Morris Minor Owners Club

have an annoying problem which is now getting beyond a joke. Car (1965 1098) runs fine for first 15 miles or so then splutters to a standstill. Turn off, leave for 5 mins and she will start and run for half a mile before spluttering to a stop again.

It is not he fuel pump, coil, condenser,rotor arm, points, blockage in the carb - all have been checked/replaced. Last night was the final ignomony as RAC had to tow her home for me. Any ideas as to what I may have missed?

Vacuum in the tank/fuel line blockage?

I thought that and it does the same with the petrol tank cap removed. No fuel line blockage as have disconnected the line and pumped fuel through into a container. This one has me scratching my head!

When it stops - immediately pour some petrol down the carb throat and crank it - if it starts - the problem is petrol supply. If not - it's a sparks problem.

Are you certain that the replacement parts are OK? Can you prove by using on another vehicle. When the engine stops, take the HT lead from the centre of the distributor and hold it (with insulated pliers!) close to engine block whilst turning the engine over with ignition on. Do you get a spark? This will at least isolate whether it's electrical or fuel related; but the test must be done before the engine would normally restart.

bmcecosse wrote:When it stops - immediately pour some petrol down the carb throat and crank it - if it starts - the problem is petrol supply. If not - it's a sparks problem.

Now that is one thing I haven't done - thanks

simmitc wrote:Are you certain that the replacement parts are OK? Can you prove by using on another vehicle. When the engine stops, take the HT lead from the centre of the distributor and hold it (with insulated pliers!) close to engine block whilst turning the engine over with ignition on. Do you get a spark? This will at least isolate whether it's electrical or fuel related; but the test must be done before the engine would normally restart.

i also have a morris 1800 which uses the same ignition parts so have proved the replacement parts on there (all except the distributor. I put a new one on the moggy last year and the cap is slightly bigger)

Not well enough to work on car today (am in wheelchair and recovering from a heart attack) but during the week I will get her hot and try the petrol

Hmmm - I would be tempted to try the old dizzy back in the Minor engine - why did you fit a new one ?

bmcecosse wrote:Hmmm - I would be tempted to try the old dizzy back in the Minor engine - why did you fit a new one ?

The old one was totally knackered - the auto advance/retard fell off and the innards had seen better days. The new one worked perfectly all last summer

Oh right. Good move then!

peppiB wrote:have an annoying problem which is now getting beyond a joke. Car (1965 1098) runs fine for first 15 miles or so then splutters to a standstill. Turn off, leave for 5 mins and she will start and run for half a mile before spluttering to a stop again.

It is not he fuel pump, coil, condenser,rotor arm, points, blockage in the carb - all have been checked/replaced. Last night was the final ignomony as RAC had to tow her home for me. Any ideas as to what I may have missed?

Just as a point of interest, I had the exact same symptoms with a faulty brand new s.u. fuel pump, it would fade after 9 miles in my case then after a rest would run for a few miles, s.u. have admitted they have a problem.When cool it ran ok and then 9 miles on died again.
I know you mentioned the fuel pump was ok, it just seemed quite a symptomatic coincidence, so if all else fails you never know, good luck.

If it's a silly 'electronic' pump then yes - I would say highly suspect. My money is on a fuel supply problem.

Strangely enough BMC it was the standard pump, they havent come back with a reason yet, dry joint? weak component? who knows? but the words "new tooling" were muttered.
It has been some weeks now and they have promised of course a new replacement,but the mans cars symptoms are identical.

Now there's a thing. My SU pump turned up it toes about 9 years ago and I fitted an electric one. It has served me well, although recently I have only checked its flow when cold. Hopefully I will be well enough in a couple of days to check further but I also have my landcrab to prepare for annual show at Lichfield next weekend. Trusty Moggy is my daily driver. Many thanks for all the suggestions