What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? : MGB & GT Forum : MG Experience Forums : The MG Experience

What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #1
spikemichael Michael Caputo Athol, MA, USA 1973 MG MGB 1973 MG MGB "Freebie" 1976 MG MGB "B-4" 1979 MG MGB "MegaBeanie" 1989 Suzuki Intruder 800 → more	Posted: April 12, 2012 10:44PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 6,923

Yep, I did the last one.

Michael J. Caputo
'79 RBB and '73 CBB owner with extensive experience in 12v Audio System design and installation.
Vendor of Regalia and Promotional Products. Forum Member with a warped sense of humor.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/12/2012 11:11PM by spikemichael.

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #2
davester Dave Diamond Berkeley, California, USA 1971 MG MGB GT	Posted: April 12, 2012 11:16PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 1,339

I did "run out of gas on a rainy night on a narrow high busy overpass while my new girlfriend was in the car". We had to get out of the car and stand on the edge because of the risk of getting rear-ended. The highway patrol showed up and pushed me me off the freeway, causing significant body damage to the rear panel. I should add that this was approximately 30 years ago.

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #3
Silverghost Peter Hays Chicago, IL, USA 1956 Jaguar Mark 1 "Lady Deliah II" 1963 Mini Clubman 1968 MG MGB	Posted: April 12, 2012 11:33PM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 300

Having a passerby knock on your front door, ask you if that's your green MG out in the street because it's on FIRE! True story...wires at the starter shorted out. All turned out ok though...

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #4
Dave Braun Minnesota, USA 1952 MG TD "Tommy" 1970 MG MGB "Maggie" 1974 Triumph Spitfire 1500 "Sammy"	Posted: April 13, 2012 02:11AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 2,056

True story.

When I bought my Audi A6 (used) it had only one key fob. They are the switch blade style and I assumed VERY expensive.

Working on an MG at a friend's house I locked the only key in the car. The nearest Audi dealer is 30 miles away. He drove me up there to order one.

A week later it arrived. He drove me up there to pick it up.

Funny thing is that Diane was always paranoid about the single key thing. Made it impossible for her to enjoy the car. Now that we have two, she likes it a lot more.

Cost? $175.

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #5
NewBRG72B Rodney McLain Greenville SC, USA 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class "The SLK" 2004 Volvo V70 "The Wagon" 2008 Mercedes-Benz E320 "The Diesel"	Posted: April 13, 2012 08:30AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 819

Parked car in front of house on the street. Was taking a shower before going to the airport. My wife opens door and asks "Where is your car?". I rather quickly went out and no car. Then I noticed that I had parked on a slight downhill grade. After walking a block or so, I saw the car sitting in the middle of a neighbor's front yard. Apparently it had popped out of gear (forgot to set hand brake) and it rolled down the street between two parked cars into their yard.Fortunately this was pre Youtube.

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #6
HL Miller Henry Miller Chair City, NC, USA	Posted: April 13, 2012 08:37AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 860

Horn sticking on a cruise night while I frantically dive under the hood to disconnect the wires ...

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #7
Burrell77 Cburrell77 Burrell New Hampshire, USA 1977 MG MGB MkIII	Posted: April 13, 2012 09:05AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 135

not to give you guys a hard time but, shouldn't the first thing you do when you buy a new/old car is get extra key(s) made? It only cost a few dollars for an MG. New cars are more expensive but you can buy aftermarket keyfobs and chipped keys for 1/4-1/2 the price of factory ones and they work great.
just my 2 cents worth.
Then you could be like my wife and every time you leave the house together a key goes with each person. (why I do not know, over cautious) I am fortunate, I have only had my keys locked in a car once and I have never lost any keys (yet)
The one time my keys got locked in the truck, the truck was running with my 2 year old in his car seat, got out of the truck in the drive way of a fiends house, shut the door 2 seconds later we heard the doors lock on their own. Thank You Onstar

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #8
bobbygee bobby galvez Round Rock, Texas, USA 1952 MG TD ""Duckie Tee"" 1979 MG MGB "Duckie Too"	Posted: April 13, 2012 09:50AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 1,744

Not offered as an option, but running out of gas.

Do it and you see people walking by shaking their heads and mouthing "MG's."

BobbyG

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #9
bcodegard38 Ben Odegard Livermore, CA, USA 1972 MG MGB	Posted: April 13, 2012 10:10AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 280

I was on a four mile jaunt coming home from work when my MGB started missing and then quite on me. I drifted over to the side of the road and watched as my fellow workers (I use the word loosely as it is a National Lab)) passed on by me. I called the local tow service after trying to restart for several minutes. When the tow truck arrived, he was mystified on how he was going to tow this tiny car. So he suggested trying to start it once again. Well it started. So here I am driving down a busy road with a tow truck right on my ass. Next day, I got so many calls remarking about the only way to travel with an MG and be sure you will arrive at your destination, is with a tow truck behind you. LOL

The MG motto: "OWN AN MG AND WALK WITH PRIDE" Actually, I wouldn't trade her for the world. "Old Yeller" has been a good friend and drinking buddy for 40 years. We've spent many nights on the road together.

