable
If the cable sticks with the throttle wide open you will find yourself in a lot of trouble
Happened to me in a Triumph 2.5 injection,quite a nippy car in it's day
I was driving from Scotland to Wales a distance of about 400 miles and I was only 20 miles from home when it happened.
I managed to stop the car and removed a couple of the plug leads so I could limp home, but it was not a nice experience
For years when driving an old MG I've carried around a bicycle brake cable from Halfords complete with solderless nipple
Anyway Kris please check
Regards Dave

[brrm]

How free should the throttle cable be? Mine has the very slightest sense of stiction, i.e. I can tell it's a cable rather than fly-by-wire, and it feels about the same as my MGB. Should I expect it to be smoother than that?