Morris Minor Owners Club

There are two I need to know before tomorrow, when I drive on part two of my journey, from Dolgellau to Pembrokeshire.


1) Once I check the oil in the morning, what kind of readily-available (ie, from a service station) oil do I use if necessary, and how much do I put in at a time, bearing in mind I haven't topped up a Morris in living memory?

2) How do I know if the radiator needs topping up?

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These are questions I don't need to know before tomorrow, but I don't know the answers and wonder if anyone else does...

1) Katiekat doesn't know whether or not Betsy has an unleaded head. Is there any obvious way of finding out by looking? If not, how do I find out?

2) If the oil filter warning light is glowing (the orange one) how quickly must I change the oil filter, and is it an easy job? Should I change the oil at the same time?

3) Can anyone explain why the speedometer fluctuates wildly from 10 mph to 60mph almost randomly, most of the time, and then when it settles for a while is wildly inaccurate (in case you're wondering how I know, I'm using the speedo on my satnav to check it, which is 100% accurate)?

4) I can wind the driver's window up, but then push it down from outside really easily, and it drops down as I drive with the vibrations anyway. Any ideas as to how I can cure this (apart from a little wooden wedge between the window and the door frame from inside the car, obviously!).

5) Lifting the carpets to check the situation with the seat belt lugs bolted into the floor, I find a couple of holes drilled through the floor - presumably for seat adjustments or something. Should I fill, cover, plug these in some way? If so, any suggestions (apart from welding - I have neither the time, the skill, the equipment, or even the first clue how to go about it).

oil is 20/50 doubtful you will get this at a reguler filling station

rad water about 1 inch from the neck

oil warning light, really should not drive, get it xhecked immediately, oil filter light same thing really

the only way is to take the head off and see if there are any inserts where the valves are

speedo could be just that the cable

sounds like th window has come out of the channel on the winder mechanism

How do I know if the radiator needs topping up?

Drive with the heater on all the time. If you lose water, the heater blows cold.

Well, it runs flippin hot beforehand.....

Oil - if you can't get 20/50 for topping up, use 15/40.

Water in rad - if the level gets down to the top of the matrix you shouldn't put more in as soon as possible. Otherwise if it's 2" from the top of the radiator then don't worry.


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1) Unleaded head - don't worry about it. If the car makes it home then get an approved lead replacement additive to put in with the fuel.

2) If the oil filter warning light is glowing (the orange one) how quickly must I change the oil filter, and is it an easy job? Should I change the oil at the same time?

Same from me - you need to change the filter immediately!
I would change the oil at the same time.

3) Speedo probably needs replacing. However if your cable is sticking this can cause a similar effect. Remove the inner part of the speedo cable and lubricate it. If/when this makes no difference, get a replacment speedo.

4) Drivers window - if it comes down easily then I can only guess it needs some new window channel felt.

5) Holes in floor - I'd ignore them and put the carpet back down. If the car leaks when it rains you need to get the water out somehow.

Alan, there was an electrical fault with the wipers last week. I tried to fix it and had the speedo hanging out in the process. I think I might have put the bulbs back in the wrong place on the speedo, so that's what the light might be. I think the speedo light might be behind the orange one if you know what I mean. Also the speedo main cable might be loose.

I had two new switches fiited for you and the wipers fixed at a professional auto electricians. I'm sorry but I bet I've put the bulb back in the wrong place. I'm useless at car electrics.

With the window I renewed the weather brush but it might have come loose in transport and fallen inside the door. Have a look, it should be there somewhere!

I topped the oil up last week with 20/50 so it should be alright.

I hope this helps you!

you can get 20/50 from asdas or morrisons

I had the same problem with the window glass dropping by itself.

It makes the car a bit insecure. I used half a wooden clothes peg as a wedge!
In the end I had to fit a new regulator ( thats the mechanism that moves the glass up and down)

If your going to the national rally you could have a chat with the website people there. It's the sort of job they'd love to help you with!!!

Roger

Don't keep worrying about the 'unleaded' head - just drive the car - it doesn't need additive etc unless you are going to regularly leather it along motorways - flat ou!! !
Top up water anyway - and use cheap 20W50 oil from Asda or Morrisons. Orange light is bad news - so sort out the bulbs as kk suggests. Put rubber plugs in the holes - or nuts and bolts if you prefer. Speedo - sticky cable - unless it is loose at the back as kk suggests so check that first!

if it was the speedo light then this only comes on when the main lights are on

Your window problem is most likely a weak or broken spring on the winder mechanism. I've never seen a suitable spring on its own, so a second hand widow winder assembly should be sought from an autojumble or trader (thank goodness for National Rally). Replacing the winder sounds simple but involves stripping most of the door, so it can get fiddly with rusted nuts and so on. When looking for a winder, they are left and right hand, and different between 2 and 4 door, so get the correct one.

oh and i have some new old stock window regulators as well