Morris Minor Owners Club

ok, second if you count running out of petrol a couple of weeks ago, but that was definitely my fault.

This morning Trev was a little reluctant to start; turning over slowly. He did it again after about a 20min run but then was fine outside the next shop not 5 mins later.

Double parked him in the high street to unload a load of bags for the charity shop and he helpfully refused to start again - just a small groaning sound and a click. I waited 30 seconds and tried again and he fired up quickly and immediately as if there'd been nothing wrong.

Then just now I went to move him in to the garage and he wouldn't start - no groaning noise - just a click. The lights were working fine, so battery not completely flat? I tapped the starter - no effect. Have run out of light so I've pushed him in to the garage for now.

Probably not relevant but there is a green/white wire with spade connector on the end loose at the end of the loom near the back of the dynamo - the wiring diagram say green/white is indicators (which are working).

Where do I start - have very little in the way of equipment as I've had modern cars for so long. Charge the battery first?

Simon

Poor battery connections - Dirty earth to body - Bad connection to solenoid / starter etc....

Blimey, that was quick - will try that in the morning

thanks

I just happened to be here when you posted
Don't worry - it won't be serious .....

If all else fails there is always the starting handle

Sounds to me like the solenoid, usually intermitent then stops working completely. Very easy to change though if it is!

mike.perry wrote:If all else fails there is always the starting handle

Haven't got one of those - hmmnn I wonder if Gerry has? Might have to get the bicycle out.

The loose wire is probably the filter blocked warning light wire.
It would have plugged onto the oil filter housing.
An early attempt at a service due light Not the recommended way to decide when a service is due .

Will never work - if the plate/spring have been lost anyway!
But the problem does very much sound like simple bad connections - check em!

Ok, an update. I charged the battery for about an hour and then the truck started first time - so perhaps it's not being charged. Tested the battery connections and earth as best I could and cleaned up connections.
Then followed the Haynes instructions for testing the Dynamo in situ - disconnecting the D and F connections at the control block, running a wire between them and from there to negative on my test meter - with the other probe to earth. With the engine idling this produces just under 2v on the meter - the book says it should be 15v.

Does this indicate a faulty dynamo?

Also, again may be unconnected, but in that configuration (ie: with the test wire in place) the ignition light glows bright red (when the ignition is on but not started) - normally it barely glows.

Sorry to keep asking questions - still learning

Simon

You don't need to disconnect anything. With engine running put test meter across battery terminals on the 20V range setting. If you get 13.5 - 14.5 volts all is well. If not report back and I'll tell you how to check the regulator.

I get 12v with the engine running (approx - the meter on has 10v or 50v ranges)

OK so that indicates the battery is not being charged. Now put you meter between battery negative and the 3rd terminal from the left (the middle one) on the regulator and report back on that voltage pls.

Just over 4v

Definitely not charging - the Ign light should be out - not 'dim' when running.

New dynamo brushes required.....

http://www.morrisminorspares.net/shop_item.php?ID=1893

excellent - easy enough for a beginner to fit?

Dead easy - certainly worth doing first - before worrying about the regulator. Page N4 onwards of the Workshop manual- and again N41 for the later dynamo!

Regulator is working fine - The 2 voltage measurements confirm this. I wasn't suggesting the regulator was faulty, just eliminating it from the equation.
New brushes will fix your problem but when you fit them make sure the ring of copper you see inside the dynamo is cleaned up with wet and dry paper and also make sure the metal plates that you screw the brush wires to are cleaned up with emery paper to ensure a good contact.

Thanks for all your help today - have ordered the brushes and quite looking forward to having a go.
Funnily enough one of the few spares I do have is a new regulator - a present from a neighbour when he saw the car in the drive. That'll almost guarantee that it'll never go wrong.

Simon