Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi All
So: the saga continues. I have a morris minor 1000.
Only got it recently, noticed when i press the accelerator i get a screeching from the engine! It was really strange and then stopped. Took the car out today to take oit to local garage to take a look and see what was wrong and to give it a once over ready for the summer.

Drove it 200 yards down the road and it stopped
Tried to restart it but wouldn't fire up
Checked the spark at the points and there was a faint spark

However
tried to turn the key again and it just made a clunk sound and now the engine wont even budge! nothing when turn the key, put booster on the battery as thought it might be that Nothing, a clicking from the starter is all.

local and I tried to bump it on the hill, Nothing
We tired rocking back and forth in second and fourth gear - nothing.

Tried to use the crank handle and the engine wont even turn (putting a lot of strength behind the handle and it wont budge.
Think that possibly the engine is seized as the crank handle wont move!!

Any thoughts? Is it an engine out?

It is unusual for an engine to seize after only200 yards. Does it have oil and coolant? Try the handle again when it has cooled.

If it is still seized try external checks first, starter, water pump, then valve gear. If these are normal it will probably mean removing the head, sump or complete engine.

Thanks for reply
It was really odd.

Chain of events, just to be certain.
Car was running for a while, al be it a little rich
Drove 200 yards from home and it stalled and wouldnt start.
Pushed it to a space and checked the spark from the leads / coil / plugs / points ect.
then when i tried to turn the car over to check the sparks again (probably about the fifth time) i heard a clunk then nothing.
Nothing to the electoonics!!
I thought, i could crank it with the crank handle!
But when i try and turn the handle, it is stuck! It simply wont budge

There is plenty of oil in the engine!
I removed the plugs to see if the lack of pressure would help me turn the crank handle! still wont budge.

Spoke to someone who said that push rod might be bent!!!

Havent checked the water pump or the valve gear.
Brother is coming over (hopefully) at weekend to help take a look!
Hoping its not an engine strip down - was quoted over £1700 for that, !!

As the noise and seizure came when you were turning the engine over I would look first at the starter, possibly a starter and ring gear problem. Try removing the starter and then turning the handle.

The 'push rod' is bent ??? Was this from a passing 3 year old child? As suggested above - it may well be that the starter is stuck 'in' the ring gear. Usually can be freed-off by rocking in gear - or by turning the little square on the end. If it won't turn - then remove the starter - now does the engine turn over on the handle? The screeching was presumably the fan belt slipping - either it's very slack or the generator is seized - hence flat battery - just enough to spin the starter in - and then it has stuck. It's extremely unlikely that the engine has seized in the conditions you describe - and errr - it's not the 'push rod'...

bmcecosse wrote:The 'push rod' is bent ??? Was this from a passing 3 year old child? As suggested above - it may well be that the starter is stuck 'in' the ring gear. Usually can be freed-off by rocking in gear - or by turning the little square on the end. If it won't turn - then remove the starter - now does the engine turn over on the handle? The screeching was presumably the fan belt slipping - either it's very slack or the generator is seized - hence flat battery - just enough to spin the starter in - and then it has stuck. It's extremely unlikely that the engine has seized in the conditions you describe - and errr - it's not the 'push rod'...

Thank you all so much for this. Makes sense that it could be the starter as there is a slight clicking from there!!
I actually snorted my tea out of my nose on the above comments. lol

Thanks guys. I will check out the starter!!

Well -we do try to bring a little bit of lightness to the matter - which is obviously a big worry for you. It's very unlikely to be a seized engine when it was running ok. But do check if the generator is free to turn. I suppose with a weak battery - it could prevent the engine turning. Pop the belt off to test! You need a new one anyway after that 'screeching' .

If tea is snorting from your nose you will shortly be advised to run a pipe from one nostril to the inlet manifold

does sound like the starter is stuck put the car in 2nd gear and rock the car with the hand brake off and keys in your pocket . the starter should free off with a clunk if it does try again with the handle or the starter with a well charged battery .

Thank you all, once again, your help has been fab.

Did what you guys suggested, removed the starter, took out the plugs, engine went round like a dream, put it all back together and fired up no problem, whilst the weather was good and i had some time, I drained the water and the oil and did an oil change along with flushing out the water and topping up with coolant.

Identified a slight leak on the heater control,so purchased a new one.
Also think it was a bit hot, so not sure if the thermostat is working ok.
So thought i would replace that too.

Engine is working like a charm now, juts needs a bit of a tune up!

Once again, than you all for your guidance and help.
Really appreciate it.

Cheers

nice to hear a happy ending

Well done - be sure to add a new fan belt to that list.

Thanks for the advice.
I will add the Fan belt too, as it tends to screech when i accelerate!!

I have another quick question - Now its running, it seems to need the timing adjusted as seems a little off!
Do i need to take the front grille off to get to the timing marks so i can use the strobe?
Or is there a simpler way?

Oh, and one more, whilst i am at it - Sorry - How best to set the mix? I have read loads of different things and not sure what the best method is.

If anymore lives near Bromley Kent, I would happily supply a cuppa, bacon sandwich and some hard cash for help and advice.
Cheers

Forget the strobe - what will it tell you ? Any 'timing' suggestion way back then is not relevant today with very different fuel. You adjust both - little by little - on a hot engine by gently moving the dizzy till you get the best/smoothest idle. And then the mix by similarly adjusting the mix up and down with the nut under the carb - little by little - for best/smoothest idle. You may then want to check the timing again once you have the mix right. Also check the vacuum advance is connected -and working correctly. Suck the carb end of the pipe and watch to see if the baseplate in the dizzy moves back and forth correctly. If you can't suck a vacuum - then the diaphragm is burst. If the plate doesn't move. Well - again a new vacuum unit is required, or for a little more money get a complete new dizzy from Accuspark or Powerspark and leave all your ignition worries behind !

as above. you don't need fancy gadgets to set the timing. do it by sound and drive the car. its not too hard.