Carl´s MGF Features - Special Edition No. III
The delayed Power Signal
(updated 12.08.03/5)

Who did not already get angry about this ?
You switch off the ignition, but the windows are still open. Or you forgot to open the boot with your additional fitted bootlid release kit. No Problem our Friend Carl found a solution.:))

The main relay output signal is delayed for about 30 seconds until 1 1/2 minutes controlled by MEMS ECU. So enough time for young and old MGF Enthuthiasts to move the windows or open the boot. Carl sent the instruction by fax and eMail and I tried to build this web based instruction.

This instruction includes two ways to get the wiring done.

  • Version for MGF with Aircon
  • Version for MGF without Aircon

1. Introduction
When performing this alteration to the electrical system then be prepared to put a standard flexible cable from the engine (MEMS Unit) to the front of the car (dashboard fusebox). If no aircondition is installed, then see below for usage of an existing not used cable of the aircon wiring.
This because Rover in their wisdom haven't fitted one single cable to be used for this little extra equipment !
There are several rubber grommets in the engine bays walls etc. so its not a big deal to put the wire in. But beware of future troubles (short cuts!!) and stay away from any sharp objects that in time can cut thru the cables isolation.
This description is valid for left hand drive cars. Some changes may exist on right hand cars. Remove the negative lead from the battery so all systems is safe to work on.


2. Required Parts
for the MGF with Aircon:
- app 4 meters of standard car wire (PVC isolated flexible) 0.75 or better 1.5 square mm.

in each case for both versions:
- 3 pcs of crimp connectors (pipes, for putting two wires together)
(can be replaced by other crimp connectors too)
- 2 pcs Diode. Type 1N400x- serie (i.e 1N4001)
- 1 pcs of cable bypass connector (blue coloured)
- app 40mm of shrink tubing to cover diodes and cable connectors
- cable tyes or similar to to attach cables securely
- Solder Iron , crimp tool.
- Printout of 'MEMS System' electrical diagram and 'Windows' electrical diagrams

blue = bypass crimp connector

3. diode package preparation
- Take the 2 diodes and solder them together with short pcs of cable. Attention on the polarity of the diodes !!
- Cover diodes and bare metal with shrink tubing.
- Result is a package with three cables coming out. A and B on one side, C at the other side.


!!! drawn above not soldered and not isolated

4. MEMS ECU Side wiring
Look at the below drawn MEMS diagram for the main relay. The relais is located below the ECU on the right hand side of the engine. There comes out the cable marked with NK (Brown/Pink coloured). That one appears at several places around the MEMS Unit in the engine compartment, i.e. at the purge valve (see picture)

MGF with aircon:
Connect at any place the 4m long cable to the Brown/Pink by use of the blue coloured cable bypass connector.
Lead the cable up to the left upper side of the MGF and put it thru walls, along the door sealing, under the carpet up in the footwell to the dashboards fusebox.

MGF without Aircon:
make only a short connection between the (Brown/Pink) wire and a not used wire at the ECU as described under issue 4.1

 

Principals explained at the ECU Main Relais diagram

This small copy of the MEMs wiring explains the rear located main relay, located under the ECU and the brown-pink wire which leads the delayed power signal to several actuators of the car. i.e to the purge valve.
MGF MEMS electrical diagram (upper part)

How to find the brown-pink anywhere for both versions


Overview picture

(left hand arrow shows the position of the mainrelais connector, if the simple no aircon version

ECU side right handECU connector

or here at the purge valve
Location samples for the brown/pink delay signal wire. At the Purge valve is the most easy to find location which is recommended to be connected with a bypass crimp connector

Getting the Power delay signal from rear to the front of the car

4.1 Option for cars if an NO aircondition is installed .
It is possible on cars with NO installed aircondition to use an existing cable between the footwell and the MEMS ECU unit. This makes work much easier because no new long cable needs to be fitted. You only need to make a short connection from the brown-pink to the following not use cable at the connector behind the ECU.

Locate the needed cable as follows at the rear:

When looking at ECU units left side you will see a black connector fastened to the black bracket which holds the ECU at th rear panel. Find the Blue Yellow wire. It has no connection on the right side of the connector, if no aircon is installed. This wire leads to the front under the dash board area to the not used but at each MGF existing white coloured multi connector for the aircon. We use this wire as substitute for the in other case to lead new long wire. you can cut it or use a bypass crimp connector to add a bypass wire to the brown-pink wire of the ECU.

Attach a connector or bypass and cable which is long enough to reach the thin Brown Pink cable on the purge valve. This one is located slightly to the right of the MEMS ECU unit. It is a black plastic container with several hoses . On its top is a electric valve and 2 cables.
One Yellow Orange and the other is our wanted Brown Pink.

