Morris Minor Owners Club

My moggies misbehaving!

When doing high revs in first or second gear the engine seems to almost cut out completely, especially up steep hills.

When driving back from Burnley last night i had to bump start the car, it worked fine for around 5-10 miles until trying to get up a hill it cut out in second gear again.

I bump started it again, then it cut out in first going up the hill. Soooo I had to reverse bump start it and it eventually got up the hill and home in sweet sweet Yorkshire.

Unfortunately it will not start at all today, is this a problem with the battery? Or is it cutting out up hill's because of the engine?

Any help is greatly appreciated,

Cheers,
Rhys.

If you are bump starting it because there is not enough oomph in the battery to turn it over then the problem is with your battery but mostly with the charging system.
Eventually there isn't enough power for sparks. This will manifest itself first at high engine revs when a large number of sparks are required.

When you say it wont start, is it turning on the key/ pull start

Well i turn the key and it makes a farting noise, the engine does not respond at all. I try give it a few revs but nothing happens.

I'm gonna buy a new battery tomorrow and see if this sorts it out.

Does it have to be a specific battery?

Cheers,
Rhys.

halfords do one for about £39.00 or heavy duty for about £59.00
i think the number is 015

Any battery that will fit in the tray will work.

You would normally use an 038, Im currently using an 063 and have previously been using an 096 (transit diesel etc) battery.

The battery depends on whether the car is still + earth or converted to - earth.
If + earth then the terminals will be at the back of the battery with the + terminal on the right.
If - earth then the terminals will be at the back of the battery with the - terminal on the right.
If the engine is turning over on the starter but not firing then check the fuel supply into the carb float chamber and check that the float is not sticking

Is the car well serviced? If the points are closed up you might find the problem first on hills.

If the battery is flat then don't forget to check the charging circuit.

Is this a new problem -or has it become steadily worse ? Charge up the battery and have it tested before rushing into buying a new one. Obviously if the charging system has failed the battery will soon go flat and the electric fuel pump may not pump enough petrol to get the car up hills. Is the red light showing ? Is the fan belt tight ??