The car is struggling to start off the key

[rocco]

No need, everything is fine!

Here, take a look at this video. Just unclip the two clips holding the cap to the distributor and have a look inside to see the contacts are corroded or the plastic is cracked/damaged. There are 4 contacts inside which might be worn and/or corroded, you can also pull off the rotor arm and see if the metal part is shiny and smooth. If not, it might be worth replacing them. Both parts are very cheap and easy to fit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k1spKZmCl4

[Myrtles Man]

Though clearly well-intentioned, Rocco, I feel that, given Elaine's confession of almost absolute mechanical naivety (no offence intended Elaine) the old expression "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing" applies here. Any attempts by the ladies to evaluate and service the distributor could very easily end in tears and a call-out to the professionals. Other than lifting the distributor cap and lightly spraying inside it and the points/condenser area to dispel any moisture, I would say best left alone.

[geoberni]

Though clearly well-intentioned, Rocco, I feel that, given Elaine's confession of almost absolute mechanical naivety (no offence intended Elaine) the old expression "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing" applies here. Any attempts by the ladies to evaluate and service the distributor could very easily end in tears and a call-out to the professionals. Other than lifting the distributor cap and lightly spraying inside it and the points/condenser area to dispel any moisture, I would say best left alone.

Actually, if you had taken a look at the video Rocco linked to, it is part of a series of videos by someone using the name Blind Man Morris and the video is entitled Morris Minor Level 1: Distributor overview. He literally does what you suggest, he takes the top off the Distributor, looks inside and refits it.

It's just unfortunate that its a very poor quality video; he needs to either focus the phone camera properly or clean the lens

'The Ladies' as you put it, will only increase their knowledge by education in such things.

[Myrtles Man]

Actually I did take a look at the video Rocco linked to and 'The Ladies', as I put it will only increase their knowledge by education in such things if that is indeed their wish. Maybe they will, maybe they won't, who knows?

[les]

Well all things considered, maybe the answer would be to find (ok not easy) an old school mechanic, who could give the car a once over, checking things like mixture, jet adjustment, air leaks and simple components settings and hopefully hand the car back behaving like any other Minor; starting every time whatever the time of day, or weather !

[Elainesminor]

Though clearly well-intentioned, Rocco, I feel that, given Elaine's confession of almost absolute mechanical naivety (no offence intended Elaine) the old expression "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing" applies here. Any attempts by the ladies to evaluate and service the distributor could very easily end in tears and a call-out to the professionals. Other than lifting the distributor cap and lightly spraying inside it and the points/condenser area to dispel any moisture, I would say best left alone.

No offence taken hun x

[Elainesminor]

Just to let you all know the car is absolutely fine , she started 1st try for Chloe on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning, all 1st turn of the key , all using full choke then pushed back in a touch, she also said it started 1st try after work Monday and Tuesday although she did say she stalled her leaving the works car park cos once started she’d pushed the choke in to far and tried for a quick getaway when someone flashed her out , she said it kangaroos and died and needed extra choke to get her restarted.

As for me I just think I need more practice cold starting her so I don’t make a pigs ear of it again so I’m gonna suggest to Chloe she lets me start her and get her out the garage in the mornings

Elaine x

[Elainesminor]

Hi guys

Well the car is absolutely fine now , she starts 1st time in the morning and again 1st try after work with Chloe, for some reason she doesn’t like me , maybe its the lack of me using her enough from cold , she’s no bother at all if Chloe has already used her , she starts 1st try for me and even after shopping for 2 or 2 1/2 hrs she still starts 1st try without me having to use the choke

