Morris Minor Owners Club

Morning, I'm not sure where to post this (probably should be in the electrical section) so I'm putting it here in desperate hope of help! Took my '65 traveller out for a run yesterday, no problems starting at home, drove four miles into town with no problems, parked for about 15mins then she wouldn't start again... starter motor turns a couple of times then seems to jam making a horrific screeching noise. Eventually got her going again using the startign handle, whent to top up with petrol (just in case I was being really stupid ) and had the same starting nonesense again... long story short, I made it almost all the way home then she just died at the top of a hill. Engine completely cut dead for no apparent reason . Tried to jump start from another car, then the starting handle, then bump starting on tow all to no avail. I'm assuming that it's the starter motor but I'm baffled as to why she just cut out and wouldn't start on the handle or on tow, any thoughts will be much appreciated!

Sounds like flat battery to me - so flat eventually it wouldn't even run the fuel pump ! Check by turning on the headlights - and then try the starter - do they go out ? Or - just charge up the battery and see if it starts!

Thanks! I've charged the battery overnight, just in case, and will give that a go later today... The battery was still working the lights and radio last night when I eventually got home so I'm not sure.... What about the screeching starter motor?

Well - could just have been because of low battery volts.......... Try it now with fully charged battery - listen for fuel pump ticking when you first switch on - to check it's working. Could also be poor battery connections - poor earth wire connection battery to body, or poor earth connection gearbox to chassis.

check your oil level, with all this heat your engine could be running hotter and not getting adequate pressure. heat soak could get the engine really tight when stood.
just a thought

Screeching is an unusual noise from a starter motor, more common from a fan belt.
Any chance your dynamo/alternator or water pump has seized?

Just hooked the battery up again, the lights are working but she's still not starting - turns over a couple of times then makes the screeching noise. It's definitely not a belt slipping....

OK, now she's decided to start and I've left her running in the garage for a while (she can't escape cos there's another car in the way )
Thing is, how can I stop this from happening? Can't help feeling that it's been coming for a while - the battery is new but I suspect that it isn't being charged properly for some reason or that there's a starter motor issue. I've checked the radiator level and the oil - both are fine. Any thoughts please?

On another note, how would I be able to tell if she was overheating?

You need to define the starter 'screeching' rather better! If the flywheel ring gear teeth are damaged - the starter drive gear can slip against them horribly - causing more of a grinding noise I would say. You would need to remove starter - and turn the engine on the handle while inspecting the teeth through the starter hole. Remedy involves engine out/flywheel off/new ring gear shrunk on. Otherwise - could be the starter spindle is slightly bent - and therefore not meshing correctly with the ring gear. Again - remove starter and inspect. Overheating is noticeable by the cloud of steam (yay!) emitting from the radiator overflow and/or high reading on temp gauge if you have one and/or 'hot' smell from the engine with oil haze rising!

Have you checked that the starter motor bolts have not come loose?
You could have more than one problem such as a loose connection in the ignition wiring. Go through the checks with the spark plugs, coil etc.

Good point there MP - loose bolts it could well be!