Jonn carried out a visual inspection underneath our 1980 MG Midget and greased all necessary points. The brakes were bled and the reservoir was topped up. Upon checking the coolant, brown sludge was discovered, prompting a full drainage and the beginning of a cooling system strip-down and clean. The radiator and associated pipework were removed and thoroughly flushed in the sink until clear.
The vehicle was taken outside and the engine flushed as thoroughly as possible. The thermostat housing was removed, and the thermostat was tested and found to be unserviceable. Damaged Jubilee clips were replaced, and all outlets and connections were cleaned. Components including the radiator, hoses, and others were refitted. A new thermostat was installed, and a gasket was fabricated for the housing. The radiator, cowling, and header tank were reinstalled.
A vacuum test was conducted but failed to hold pressure, with an audible leak suggesting a fault within the heater radiator. On further investigation, a leak was confirmed in the heater matrix. The heater box was subsequently stripped down, and the faulty heater matrix was removed.