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #10
spikemichael Michael Caputo Athol, MA, USA 1973 MG MGB 1973 MG MGB "Freebie" 1976 MG MGB "B-4" 1979 MG MGB "MegaBeanie" 1989 Suzuki Intruder 800 → more	Posted: April 13, 2012 10:19AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 6,923

At this point I am wishing I had added a few more options but I found the key this morning. Daylight is a wonderful invention, remind me to lookup and thank the inventor.

Funny but it seems I am destined to have cars with one key. I never lock the MG so that is not an issue. The 05 Buick I have two remote entry key fobs for, but only one key. The Geo? one Key, The Red buick? One Key, the new car? two ignition one door, the Reata? Well now that is Pete's, we had 12 door keys for it. but he has owned it for a year now and he is down to 6. Tamara never carries keys oh, and the house? One key.

Michael J. Caputo
'79 RBB and '73 CBB owner with extensive experience in 12v Audio System design and installation.
Vendor of Regalia and Promotional Products. Forum Member with a warped sense of humor.

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MG CALENDARS! MGB or MGA order TODAY! – Athol, MA USA $20 delivered anywhere! Visit www.mgbcalendar.com or CALL 617-674-4367

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #11
Mustangsix Jack Collins Orlando, FL, USA 1983 Jaguar XJ-S	Posted: April 13, 2012 10:34AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 213

You missed one:

"My carb float stuck open, fuel squirted out of the overflow, vapors caught fire, and my date and I were forced to flee the inferno!"

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #12
Bankerdanny Daniel Palmer Chicagoland, USA 1972 MG MGB GT "Dudley" 1977 Honda MC Gold Wing	Posted: April 13, 2012 10:53AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 1,058

I probably would have chosen major exaust noise from bad muffler if it had been there. A stupid tall speed bump peeled the bottom off my center muffler in January. I cobbled a repair together until I could get it into a garage, but it was still very loud.

I chose the sticking horn since that happened to me a could weeks ago. The ironic part is the horn button already didn't work and I didn't even know for sure if the horns worked. I know now as do the 10 or so people that were driving near me when it started to go off.

Endeavor to Persevere

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/13/2012 10:54PM by Bankerdanny.

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #13
29desoto Wayne Sanders Outside Otis, OR - in the woods!, USA 1965 MG MGB V6 Conversion "Tubby" 1977 MG MGB "Ole Yeller" 1979 MG MGB "Kermit" 1984 Chevrolet Corvette "The Green Weenie" 1994 Chevrolet S10 "Lil Red"	Posted: April 13, 2012 11:23AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 6,200

Running out of gas. Ultimate stupidity. Done it several times, and sure to repeat.

Ran out of gas once in the wife's car. With a cast on my left leg. Broken leg.

Gauge dropped from 1/4 to empty in a flash. Wife says "Oh, forgot to mention that....."

I think the crutches and cast saved me. Several people stopped to help.

Wayne Sanders
Rose Lodge, OR

"I don't care to belong to any club that accepts people like me"-joined Willamette Valley Club in 2011

77 MGB - Four tone paint - some kind of electronic ignition - hood props - cheap tires - new springs all around - mixture of poly and rubber bushings - original exhaust - fuzzy seatcovers - stereo out of old F150 pickup - virtually no rust - right front wrecked and semi well repaired - just about right for me!

78 MGB - Done right by a good PO, and I only bought it. Tell Jim how nice it is. But I did put in a Datsun 5 speed.

79/65 MGB - Tubby - Carmine Red - V-6 - T-5
Going to do this one more right, less rat rod!

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #14
rocannon Frank L Oklahoma, USA 1980 MG MGB "Restored By Photoshop Inc."	Posted: April 13, 2012 11:37AM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 2,173

Runnin out of gas

Procrastinate... later.

TANSTAAFL !

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #15
favedave David Church Saint Joseph, MO, USA 1967 MG MGB GT "Marilyn" 1995 Ford Probe 1995 Ford Probe "The Probe"	Posted: April 13, 2012 11:40AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 1,876

I voted "no wipers in the rain' because I've had that happen on both my 62 Sprite a zillion years ago and my MGB GT about five years ago. But my most embarrassing moments actually both occurred in my Sprite.

