Starting after being stood...

Post by **louisahorses** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:16 pm

Hi, I'm new to this group and would like some advice if possible. I have just inherited a morris minor from my auntie who passed away a couple of months ago. I haven't seen the car yet as its based in London so am unsure of the year etc. Are there any special things to do before attempting to start or move the car, as i am under the impression that it hasn't been used for the past year due to my aunties illness. I currently know nothing about morris minors and have never even travelled in one!
Any advice anyone could give me would be a great help.
By the way, I'm not planning on driving the car all the way back from london as I live in Oswestry so that would be some drive!

Many Thanks,
Louisa

Post by **Onne** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:13 pm

First of all, check all the fluids.
The bonnet pull is a round metal pull, hidden under the dash, behind the steering column.
The dipstick for the oil (on the lhs of the engine)
The radiator for the coolant
The brake fluid. (this is under the carpet where the driver sits, you should undo a cap with LOCKHEED on. Fluid should be just below the filler neck)

If you have done all this, try and see if the engine turns over by the starter motor, even better with the handle.

If all that is smooth, and not stuck, start the engine. Depending oin the year this is either by turning the key, then pulling the rh pull-switch.
The later cars just use the key as in a modern car.
You may need to use the choke when starting, that's the pull with 'C' on.
Then very carefully drive it, and test the brakes.

Of course you need to be insured, MOTd and taxed

Post by **louisahorses** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:56 pm

Many thanks for the reply, I am hoping to pop down this weekend to have a look at the car, just a matter of figuring out where everything is, so thanks once again for the info!
I currently drive a 1971 vw beetle, so hopefully it shouldn't be much more complicated than that!

Once i've found if its running or not, i planned to put it in the back of my horsebox to bring it back from london, rather than risk the drive - Its bad enough in a modern car!

Thanks once again,
Louisa.

Post by **grahamt7** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 9:40 pm

Gawd - London to Oswestry is only 178 miles.....if it's mot'd, taxed and insured go for it girl! When i got mine I drove it from Kent to Manchester on day one (almost from beach in Kent and via a slight detour of about 35 miles - got lost), a total of 315 miles!

Mind you, then an engineer told me that the front drivers side wheel was hanging by a thread!

Hey Ho!

Post by **louisahorses** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:48 am

Hi Graham,

Wow thats certainly a fair old trip to do without any problems - well apart from the wheel hanging off!

I thought though with it being near christmas to avoid any problems of breaking down, i would be better bringing it back rather than driving it, especially with it not being used for a while.
I also don't have the insurance or mot sorted out yet or tax for it.

Many Thanks,
Regards,
Louisa
x

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:16 am

If it has been used for a long time - much better to squirt a little oil down the spark plug holes, and turn the engine over on the starting handle a few turns. Then - still with the plugs out - crank it over on the starter (you will almost ceratinly need to use jump leads or a new battery) until the oil pressure light goes out. Then in with the plugs and try to start it - the petrol pump may not be working - they sometomes react to a good thump - and it's often difficult to get an engine to start on 'old' petrol - so you may have to pour a little 'new' petrol down the carburettor to get it to fire the first time round. Brakes may also be stuck ON, and the clutch may well be stuck to the flywheel. If you can get the engine running - let it warm right up and let the heat soak through into the clutch - they sometimes come loose after the heat gets to the linings. If it will go in a trailer I agree - that's a better bet to get it home, and then you can sort it all out there rather than on the hard-shoulder of a Motorway!!

Post by dp » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:21 am

Hi Louisa,

If the minor is in North or East London, I could give you a hand on Saturday morning or Sunday.

Cheers,

Darren

Post by **louisahorses** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:25 pm

Many thanks for the info, although i'm not that mechnically minded! So some things like taking out spark plugs i wouldn't be sure of, also, where abouts would i find the starting handle - in the boot? And does this attach to the front of the engine?

It should fit easily in the back of my horsebox lorry as I had to collect my beetle in the same way. I also have a spare battery somewhere which i should be able to use for trying to start it.

I'm planning on going down tomorrow, but will be at olympia tomorrow afternoon and evening, will be coming back home on the saturday. The car is near to wapping where my parents live. Will try and drag my other half to come and help me .....

Many thanks,
Regards,
Louisa
x

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 1:39 pm

Hopefully the other half can deal with the spark plugs!!

Post by **ColinP** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:27 pm

But they are much easier to see and remove/replace on a Minor than a Beetle!

My beetle was the only car I've managed to cross thread the plugs (buried in the air ducts).

Have a safe trip - there do seem to be a lot of motorists in a rush this week (and not all of them get there)

Colin

Post by **louisahorses** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 4:18 pm

Hi All,

I successfully managed to get the minor home, luckily the chap who lived next door had been starting her every month or so.
She took a few times of starting to fire up, but we got there in the end.
Managed to load her on the lorry ok, brakes seemed a bit non-existent, but am going to have her checked out this week.

Decided that i'm going to keep her, from the info i have got she seems to be a 1962 minor that has done 81,000 ish miles.

Many thanks for all your help. Will keep you posted of any developments!

Regards,
Louisa.
xxx

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 4:30 pm

Well done. Take good care of it!

Post by **Kevin** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:18 pm

Congatulations Louisa and you did the right thing bringing it home rather than driving it as it hadnt been used for a while, have lots of fun