Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi,

Sorry I am a real novice when it comes to Minors but i have a very annoying problem with my '69 Minor

When i try to start her up, the red light on the speedo comes up and when i turn the key there is a loud 'clunk' noise and nothing happens.

I have given the starter motor to a specialist to look at - he said it was fine.

I am not sure whether it is an electrical problem or mechanical problem.

Can someone please help??!

Thanks so much

Welcome to the forum! Many many new members these days so you are not alone.
First check - when did the engine last run - and is it able to be turned with the starting handle.
Second check - is the battery 'good' and fully charged ? Have you tried with jump leads connected from another car ? And -silly I know - but is the gearbox definitely in neutral ?

The clunk will be the starter engaging on the flywheel. The lack of further movement could be down to a siezed engine or a bad electrical connection. Does the red light on the dash stay bright when you try to start the car? If it dims or goes out I would say electrical issue. If it stays bright I would say mechanical issue. But, as Roy says above, we could do with a bit more info and post up your location in case someone who is local to you has any spare time to pop over and take a look for you......

Hi and thanks for your warm welcome and swift replies!

The guy who i bought it from said it was standing dormant for a good couple of months. I dont have a starting handle - is there a way to start it with a 'make-shift' one?

The ignition light dims when i turn it to start it. As soon as i let go, the light returns bright red. I bought a new battery and fitted it in.

The car is based in Hayes - Middlesex. Not too far off from Heathrow Airport. If anyone could come and see it, I would really appreciate it!

Too far for me to come, but, check the connections to the battery and the earth to the car. Also check the lead from battery to starter solenoid and from there to starter motor. Check you connected the battery the right way round - It shouldn't make any difference to starting but the connections are different and may not be making good enough. The engine shouldn't have siezed after 2 months standing so it will be something simple. Try rocking the car in gear forwards and backwards after checking the electrics and go for another start

You really DO need to find out if the engine is seized! If there is no starting handle - then with the ignition OFF you can try to turn the engine by hand on the fan blades. If it won't turn - then don't try to force it - take the spark plugs out and squirt some oil down the bores - refit plugs loosly and leave for a day or two.
If you don't have a manual - download it from here http://homeweb.mah.se/~lurija/morrisminor.pdf

I don't think I've ever known an engine to sieze after 2 months, however, as you don't know the history of the car its always possible it was seized before it was laid up.... Rocking the car in gear, as I suggested above, would confirm if the engine was turning

But would break the rings if it is seized! Hence my softly softly approach!

A "soft" Scottsman

Just the one 't' please! At least you didn't say 'Scotchman'.

Thats what I drink

Exactly - warming drink/wedge of wood to stop a train rolling away/and kind of toffee with lots of butter in the mix!

I think the car has been sitting idle for a bit longer than 2 months to be honest.

I have tried moving the fan and it moves. The clutch has gone on the car as well.

If the engine has seized what can I do to rectify it? Would that mean I would need a new engine?

Thanks

Is it just the fan moving or is the engine turning too with the fan? If not, as Roy said above, remove plugs and squirt oil in th eplug holes and leave for a day then try again. If oil doesn't free the pistons from the bores then you could try putting diesel in the plug holes and leave it a few days longer. If you use the "rocking in gear method" GENTLY you may well be lucky and save the engine assuming that the seizure is not down to a bottom end failure.....

I'll give it a go and see what happens. But should the ignition light go dim when i try to start it?

Could it be an electrical problem?

A slight dimming but not going out completely... Difficult to tell without looking at it. I would still check all your connections and make sure all earths are clean aswel.....

It goes dim because the starter is taking a huge lump of current as it tries to turn the (probably) seized engine ! It's not an electrical failure - assuming good battery well charged etc. Have you tried with jump leads yet?

No I havent tried it with jump leads.

Its a brand new battery.

I'll double check all the connections and try the oil in the plug holes and see if it shifts.

Shame there is no one in the club closeby to come and have a look at it for me!

Thanks

There may be - we don't know where you are! Post up your location in your Profile

The car is based in Hayes in Middlesex. Near Heathrow Airport.