Morris Minor Owners Club

sorry to rant but i just want to get this off my chest. i hate feeling like this because it's not practical but anyhow ..

i am thinking of moving on from the morris, i had a bad day today. it doesn't help that my garage entrance is on a slope and i have to wait around for someone to help me push it back in, and i can't get it started at the moment, there's nobody local around to help me and sometimes i feel a bit lonely on an uphill struggle. i have to wheel back the battery after every attempt to charge it up because i don't have a 2nd car at the moment. i would do the wheel cylinder and screw the new brake pipe in but i can't even get her to start at the moment, the fuel pump is now ticking but the battery is going flat far too quickly, only a couple of minutes of cranking. if i could get her to start then i could carefully drive the car into the garage. is there anyone around in the area that would be able to give me a hand.

HI mate, everyone has these bad days!! but don't give up help is also online, I have no one local to me, but I ask and try, as report back, my garage is a semi basment so if a car is not running or I need to take it to a mechanic I need a tow! when you feel like this, either just close the garage and go for a drive or walk thinking of how you'd like your car to be when finished, or do some other simple job on the same car which will make you feel better!

Sorry but I am not near enough to come to help, however, charge the battery again and this time use the strating handle to start the car rather than running it down on the starter. This should get your engine going but do get yourself a new battery for the future use of the car.....

Too far away as well otherwise we'd be over. Suggest you post for "Help wanted in the Surey area"!

We do have members in your area. Offer a cuppa and a cake and they'll come out of the woodwork Don't give up yet!

there wil ne someone in your area

sounds like you need a new battery or dynamo is not charging

you will regret getting rid of the car

they are great little runners

pm sent

Tomorrow's another day, but I know how you feel. As Lou said I'm sure somebody in your area will be along to give you the help you need. Hope this helps.

Peter

it sounds like new battery is needed should turn for longer than you say.mine stood for nearly a year and a bit of petrol tap on the fuel pump and no word of a lie it started but the secret was a good battery to buz it over.great little motors. :

As per your other thread - get the sparks sorted out - you don't need to crank for 2 minutes! Also - try some NEW petrol - old petrol is hopeless for starting the engine in cold weather. You 'can' spray a bit of 'carb choke cleaner'n into the carb - then crank it for a rapid start! But of course - this will only work IF there is a spark at the plugs.

no spark at plugs

Don't give up over something like this, it will probably turn out to be something small, simple and easy to fix.
I was in a similar situation with a very rough Minor many years ago when it conked out coming down a hill.
I manage to coast into closed petrol station and fix the problem but the battery was too dead to turn the engine over.
This was long before mobile phones had been invented so phone a friend was out as an option.
It would fire on the starting handle but not enough to tick over. So I put it in reverse and moved it up the slope by turning the starting handle and chocking the front wheel when I needed a breather.
At the second attempt I managed to bump start it and was on my way.

Reading your description it isn't clear that you left a gap for the spark to jump.
If you hold the HT lead or screwdriver plugged into it onto metal you won't see a spark as it will take the easiest route to earth.
Jam the coil HT lead somewhere so there is a 1 cm gap to the engine block then turn the engine over (with the handle if the battery is too flat).
You should see, or hear, it spark.
If it sparks there put it all together and repeat with on of the plug leads.
If it doesn't, make sure there is 12volts going to one side of the coil and that the points are opening and closing.

A more amusing way is to get a mate to hold the coil HT lead while you turn the engine over on the handle.
Don't pick one with a heart condition or a bad temper so you can both have a laugh when he gets a shock.
That should cheer you up.

MarkyB wrote: A more amusing way is to get a mate to hold the coil HT lead while you turn the engine over on the handle.
Don't pick one with a heart condition or a bad temper so you can both have a laugh when he gets a shock.
That should cheer you up.

Not really reccommended as he may have an unknown problem, but I can see your point of view Mark

But I was about to suggest that a method of getting the car back in the garage - is to take the plugs out, select 1st or reverse gear - chock the downhill wheel - release handbrake - and wind the car in on the handle! Simples!! But - I see it's already been suggested........

thanks for the heads up, managed to rekindle my interest in the old girl.