running on three!!! :-)

[issigone]

hi guys,
i've been having trouble getting my morris to run after it cut out during very wet weather a week ago, it dropped to three cylinders while doing a 2 mile stint on dual carriage way, then it picked back up onto 4, but a few miles down the road it then dropped back onto 3, again it picked back up on 4 so i carried on thinking it was water on coil or dissy cap as are in vunerable position, then 1/4mile from work it pop farted and died.
would not start so ended up pushing it to work.
left it until next day, giving it time to dry out. it started then but ran on 2 at most!!! i've since replaced plugs,points,condensor,rotor arm, coil.
still will not run right(when it will start)
could running on three for a couple of miles cause any other damage? burnt out valve etc?
any help please!!!
thanks chris.

[phurn]

You shouldn't run any great distance on three, its puts lots of extra stress on the crank. However as you've replaced everything electrical, do a compression test. Might be a shot gasket like mine =[

[simmitc]

Quickest check is to put a compression tester on. My guess is that the head gasket has blown between cylinders 3 and 4. If you don't have access to a tester, then remove all spark plugs and press your thumb over each plug hole in turn, whilst cranking the engine by hand. You should feel a lot of pressure and resistance on all four cylinders. If you don't, then you've lost compression. If this doesn't pin point the problem, then report back for more ideas. Also check the state of the plugs as they are taken out. If one or two appear damp instead of a nice even grey/brown colour, then that is also an indication of problems in a particular cylinder.

Did you also change plug leads - not likely to be a serious contender, but worth a thought.

Have you checked that all four plugs are firing? Remove all plugs, attach HT leads and hold each plug in turn against the block - use insulated equipment, or get a big "ouch". Crank then engine with the ignition on. You should be able to see the spark.

[bmcecosse]

Tracking in the damp may have burned a crack in the dizzy cap - so try simple things first. But could be oiled plug etc too - start there. Valve gap check/reset also worth doing - and compression check when all else fails...........

[issigone]

thanks, i've replaced dizzy cap, we've got a compression tester at work, think i'll try that first.
morris is stuck at work so cannot just nip out as and when!

[issigone]

well guys, i went an had a look yesterday(morris stuck at work) still no go, ended with flat battery so brought it home to charge, back to work today did'nt get a chance to refit battery until after work.
fitted, pull choke, turn ignition key, pull starter and vroom!!! running as if nothings wrong!!!! ####ing car!!!! sat at idle for ten minutes no problem, so thought oh well lets drive it home whats the worst could happen!!!
faultless drive home!!!
so looks like in the end it was just the battery with low volts!!!
thanks for all the help.

[bmcecosse]

If the starter could crank it - there were enough volts to run it - and the dynamo (or alternator) would soon bring the volts up.... I think it's just been dampness.

[chrisryder]

very likely to be dampness i think! especially having seen a picture of your engine bay!

we had a eventfull journey in torrential (couldn't see the car in front) rain in france last year. to add insult to the fact that the wipers wouldn't keep up, the ignition light started glowing, then the car backfired, then it conked out completely!

a wipe out of the inside of the dizzy cap at the side of the road in the pouring rain cured it, and ofcourse, as soon as we set off the rain relented!