This morning I said to myself that I should start checking the Morris to do the little jobs like changing the clutch, changing tires, etc. before the winter. So I went to the garage, got in the car, turned the ignition, 3-4 seconds on the starter and brrrrmmmm, off she goes. Unfortunately this only lasted about 15 seconds and the engine simply died.
I immediately thought about the fuel pump, but I've never had a car with an electric SU pump, so I didn't know where to start.
Not a big problem, out comes the cell phone (there IS a reason why a certain company advertises their phones as "life companion"), go on the internet, MMOC forum, search "fuel pump problem" and there is the solution: The pump should click every now and then, and if it doesn't, check the points that tend to stick after some storage. So I just followed the instructions (take off the plastic cap, etc.) turned on the ignition and the pump went clicking happily away, until the pressure was built up.
OK, get in the car, turn the ignition, starter, and brrrrmmmm, off she goes. Engine running in neutral, checked that the fuel pump is not leaking, everything perfect, got in the car, pressed the clutch pedal, first gear.... crrrrrrrkkkkkkkk....
The clutch is sticking.... OK, standard procedure, engine off, first gear, press the clutch and hope that the starter unsticks the clutch. Tried that five-six times, with various gears, nothing. Out comes my life companion, MMOC forum, search (you know the procedure), and up came the tip to get the engine really warmed up to help unsticking the clutch and using alternately the first and reverse gear ( I didn't know/think of that). I did as suggested, got only a slight carbon monoxide poisoning, and voilà, the clutch is unstuck.
Away I went, fuel pump clicking and changing gears without problems, only thinking
THANK YOU MMOC FORUM!!
Tom
