Skip to content
MOTRS

MGB GT

1965-1980 / Coupe / United Kingdom

All MGB GT problems All workshop issues
Common Cooling and Fuel

Fuel Pump Failure

Symptoms

Engine starves for fuel under load, particularly at high RPM or when the tank is low. The engine sputters and dies, then restarts after a few minutes (vapour lock).

Cause

The SU electric fuel pump (mounted at the rear near the tank) uses contact points that corrode and pit. Modern ethanol-blended fuel accelerates deterioration of the pump's internal diaphragm.

Fix

Rebuild the pump ($40--80 for a kit) or replace with a modern solid-state fuel pump ($80--150). The electronic replacements are more reliable and quieter.

Cost mentioned in fix
$40$80

Know something we don't?

Owned a MG MGB GT? Share your experience with this issue. What worked, what didn't, costs, tips. Help the community.

Submit an update
// More MGB GT problems

Other known issues

Common Cooling and Fuel

Carburettor Wear and Maladjustment

Rough idle, hesitation, poor fuel economy, rich or lean running.
Minor Body and Structure

Sill Corrosion (Inner and Outer)

The outer sill skin bubbles, softens, and eventually perforates. In advanced cases, the outer sill crumbles when prodded. The inner sill -- the structural member -- rots from inside the box section and loses its load-bearing capacity.
Critical Body and Structure

Floor Pan Corrosion

Soft or perforated floor pans, particularly in the footwells and under the seats. Wet carpet is a telltale sign. In severe cases, you can see the road through the floor.
Minor Body and Structure

A-Post Corrosion

Rust at the base of the windscreen pillars where they meet the scuttle panel. This area can be invisible until advanced.
Minor Body and Structure

Door Skin Corrosion

Rust along the bottom edge of each door, working upward from the inside.
Minor Body and Structure

Rear Spring Hanger Corrosion

The mounting points for the leaf spring rear suspension corrode, crack, or tear away from the body.
View all 18 MGB GT problems