Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi all,

I do quite a bit of fast speed (nearly 65!) on A roads and motorways, and normally no problems. She gets lots of care and doesn't grumble - until now!

Twice, once a few weeks ago and then a month ago, i've driven out of bristol on the M32 (about ten miles), everything ok, and then hit the M4 and suffered hiccups. I'll be cruising and then no power for a second and then back. The first time it happened three times in a short space of time, but wasn't as severe to require pulling over. I made it to the next junction and drove home via backroads problem free.

The next time, in eaxactly the same place (which i think it probably conincidence) it did it, but kept doing it. Pulled over, started her up again, ran along the hardshoulder and off we went problem free.

So far i've got away with it, but i'd like to cure it as loosing power is quite disconcerting. If feels like the fuels gone, then returns. I'm guessing that it might be dirt in the tank or float causing problems as I filled up before both journeys (same petrol station).

Does this sound about right - any other ideas? sure i've read a thread about how to clean the carboretta out - can anyone direct me to it?

Could be points in the fuel pump need cleaning, they can cause those symptoms by occasionally "sticking". Could be a vacuum in the tank, a rare phenomenon caused by an unvented cap. Less likely to be fuel or carb. If not the pump then the most common cause of poor running and break downs is the condenser, but normally things just get worse and only improve again once the car has cooled down.

If it's the fuel pump you will hear rapid ticking occasionally after it sticks and then gets going again.

One thing that happened to me was an old 'o' ring on the carb jet pipe had been squashed into the base of the float bowl and I didn't notice when I fitted a new jet. This had started to disintegrate and caused intermittent partial blocking of the fuel flow. Only noticeable at high speed, causing sudden loss of power or hiccups as you describe. Ease of the throttle for a second and everything back to normal. This only happened on a few occasions though and was not repeatable and so is very similar to your symptoms.

thanks for the advice - i'll clean the float just to be sure and check out the o ring. I'll also clean the points. I've never had a problem and i couldn't describe what happened as breaking down as she just kept going without grumbles or anything! hopefully it'll be a nice simple issue. I pretty sure the condensors good - I've had one nearly pack up on me so I remember the engine grumbles.

Is there anything to watch out for when you clean the float - little bits of rubber that can fall off? a paper filter to avoid ripping? Sure i read a post on this somewhere but i can't find it!

the only fuel filter is in the fuel pump .