Felicity won't start....

[lynda]

Hi,

Although my car was running OK on Friday, yesterday she wouldn't start at all There's plenty of charge in the battery (new alternator at Christmas) and I can hear the fuel pump so it's not that. I've been having a few problems with starting before, and had a new distributor fitted last October but that obviously hasn't sorted it.

I was told at the time that my carburettor didn't have much adjustment, and I should think about replacing it at some point. Sometimes my car starts better without any choke at all, so would the carb be enough to prevent it starting completely? The engine turns over, but doesn't even try to start up!

Any suggestions about what the problem is, or how I can get the engine going, (even just to get to the garage) would be very useful....

Lynda

[Cam]

It sounds like your carb is running very rich (hence the starting without choke).

You could try pumping the accelerator while turning the engine over (without choke), and if it starts spluttering then keep pumping rapidly until you can build the revs up.

Also, when was your last service? and did you change the points, plugs, dizzy cap & rotor arm, as these have a bearing on the 'startability'.

Failing that it should kick into life if you bump start it. i.e. ignition on, 2nd gear, clutch in, start the car rolling (get someone to push) and let the clutch up while pumping the accelerator to 'catch' the revs.

I am a bit confused by the

my carburettor didn't have much adjustment

what exactly was meant by this? If it was mixture related, then either the adjusting nut was seized, jet was bent, or the choke assembly was sticking - all of which can be cured.

check to see that the choke is fully disengaging, by pushing the jet assembly upwards at the bottom of the carb, if it clunks upwards then that could have been your problem.

Good luck!

[lynda]

The last service was in October, I took it to a garage to be done as I'd just had the problem of Felicity taking ages to start. I assume they changed the points and so on when they fitted the new distributor.... though they did say afterwards that they didn't know much about Moggys. My car then went to see a minor specialist, started perfectly, and he wouldn't do anything to it (typical car)

I beleive the thing about the carb not adjusting is to do with the mixture, though I didn't have a look at it. I was told that my best option was a replacement carb, rather than trying to fix this one. Something to do with a needle possibly????

[Willie]

If your car won't start then you either have no spark or no petrol.
Remove no.1 spark plug(front) replace its lead and lay it on the engine
so that the threaded part is touching the metal,then try to start the
engine and see if there is a spark. If there is then fuel is probably not
entering the engine. If you hear the pump ticking,does it stopafter a
few seconds or keep on ticking? You could have a spark but at the wrong time for the engine to work(distributor moved)?? If you had a
NEW distributor fitted it would have come complete with points and
condensor. If the condensor has gone'full short' you will not get a spark
Willie

[newagetraveller]

If it is the carburettor that needs adjusting, do you want somebody to explain how to do it yourself or will you be taking it to a garage again?
It is most unlikely that you will need a new carburettor.

[lynda]

I would like instructions on how to adjust the carb, I'm slowly learning how to do little bits and pieces but I haven't tried anything to do with the carb yet....

Willie - I'll have a look at the spark tonight as long as it stops raining long enough.

My car has been relegated to the outside parking spot, as my Mum's Vauxhall has developed a leaky sunroof and needs the undercover parking Shouldn't laugh really, at least it's revenge for when she tells me to get a proper car.

[Willie]

Yes I think you should check for a spark first, it there is a nice blue
one present then it indicates that your points/condensor/rotor arm/and
coil seem to be working ok so you can concentrate on the carb next.
Willie

[Cam]

Instructions for adjusting the carb can be found in the Haynes manual.

If you don't have one, then you can usually pick one up on e-Bay for a couple of quid.

The instructions are pretty clear, but if you need further help then just ask

[olonas]

May be too late for this but just in case you are unfamiliar with testing for spark at the plug - after removal and replacing plug lead/cap, when holding the threaded part of the plug against the engine make sure you hold the plug in place by holding the cap and NOT the plug body. If you hold by plug body and ignition system is working o.k. you will be subjected to a few thousand volts!
Instead of the electricity jumping the gap it will try to use your body as a faster route to earth!!

[lynda]

Don't worry olonas, I'm still alive I've not been able to have a look at the engine yet - rain etc, so it'll have to wait until the weekend now anyway.

I have got a Haynes manual, so I'll have a look at it. I also got a MMOC technical tips CD for Christmas so I can see if that says anything useful.....

[lynda]

Had a look at the weekend to try and find out what's wrong. I now know what the problem isn't..... the spark is fine, and the petrol pump is definately working, but petrol doesn't seem to be coming through the carb.

Anyway, I need my car to work ASAP, so she's going into the garage today and will hopefully be up and running soon!

[Cam]

If she is going into a garage, then they should be able to sort it, if not then:


undo the fuel pipe going into the carb and put the end in a suitable container then switch the ignition on.

If fuel comes out the it is carb related.

try taking the top off the carb float bowl and try blowing down the fuel inlet pipe.

If it is working correctly then you should be able blow when the float is low, and not when the float is held high (up to the top).

If this checks out OK, then see if the carb piston is sticking (it should rise smoothly when pushed up from below).

Otherwise it is probably a blocked jet.


Keep us informed.

[lynda]

Thanks for all your help. The garage have finally solved the problem.... and it was the coil that was at fault. Although there was a spark, it wasn't powerful enough to get the engine going, and would probably explain why Felicity had been difficult to start for several months.

I'm really looking forward to getting my car back - what with the various problems, I haven't driven since Christmas