On Monday morning Chloe got a lift into work and left me the car to use but instead of just leaving her in the garage, she got her out and ran her round the block two or three times to get her warmed up and get the choke in, that was at 8 am but the only problem was I wasn’t going out till 11:30 and when I got in her I tried three times to start her without the choke and although she did try to start she wouldn’t so ended up trying 1/4 choke twice but she still wouldn’t start and ended up having to use 1/2 to get her started and stay running but because of weather conditions changing and getting cooler and obviously easing the choke in she stalled at the next junction I came to and I had to pull the choke back out a touch to get it restarted , I’m beginning to think this is not the car for me to be using as I can’t expect Chloe to get her out and warm her up every time she’s leaving me the car so I am thinking about buying myself a cheap little runaround but that is just another expense but at least I would be guaranteed to get where I need to be

Elaine x

[myoldjalopy]

Alternatively, as Chloe seems to have mastered the use of the choke, why don't you get her to give you some in-car lessons on its function and correct use? It sounds like you are pushing the choke back in too soon. Remember, the choke is not just a device to help start a cold engine, but it needs to remain in use until the engine is warmed up properly, which takes a little while. The reason you stalled at the junction is due to pushing the choke knob back in too far, too soon.

[gcook]

Glad to see your car is behaving better. The advice on here all seems a bit involved. Moggies do seem to have their own quirks but once you know them they usually start very easily for you.

[svenedin]

I have to admit that I find it quite difficult to comprehend such problems with the choke. To me it is absolutely second nature BUT there have been other people who have driven my car who have got themselves into a pickle with the choke and I have struggled to instruct them in a way that they understand.

So back to first principles.

The choke is a means of starting a cold engine. To start a cold engine requires a "rich" fuel mixture. This means extra fuel.

Pulling out the choke on the Minor does two things. The first 1/4 inch or so ONLY increases the idle speed. After the first 1/4 inch the idle speed is increased AND the fuel mixture is made richer. So if the engine is cold and the choke is not pulled out far enough the engine still will not start.

My way to start a cold engine is to pull the choke out fully, turn the engine over and let the engine start. Very rapidly, within about 30 seconds my engine sounds rough with maximum choke and I reduce the choke to about half by the time I am backing out of my garage. Then I drive off. After maybe 1/4 mile or 5 minutes I will reduce the choke to about 1/4 inch out. This means the choke is just increasing the idle speed. Once the engine is hot and happy I push the choke in the remaining distance.

If you push the choke in too soon the engine will struggle and may stall (as you found out). If you run the engine for excessive periods of time with the choke out it will waste fuel and end up with sooty spark plugs and rough running.

You will soon get used to it. LISTEN to the engine. Does it sound happy? Adjust the choke accordingly. Bear in mind that the engine never runs sweetly when it is cold and has just been started.

If the engine is slightly warm and you don't know whether it might need a bit of choke then just use the choke. There's no harm in doing so. In that situation you will be able to push the choke in sooner.

Hope this helps a bit. Every car is a bit different. It's the joy of old cars.......

Stephen

[Elainesminor]

I have to admit that I find it quite difficult to comprehend such problems with the choke. To me it is absolutely second nature BUT there have been other people who have driven my car who have got themselves into a pickle with the choke and I have struggled to instruct them in a way that they understand.

So back to first principles.

The choke is a means of starting a cold engine. To start a cold engine requires a "rich" fuel mixture. This means extra fuel.

Pulling out the choke on the Minor does two things. The first 1/4 inch or so ONLY increases the idle speed. After the first 1/4 inch the idle speed is increased AND the fuel mixture is made richer. So if the engine is cold and the choke is not pulled out far enough the engine still will not start.

My way to start a cold engine is to pull the choke out fully, turn the engine over and let the engine start. Very rapidly, within about 30 seconds my engine sounds rough with maximum choke and I reduce the choke to about half by the time I am backing out of my garage. Then I drive off. After maybe 1/4 mile or 5 minutes I will reduce the choke to about 1/4 inch out. This means the choke is just increasing the idle speed. Once the engine is hot and happy I push the choke in the remaining distance.