Locate the cable as follows at the front:

LHD cars Near the window lift relay at extreme left you will find a loose white coloured multi connector . This connector is supposed to go to the relaybox for the aircondition if fitted. Check the cables for the Blue Yellow. You can cut this wire or add a bypass crimp connector and wire of about 30cm lenght for the further works.

RHD cars you will find a loose white coloured multi connector at the co-Drivers side, just near the upper hinge of the door behind the footwell carpet. This connector is supposed to go to the relaybox for the aircondition if fitted. Check the cables for the Blue Yellow. You can cut this wire or add a bypass crimp connector and wire of about 1.50 m lenght for the further works. You need to lead this wire to the drivers side where you find the window lift relay is at extreme right.
[Thnx fly to Paul Lane who gave this additional instruction for RHD cars !! :) ]

Jump to 5. and leave out 4.2 if you have no aircon

4.2. Option for MGF with Aircon

connect a 4m long wire to the Brown-Pink wire and lead it to the front of the car to the fuse box.
(here the location of the brown-pink wire at the ECU) (c)picture courtesy Cyril Winkler
The way to the front leads below the left boot lid hinge to the rear left side of the cabin where the engine cover carpet is located. Find the oval grommet behind the caropet and lead the cable there to the cabin along the door frame to the fusebox.

5. Final front wiring for both options

Principals

Look at the Windows electrical diagram. Find the 453 window lift relay. Find cable LG (Light green) and cut it.
Connect point B of the diode package to the LG cable side which leads to 'Header Joint 808'.
Connect 'C' of the diode to the other end of the cable (Window lift relay control)
Attn.: For more additional actuators wich should be delayed in power off, like a boot lid release solenoid you can conncect a relay coil to terminal 'C' and lead the second terminal of the relais coil to 'ground'.


MGF WINDOWS electrical diagram

5.1 Location of the Window Lift Relay

Open up the cover for "Passenger Compartment Fusebox". Remove the cover by loosening 2 screws at the hinge. Slight loosening is enough to draw lid outward and removal. You can now see the fuses in a grey coloured box and at the left corner 3 relays at the metal frame of the fuse box. To get better access remove 2 nuts holding plastic fuseholder. Let this unit hang down. You now can see the cables going to the 3 relays. The upper relay is the Window lift relay. To this relay there are cables going in following colours:
thin Black, thick brown, thick brown-blue and thin Light-Green.

It is the thin Light Green that is the one which shall be cut in a manner that enough cable exists at both ends for connection. The Light Green going to the relay connects to terminal "C" the other Light Green to terminal "B" of our diode package.

Connect side "A" of the diode package to the
- in case 4.1 lead bypass cable at the Blue Yellow, or
- in case 4.2 to the new cable.

All work at the fusebox is now completed. Reinstall the fuseholder and the lid.


6. Test
Testing for correct funktion.
Attach the ground wire back to the battery.
click several times on the Alarm Blippers 'close-button' to reset the alarmsystem until the doors lock .
Start the engine and check that the windows can be opend and shut. Stop the engine and release the ignition key. Check that the windows still can be operated. Now the windows will be able to be operated for app. 30 seconds - sometimes up to 1,5 minutes.

Wait approx. 45 sec. MEMS should now have closed down and it should NOT be possible to operate the windows.


6.1 Possible faults.
On some cars there is a power drain problem that looks as follows: When car is left standing for around 10 days to 3 weeks there is no charge left in the battery. This can be rather confusing as no light or other current drawing device is on. Normal consumption for alarm etc. is very low. (2..5mA?) The problem is that the MEMS unit never powers down!! This means that the main relay and MEMS computer is running all the time! When this happends also our delayed function for windows will never power down. It is then possible to operate the windows at any time after shutoff off engine. This is a MEMS-related problem NOT linked to above done alterations! If this problem exists contact Your dealer.
This term is confusing on Dieters MGF because the delay time at his 96 MGF is recently 5 Minutes !?

7. Further extensions.
It is possible to connect an electric bootlid opener as well to this circuit. Best done via a simple relay because this pull solenoid draws some heavy current. Also be aware that upon operating such a device high back EMF-voltages will be generated when switching. This back EMF is best dampend by a diode across pullmagnet coil. Note the polarity of such a diode!


THAT IS WHAT ROVER SHOULD HAVE DONE FROM THE BEGINNING !!


diagram for version with new long cable, similar valid if the existing cable of an not installed aircon is used.

(c) Carl, the great from Sweden, Release 06.02.00 Some of the pictures, courtesy Cyril Winkler, Switzerland, edited and enhanced by Dieter Koennecke enhanced for RHD cars by Paul Lane.

Update MGTF: 2002

The MGTF has this feature included. See for the existing harness.

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© 2000 - 2008 Dieter Koennecke