Olive died within 10 minutes of purchase yesterday!

Post by **oregondiver** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:09 pm

I bought my first Morris Minor yesterday (1967 2 door saloon named Olive by her previous owners).

I bought it in the USA, at a British Car Swap Meet. I pulled it onto the freeway to drop it off at home, and it died within seconds of being on the freeway. Literally, dead. On the freeway! 1 police car, 1 emergency response crew, 1 tow truck driver and two former owners showed up. Sigh.

Appears it was sold to me with a miniscule amount of petrol/gas. Not even enough to get to a gas station!

Finally got Olive running, but belching black/brown smoke and got it home. Fuel line is clean. Did the carburator get all the gunk and now it should only need to be cleaned out?

This is the only forum I have found so far, so forgive my US terminology. Maybe there is a US forum I should be using instead?

Post by **leafie** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:21 pm

Welcome to the site, not the best start to ownership by the sound of it. I’m sure things will get better and you will enjoy owning a minor, there are lots of people on here who will give you any advice you need to keep your car on the road.

Leafie

Post by **tortron** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:23 am

check the fuel filter going into the carb bowl

Post by **leyther8008** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:22 am

Black smoke is usually a sign of way to much fuel, dont think I,ve ever seen brown smoke coming out of a minor plenty of blue (oil) smoke though although you can get rusty water out of the tailpipe if the cars been gently driven then blasted as the exhaust silencer fills with condensate,
Check the choke isnt stuck on, done by lowering the whole jet on an SU carb, sometimes they do stick if the cars been stood feel under the body of the carb while somebody works the choke for you. Minors are amazing things that run long after other vehicles give up the ghost.

Post by **Stig** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:23 am

tortron wrote:check the fuel filter going into the carb bowl

That's the mesh one in the fuel pump, probably worth cleaning out the float chamber of the carb as well though.

If it's any consolation I didn't make it straight home after originally collecting my Minor either due to a leaking heater tap - my brother was following in his MG and could see clouds of steam whilst I drove on regardless.

I'm intrigued by the user name, is there good diving in Oregon then? I bet it's cold!

Post by **tortron** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:05 am

oh, of course. My bad, was thinking of my earlier carb

Post by **d_harris** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:23 pm

In terms of forums there seems to be two big ones. This and www.morrisowners.co.uk (which seems a lot more informal) - a lot of the crowd are on both.

In terms of forums stateside - if you can find one join it cos you might be able to find things a bit more local. But both the forums I've outlined will welcome you, whatever land mass you hail from!

Oh, and welcome to the forum and the joys of moggy ownership!

Post by **jaekl** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:57 pm

Welcome and congrats on your Minor. It may die but seldom a serious repair. I don't know of a State side forum, but we do have a club. Morris Minor Registry working out of Ohio. We are old fashion, just a bimonthly newsletter.

Ratbag · Post by **Ratbag** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 1:30 pm

Try:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/morris_motors/

A bit more USA based.

Phil.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 1:52 pm

First check - is there any oil in the sump, and water in the radiator. Amazing how many have wrecked their cars without checking these simple things. Black smoke - as above it's rich mixture and/or just 'gunk' being blown out the exhaust. Remove the air filter and see if it's blocked/soaked in oil fume - run the car without any air filter - is the exhaust cleaner now ?