Help with a few long standing problems with my mg maestro turbo

[Andy]

Hello there, with the show season coming up I would like to resolve a few annoying problems with my mg maestro turbo. Any advice would be grateful but a solid suggestion of a garage to take it to solve these issues would be great. I live in Darlington but would be willing to travel around the North East area to get them sorted.

The first issues been terrible cold starting. It takes absolutely ages. Starts fine when warm. I had the engine set up on a RR last year after a few modifications were done and it runs fine now but this didn't help the starting issues. I have replaced the autochoke and o rings in the past.

Second is the tank leaks when trying to brim. It comes out the fill nozzle instead of stopping the pump, then leaks out of somewhere dripping down, not sure where. And the gauge still only shows just over 3/4 full. I have had work done on the tank in the past to stop other leeks. Had the car to a few places, no ones interested in resolving the issue. If anyone had a mg maestro turbo tank for sale would even take that just to rule a problem with the tank out. Any suggestions how or where to take to solve these issues would be greatly appreciated. Andrew

[Jeff Turbo]

Cold starting issues first.
When you turn the ignition on and turn over from cold does the small rod (fast idle)pop out of the stepper motor? If so has the carb been adjusted for clearance to the fast idle for cold start? There is a fast idle adjustment bolt that connects with the fast idle rod when it's out for cold start, try adjusting that when it's fully in as it might not be enough to get full choke. There are supposed to be certain gaps in the settings for cold starting. lost motion gap 1.8mm +/-0.25, fast idle gap 0.13mm.
If not working it might be fuel ecu, temperature sensor or air temperature sensor not working correctly
It was quite common when filling the tank to get a blow back and you get covered in fuel with trapped air, is that what you mean? If so when that happens put the fuel in slower from the pump when nearing full. If you're still getting leaks you should check the fuel filler pipe for rust and the rubber pipes for holes in the pipes
If the tank is only showing 3/4 and you think it should be full due to the above, the blow back? Try putting in slower when nearing full. If you're sure it's full then the sender could be faulty with age

[Jeff Turbo]

I see you've logged on so you must have read this, did the above help you?

[Andy]

Hi Jeff. Thanks for the reply. I haven't had the chance yet to check out any of the above. The starting issues checklist sounds positive. I will have a look st the tank pipes but I have a feeling it might have to come out at some point.