Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello everyone, just got round to signing up here but I've been reading this site for ages - boy you guys kow your stuff, how do you do it? I'm OK with most DIY but can't seem to get my head around the mechanics stuff.

Anyway, my beloved Traveller (but modified!) wont start-up. She's been standing for a few months while I've not been well and now the engine wont fire-up. Turn key, there's power, it's turning over but the engine just wont spring into life anymore. She was going fine a few months back. Has fresh petrol, plenty of battery power, but beyond that I'm a bit lost. I guess something has seized but I dont know what. But when I pull the choke or put the gass on the whole car rumbles noticeably as if something is trying to move.

Can anybody help at all. I'd love to learn more about these engines but I don't want to wreck it!

First off, how is it modified? Different engine? Electronic ignition?

Anyway what an engine needs is fuel and sparks (OK, unless it's a diesel). It's more likely to be sparks that aren't there, if it's got fuel and you've cranked it over a few times you'll be able to smell it. Likely culprit would be the contact breakers AKA points if there are no sparks. If you can remove one of the spark plugs, reconnect the lead, prop it on the engine so the threaded part makes electrical contact and look for sparks when you turn the starter. Don't hold the plug or lead directly or you'll get a jolt!

Did the fuel pump do a bunch of ticking when you 1st turned on the ignition?
If not give it a whack on the metal part with a screwdriver handle (ignition on).
If it starts ticking away for a while you have fixed the problem for now anyway.

Stig 28 has it right. If there are sparks ok then try pouring an egg-cup full of petrol into the carb (take air cleaner off first!) and then crank it. If it starts - then the problem is fuel supply - look to the pump/filter etc.

It would be very useful to put in your location in your profile in case there is someone near by you who will have a look at the problem

Brilliant stuff! Thanks for the replies guys I'll try what I can as soon as possible. I got the impression it may be something to do with fuel supply and maybe the fuel pump only prob is I dont know enough to locate the fuel pump - but I'm trying!
This may sound very silly but in for a penny....., would spark plugs 'wear' or sieze with just being stood unused? I thought they wore out WITH use. I couldn't say if I heard a ticking sound as cranking the engine is so noisy I can't hear much else!

I'll keep you posted but for the record I live in Hull, Yorkshire (I did enter it on my profile but it doesn't seem to have appeared - yet!) and my Morris is only modified in its body. It did have a replacement engine a bit ago but it was just standard like-for-like 1098cc.

Well thanks again guys and gals ........Timmy.

No, spark plugs don't wear out just sitting there. Points can get surface corrosion though which can prevent a good contact, and there are points in the distributor and in the fuel pump. The fuel pump is mounted to the right of the battery when you're looking under the bonnet.

And it should 'tick' noticeably when you switch on the ignition - long before you do any cranking. Try giving it a whack with a hammer - that often gets them going.

a hammer would damage the pump wouldnt it a good tap with apice of wood might be better,or your hand

my pump should be wrecked by now then

Standing in front of the car, looking into the engine bay, locate the battery. The fuel pump is roughly level with the bottom of the battery, attached ot the righthand side (as you're looking at it, left hand side on the car!) of the batteyr box. The pump is mainly a black cylinder with a bare metal lump to the left. One coppt pipe comes up from below the bulkhead and goes into the pump, a flexible pipe (should be braided) goes from the pump to the carburetter.

With the ignition off, disconnect the flexible pipe from the carb and place it into a suitable container. Turn the ignition on, but do not try to start the car. Count to five and turn the ignition off. The pump should have been clicking, and you should now have petrol in your container. If YES, then fuel supply is OK, if NO, then you've found the basic cause of the problem.

NB, Petrol vapour will explode, ensure that there are no sparks or naked flames. Make sure that you reconnect the pipe after the test, and return any petrol to the tank. Be aware of static as well.

It will need a hammer blow to get it going - obviously not a HUGE hammer, and not on the plastic cap! Wood/hand - unlikely to succeed!

The pump is mainly a black cylinder with a bare metal lump to the left. One copper pipe comes up from below the bulkhead and goes into the pump, a flexible pipe (should be braided) goes from the pump to the carburetter.

This may help a little
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