Damsel in distress!

[vhosken]

My Betsie (1970 morris minor 1000) has started dying after driving around 10 miles in it. Once it has cut out it will re-start straight away, but then won't travel for more than a mile before cutting out again. It has to sit over night before it is drive-able. When it cuts out, it just gets slower and slower until the engine stops, and the little reservoir by the carburettor will be almost empty but not quite even though the pump hasn't stopped (although it does slow down). So far I have changed the fuel pump, coil and valve above the float, and next I will look at emptying the fuel tank to check for anything that might be causing a blockage. I was wondering if there is anything else I should be looking at? Or any tips/things I should look out for empytying the fuel tank?
Many thanks!
Vicky (and Betsie)

[mike.perry]

Next time it stops undo the fuel cap and see if you get a rush of air into the tank. If so then the air vent in the filler cap is blocked. Or have you got a locking cap without a vent? You will not find anything by emptying the fuel tank
Other tests. Disconnect the wire to the fuel pump, remove the float chamber lid, turn on the ignition and hold the lid away from the exhaust and briefly touch the wire on to the pump terminal to check that it is pumping fuel.
Another fault could be a faulty condenser

[bmcecosse]

" I have changed the fuel pump, coil and valve " - it's never the coil......... It does sound exactly like a vacuum problem in the tank..... As above -remove cap and listen for an inrush of air......

[vhosken]

Forgot to mention I did try that and yes it does do an inrush of air, so in the middle of one of its starting and breaking bits, I changed the petrol cap to a plasticy one without putting the screws in so it wouldn't totally seal and it still kept dying, could it take a while for the pressure inside maybe further up the fuel pip to go back to normal?

[beero]

Does sound like a fuel restriction. Is the rubber fuel pipe to the carb clear. Some rubber hoses can collapse and swell internally.

[bmcecosse]

Oh no - vacuum disappears instantly...... You will need to look for a partial blockage. Inspect the filter in the base of the petrol pump... Then you could try a flow test - by checking how long it takes the pump to fill a gallon container from the tank. Obviously (I think) do this out of doors (not in kitchen..) and take great care to have no sparks or flames..........

[oddbod]

If you let people know where you are based (roughly) the chances are ther will be someone near who has kept Moggies running before,try asking you may be pleasantly surprised!!

[vhosken]

I will start with checking the filter! That's why I wanted to empty the tank and check the fuel line going into the pump to see if there was something causing a blockage. I love this car but it can be such a pain!
If anyone did want to look its in Bristol......worth a try

[mike.perry]

The fuel filter is in the pump so no need to drain tank. Removing the float chamber lid like I said will check for blockages.