The first was the summer of 1967 when I'd first got the car. On a date I parked the car in a deserted location. When my date determined it was time to go I tried to start the car and nothing happened. After a half an hour of frustration on my part and recriminations on her's, I discovered that somehow we had knocked off all of the connections on the ignition switch...we never dated again.

The second involved the same Sprite. I never put the top up on the car unless it was absolutely necessary.
In Southern California that wasn't often. But it did rain occassional and after sitting in the trunk, the top tended to shrink up, making it extremely difficult to get the tabs on the windshield fastened. One night, with the rain pouring down I was attempting to get the top up before driving home from my current girl friend's house. I finally started pulling on the tab with a pair of channel locks and just a 1/16th of an inch short of success, the tab slipped out of the pliers. In frustration I hurled the channel locks towards the ground. Unfortunately I actually threw them through the top. Of course with the 'give' the foot long rip provided the tab slipped easily onto the peg. My girl friend Pam had a good laugh and provided me with duct tape to make my first permanent 'temporary' automotive repair with that indispensable product.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/13/2012 11:57AM by favedave.

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my Sprite 001.jpg (28.7 KB) –

Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #16
jkabrown Kenny Brown Reno, NV, USA 1967 MG MGB MkI 1976 MG MGB	Posted: April 13, 2012 11:55AM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 1,358

Lost a rear wheel while driving. Car dropped at the rear as the rear wheel rolled by, went a couple of hundred yards and bounced off of a cars front bumper. Forgot to check the lug nuts.

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #17
Rod H. Amity, Oregon, USA 1964 MG MGB 1968 MG MGB GT	Posted: April 13, 2012 12:02PM Registered: 9 years ago Posts: 14,987

In reply to # 2039121 by favedave I voted "no wipers in the rain' because I've had that happen on both my 62 Sprite a zillion years ago and my MGB GT about five years ago.

Brings back memories. The only one that I remember happening is the "no wipers on a GT". When my father remarried we got together with his new wife's family at Christmas. I was driving my stepsister, which I'd just met, to another Christmas gathering across town at my grandmother's house with the GT. It was pouring rain and the wipers stopped. I had just bought the car, and the DPO has placed the radio antenna right over the wiper motor, so it leaked into the motor. When I later removed the motor and shook it, it sounded like I was shaking a can of soup!

To the pure, all things are pure...

'63 MGB
'68 MGBGT
'80 VW Vanagon Kombi
'09 Mazda 3 with 5 speed manual

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #18
Be Coming Kelvin Dodd So. Calif., USA 1957 MG MGA 1957 MG MGA Coupe 1958 MG Magnette 1959 MG MGA 1962 Morgan 4 Seater → more	Posted: April 13, 2012 01:15PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 4,751

Running out of gas.

1965 MGB Vintage Race Car. I'd just installed a fuel cell and spent the extra money for a nifty fuel level sender and gauge, so I could run the car on the street.

Last lap of my first practice. - Guess I didn't calibrate the sender correctly.

Being towed in on a strap down the main straight is way toooooo embarrassing.

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #19
mgbfast3rthanu Russ B United States, USA 1980 MG MGB MkIV	Posted: April 13, 2012 02:06PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 13

Worst thing and unfortunately a common thing: Clutch slave cylinder busting its seal... ugh...i hate stop signs. As far as the whole locking yourself out thing... i don't know about the rest of you but it is physically impossible for me to lock myself out of my B. The door mechanism on the 80 wont let you lock it before closing the door. you can only lock it from inside, or outside with the key. but thats my 2 cents worth. Trailing fluids is something im rather used to. IF IT AINT LEAKING, ITS EMPTY =]

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Re: What is the ultimate embarrassing MGB break down? #20
MG Unlimited Lou Medeiros Londonderry, NH, USA 1980 MG MGB Limited Edition (LE) "Black Betty"	Posted: April 13, 2012 02:13PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 881

Back in '80 had the rear driver's side wheel come off my Midget, roll past me in perfect balance down Prospect road in FT Lauderdale right through a couple of stop lights. I was only 16 at the time and had to pull in to the first place (a bar) to call for my boss and ask him to bring me some lug nuts. As i went out to my car to wait for him, a pick-up stopped by, a guy got out handed me my wheel and said looking for this?...humbling moment. Somehow the car was not damaged when the wheel came off. Four lug nuts later and i was on the road again.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/13/2012 02:38PM by MG Unlimited.

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	Top down in a rain storm
	No headlights at night
	No wipers in the rain
	Trail of a fluid
	Dropped drive shaft
	Stuck Caliper / Drum
	Tossed Rod
	High Tone only horn
	Lost door panel when opening a door
	Ragtop coming loose while driving
	"I lost my one and only key."

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