If you push the choke in too soon the engine will struggle and may stall (as you found out). If you run the engine for excessive periods of time with the choke out it will waste fuel and end up with sooty spark plugs and rough running.

You will soon get used to it. LISTEN to the engine. Does it sound happy? Adjust the choke accordingly. Bear in mind that the engine never runs sweetly when it is cold and has just been started.

If the engine is slightly warm and you don't know whether it might need a bit of choke then just use the choke. There's no harm in doing so. In that situation you will be able to push the choke in sooner.

Hope this helps a bit. Every car is a bit different. It's the joy of old cars.......

Stephen

Hi Stephen

Reading what you have said sounds pretty much straightforward, I know you have to gradually ease the choke in once you have her running and on the move, and yes, I did find out that I pushed it in too soon when she stalled at the junction, but at least I managed to get her restarted okay , asked for starting her from cold in the garage that is what I’ve been doing which is full choke then turn her over and that is when I have problems, whereas Chloe gives her full choke but then pushes it back in slightly and that is the part I forget to do, Chloe actually gave me a lesson on starting her yesterday morning and even then she didn’t start first time, after pulling the choke out fully I pushed it back in what I thought was a little bit with being in the garage. Chloe couldn’t see exactly how far I had pushed it back in so when I turned the key, she tried to start, but not quite then I tried a second time and got the same result. She fired and tried but didn’t start. It was then Chloe checked how far back in I had pushed it then she said mum you pushed it in too far solo set the choke how she would start her then I turned the key and she fired up straight away so we have come to the conclusion full choke is too much, but if you don’t get it right she doesn’t start from cold so even though it was third try at least I got her going.

Elaine x

[Elainesminor]

Glad to see your car is behaving better. The advice on here all seems a bit involved. Moggies do seem to have their own quirks but once you know them they usually start very easily for you.

Hi

You’re right about them having their own quirks, I just don’t drive her enough to get used to her quirks but my daughter picked it up straight away obviously because she uses her every day, for me it might only be once a week or possibly even once a fortnight, but she does take me places in it , I’ve had a lot of good advice on here and I’m very grateful

Elaine x

[Elainesminor]

Sorry to message again and I don’t want to get on peoples nerves but am I right in thinking the closer it gets to winter and the colder it is outside then the more choke she will need to start from cold and also the time she’s left standing will deplete before I would need to use the choke to starter, for instance within the last two weeks I used her and she had stood 2 1/2 hours maybe three hours and she started first try without the choke so I am assuming that in the winter when it is freezing cold and possibly snowing, would I be thinking that she wouldn’t start after 2 1/2 or three hours? ?

Just trying to prepare myself in the eventuality that I could end up using her in the winter when it’s freezing cold

Elaine x

[les]

It depends on the engine temperature, if the engine is still relatively warm when you plan on starting, choke is likely not needed. It’s difficult to put a time on it, some engines hold heat better than others. After the time you mention, and temperature is single figures, use the choke. It’s difficult to give a definitive procedure, as you know doubt appreciate. All this unfortunately, is familiarisation with a particular vehicle. Hang on in there !!

[gcook]

Probably you would need full choke and it may need to be some way out for longer but as was noted earlier damp can be more of a problem than cold. If everything else is right it should still start easily. There are a few other winter tricks to try ( a blanket in the engine compartment for example). Did you get a pm from me?

[myoldjalopy]

Just to be on the safe side - don't try starting the engine/driving the car with a blanket still in the engine bay!

[gcook]

Just to be on the safe side - don't try starting the engine/driving the car with a blanket still in the engine bay!

Or your moggy in the moggy

[Elainesminor]

Probably you would need full choke and it may need to be some way out for longer but as was noted earlier damp can be more of a problem than cold. If everything else is right it should still start easily. There are a few other winter tricks to try ( a blanket in the engine compartment for example). Did you get a pm from me?

I’ve heard a blanket mentioned before by a neighbour and no , I’ve received no PM from you

Elaine x