Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello again A quick update. Firstly yes fuel pump clicks when key is turned. When the headlights are turned on the ignition still turns over. Does this mean the battery is ok?

The trouble with diagnosis by letter, is not being there to actually see/hear it.

Firstly yes fuel pump clicks when key is turned.

That's a good sign, if its the normal click rate and then stopping after a short while, it should mean fuel is OK

When the headlights are turned on the ignition still turns over.

I hope you mean the engine still turned over on the Starter, ....but how dim are the headlights going when you do that?


Have you tried Jump Leads?
Perhaps you haven't got any.

I suggest you go back to simmitc's list and try all the stuff about looking for a spark.

Have got jump leads. Is it the same as jump starting a modern car? My husband said something about the car being negative earth and that you have to be careful.

All Modern Cars are Negative Earth.

All Minors were built Positive Earth, but many have been converted to Negative Earth simply because you can't get hold of things like negative earth Radios any longer. Equally, if the car is now fitted with an after-market Alternator finding one of them with a 'Positive earth' is like finding Hen's Teeth.
(Cars built with Alternators were built with Positive Earth ones, but that's a story for another time)

Irrespective of which way around the battery in connected, it's simply a case of Positive Battery Terminal to Positive Battery Terminal, and likewise with the Negative terminals.
I would like to think that the Battery is clearly identified in that regard, with + & - markings on the battery case, perhaps even Red and Blue markings too.

If you have any doubts at all, don't do it.
Post a photo of your installed battery for identification if needed.

Tilleypops425 wrote: ↑Tue May 04, 2021 8:24 pm Have got jump leads. Is it the same as jump starting a modern car? My husband said something about the car being negative earth and that you have to be careful.

What your Husband is referring to is if you use jump leads between two cars with an opposite earth system you have to make sure that no metal part of the cars touch, i.e., chrome bumper to chrome bumper, which would put a short circuit across the batteries, with modern cars having plastic bumpers the only risk would be if the battery is in the rear and you have a towbar fitted and that touches the bumper.

Regards John

Tilleypops,

I am sending you a personal message (part of which is best not posted on the thread).

Oliver
Can't imagine why but can see exactly what the message will be

Update.

Hubby won't get involved now in checking for sparks. He is well versed in the mechanics of the human body (doctor) but he prefers to leave the mechanics of a car to a mechanic.
We tried jump starting her as he was happy doing that she is trying to start she makes all the right noises but doesn't actually fire up it's not the starter motor in that case I assume.
He says it must be elecrical and won't touch it now.
I'm going to put a call out to my local club to see if anyone with the relevant knowledge will pop over and see if they can help us.
Thanks for all your excellent advice but frankly we are clueless we just love driving her and neither of us feel confident beyond changing the coil which we have done charging the battery we have done that and jump starting her which we have just tried. There were sparks coming from the new coil as I forgot to turn the key back to off whilst hubby was under bonnet I was in the car having previously just been told to turn the key to try and start her but I didn't turn it back again before he started doing something with the coil and he said there were sparks so I'm guessing that's a good sign....?

you might just have flooded it trying to start with a dud coil, try starting it with the choke in and foot flat to the floor on the accelerator

This is where the Forum fails , I bet there are plenty of people reading this who are capable , and some probably just live round the corner from you , who would be pleased to come and fix it with you...

Your location please...

John ;-)
Manchester

Hi sorry for delay I'm in South Wales just over border with England.

Hi Maddie, have you any updates on your car's starting problem?

Vehicle problems are very frustrating, and can drive you bonkers sometimes. Although I'm sure in the end it will be sorted out.

Fingers crossed, and hopefully you'll get your car running again very soon.

Jonnie.

Hi Johnnie

My apologies for late reply. I've PM'd you.

Regards
Maddie.