Morris Minor Owners Club

Started the car today, it ran for about 20 seconds, then I stalled it and it wouldn't restart.

What have I done? Flooded it? It is normally a very starter.

It's an A-series with an SU fuel pump, so it's going to be either electrical or fuel. Start with the basics: Check for a spark.
Check for clean fuel delivery. Is the fuel pump ticking?

any lights at the ignition? if not check the connection at regulator. as above said it will be either fuel or electrics.
does the engine turn? if not check battery you should have about 13v accross the terminals.
A little more info on your symptoms would help.

If it started okay and ran for 20 secs it sounds like fuel. It would have run for that long on the fuel already in the carb bowl. Take the top of the float bowl and see if it is full with fuel or not.

Did you forget to switch on the fuel pump? Happens to me all the time!

I will try it again later today. The car is not kept at home and I have no tools where it is kept.

The various lights were coming on and the fuel pump was clicking normally. I will go down later with some tools and see how I get on. I think I have either flooded it or the float bowl thingy is empty.

I will see if I can find the carburettor section in the workshop manual.

UPDATE.

Started the car again this morning, it ran normally for 20-30 seconds and then stopped. I took the top off the float chamber(?) and it was empty. I turned the ignition on while the top was off and just got a couple of half-hearted clicks. Replaced the top and turned the ignition on and there wasn't the normal burst of clicks from the fuel pump.

Gave the fuel pump a series of taps and there was a click or two - definitely not normal.

So it seems it's the fuel pump, what do I do now? Any ideas please?

Next step is to read up on cleaning and adjusting the fuel pump points in your manual.

A good clean is normally all that is required.

Have a look at the points in the top of the pump and give them a light clean up first.

Possibly blocked fuel supply pipe - although normally then the pump would be painfully clicking - just not getting any fuel along. Or blocked delivery pipe from pump to carb - or stuck-shut valve in the carb (most unusual!) Clean the points and see what happens!

Clean the points!

Naive question - how do I do that? Just slip an emery board between the pionts and work it backwards and forwards a few times?

Is there a blow up view of the points anywhere?

Yes - that's the idea -v fine emery board. Fig B 8 on page B 8 of the workshop manual.

I have a spare fuel pump - would it be ok to fit that? It is smaller than pump no 1. The makers name is HARDI, it has no filter, nor a provision for an earth lead - should I fit an earth lead?

Thank you for your help.

I would stick with the SU pump........ the other pump may not be designed to 'suck up' fuel - and may deliver at too high a pressure.

I think you will find that other pump is one of those rather iffy cheaper electronic ones with a blue band on it made in europe that done last five minutes I know of 2 or 3 that didnt even last a year from new.

Thank you for the respomses. A few minutes work with a bit of emery fixed it. It has started!

Just buy it a new set of points - it will be fine.

Just to bring things up to date. The petrol pump points were given a once over lightly with a bit of emery, stuck it back in the car, turned the key, series of rapid clicks, pulled the stater and....... geranium! We have lift-off!

Thanks to everyone for the advice. To be on the safe side I have ordered a new pump and a spare set of points from the nice people at Bull Motif.

Where in the manual does it explain how to take the points off/out/apart?

I have just realised that I have posted a rather more long winded version of an earlier post!!!

Section B 2 onwards.