I've been having the odd problem with Molly (1967 Morris 1000) for the last 2 mornings. I'm a cleaner who sets off for work at about 6:30am. It's always been fun and games getting her to start first thing (she likes mornings as much as I do ) and usually she won't start without the choke out but ever since all the rain's started, she's been juddering as I accelerate, as if I'm in drastically the wrong gear. She does it when she first starts moving, when I set off from lights, going up steep hills and accelerating hard on a dual carriageway (all of which I do on the way to work). My journey is approx 3 miles or so and she stops about a quarter of a mile before I get there. Does anyone know what the problem is? It started after the rain so I'm guessing water's got in. But where and has done what to what? Does anyone know?
Kayleigh
You should always need choke to start the car from cold. In the summer less - in the winter more. Can I ask how long you are keeping the choke out for and for how much. I would expect, at this time of year, FULL choke to start the engine from cold. Close it about half way immediately, then about a quarter of the way after 1/2 a mile and fully in after a mile or so.....?
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I tend to start on half choke and drop it down once the engine's started. I've always been wary of starting too far out in case I flood the engine. I'm not sure how far I drop it, I do it by engine noise. If she's running comfortably and not threatening to stall, it's low enough. And I push it back in when the radiator's blowing hot air, unless I'm coming to a stop (eg, at lights), in which case I pull it out enough to get my little finger in the gap between the knob and the car (maybe a cm) to stop her stalling between me putting the clutch down and coming to a stop and being able to put my foot back on the accelerator lightly to keep her going, then I push it back in. Hope that helps.
I'll try keeping the choke on higher and giving her a few minutes to warm up before I set off. I've always been wary of having the choke out too much as my dad kept telling me it coats the spark plugs. I don't know why I listen to him anyway, he doesn't own a Morris and can't drive my car without stalling her (because he won't use the choke). I'll do what you say and see what happens. That's probably the problem, she runs fine later in the day after the morning journeys back and forth.
Kayleigh
psl is right about the choke in the winter full choke to start,then put it in about half way,then after about a mile the choke should be full in.the choke richens the mixture and speeds up yhe tickover.if you run on choke too long you will foul the plugs.may be you tick over needs adjusting a little .
Have a look at the running engine when it's dark, i.e. most of the time .
Preferably in the morning when the symptoms are worst and it's dark.
Look for any visible sparking going on.
Don't touch anything!
If there is sparking the HT leads may need replacing or re-routing so they don't touch.
Both best done with the engine off.
Just thinking with the connection with the wet weather......
Get a can of WD40 and give the distributor a soaking to get rid of any water - I'd also be inclined to check all the other wiring in the engine bay is well seated and not damp.....
I had the same recently, don't know if you have maybe serviced your car around the same time as your troubles started - the culprit was a brand new condensor that was faulty, or maybe your old one has gone? Exactly the same symptoms.
Thanks for your help, everyone. It looks like it was not using the choke/a low tickover. I've started having a little choke on until she's warmed up a bit and when I took her to the garage yesterday about the oil filter and fanbelt, they upped the tickover for me and that's fixed the stalling at lights/in heavy traffic issue too. So again, thanks very much.
Kayleigh
) and usually she won't start without the choke out but ever since all the rain's started, she's been juddering as I accelerate, as if I'm in drastically the wrong gear. She does it when she first starts moving, when I set off from lights, going up steep hills and accelerating hard on a dual carriageway (all of which I do on the way to work). My journey is approx 3 miles or so and she stops about a quarter of a mile before I get there. Does anyone know what the problem is? It started after the rain so I'm guessing water's got in. But where and has done what to what? Does anyone know?
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