Morris Minor Owners Club

This afternoon I decided to start my engine for only the second time in my ownership - the car has been
off the road since at least 1995 and I am nearing the end (I hope) of a 6 year off and on restoration.

The car started on first turn of the key so I decided to try and drive it - for first ever time in my ownership. Success! The clutch isn't seized and the car drove around my driveway.

Only slight fly in the ointment - the red ignition light stayed on and the orange one didn't light at all. Any ideas please? The lights worked as they should the last time!

Thanks

Excellent!! Thats the kind of progress that makes you get stuck in and want to finish it off quicker

As for the lights, the red light is charging and after sitting a long time sometimes the magnetic bit in the regulator box doesnt want to work. If you have someone rev the car slightly and you press the contacts together and see if the red light goes out. Sometimes pressing it together is enough to start it charging again, you may also need to clean the points a bit, just pull a bit of thick paper through the points a few times. Another cause could be stuck brushes or worn brushed in the dynamo.

Is the oil light connected up ok at the back of the engine? You had dash issues a while back as well, is the bulb holder stuck into the speedo ok? Does your car have another wire going to to the top of the oil filter housing? It may be that the wires are mixed up.

Many thanks David, I'll check the electrics again at the weekend. You're right though, I am over the moon that the car moves as it should and even though there is still loads to do, I can now press on with a bit more enthusiasm

This is wonderful! We're very proud of you and happy for you! I remember the first time I fired Mog's engine after the restoration...drove it the same day. It fired on the first try. What a marvelous day that was.

Thanks so much for the encouragement fingolfin! The car was pretty rotten - I bought it as a stress reliever and a way to learn how to weld It needed new floors, a and b post repairs, chassis rails, inner wheel arches, rear quarter inner and outer repairs, spring hangers, bootwell, rear slam panel, front inner wings, repairs to tie plates....

Then I had to replace all brake components, fuel lines, fuel tank, trunnions, headlamp assemblies, etc,

Still to do: most of the interior, adjust front suspension, wheel alignment, adjust brakes, fit bumpers

And then, just maybe, I can get to street legal!

Hey Stag

Congratulation on a great mile stone, very exciting times.

Sounds like it might not have been a great stress relief, but I bet you know how to weld up a treat by now!

It's all worth it in the end though isn't it!

Cheers
Gav