Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi
I live in California. I own a 1959 Morris Minor 1000. This morning went out to start her. Pulled the started-heard a pop-now nothing happens when I pull the starter. I have had the car about 10 years-no problems so I don\'t have experience working on the car. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks John
Johnharney01@gmail.com

Hi John, I would say first port of call is solenoid.I assume you have pull start with an oval unit fitted high on the bulkhead.
It could be the cable or a breakdown inside/lack of continuity.The best way to find out is with an electrical test meter.
Check for 12 volts at the output that goes to the starter motor with the ign on and switch pulled.Also it is a good idea to check earth connection to your engine as starter draws a lot of current.Set meter to ohms and put one lead on your battery earth and one lead to the body of the starter motor it should read very close to zero.
Hope this helps.

First, with the ignition off, put the car in 1st gear and then rock it back and forth. If the starter has jammed, this will free it off. Reselect neutral and try the starter again.

Do the rest of the electrics work OK? Headlamps, indicators, etc. If yes, then this confirms that battery is OK. If no, then check battery and all connections.

Identify the starter switch on the bulkhead (not the knob that you pull inside the car, but the other tend of it). You'll see a heavy duty cable going to the battery and another to the starter motor. With the ignition off and the car in neutral, use a jump lead or similar to short out the two terminals so that there is a connection direct from the battery to the starter. Only a brief connection is required to prove the point, disconnect as soon as the result is known. If the motor turns over OK, then this will confirm that the switch has failed. If the motor does not turn over, then (subject to battery being OK) it will indicate a fault with the starter motor.

Lastly, you can always start the car using the handle. Good luck.

A pull start car has no 'solenoid'. It's likely you have a bad connection at the battery or at the starter or at an earth connection - or the battery has failed internally. Check all connections and try with jump leads. It's possible the starter switch has failed - but they are very reliable.