Minor won't start

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1john
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Minor won't start

Post by 1john »

Hello , I have a two door , 1966 black Morris Minor, which was running (reasonably well) a few days ago and now isn't. I "tinkered" with it and since then it turns over but fails to start. Could anyone recommend a local-ish garage or enthusiast who could either come and take a look at it or relay it; I will pay a decent rate , of course. Besides it not starting it needs some welding and probably a general over-haul. I live near Ashbourne, DE6, Tel oh one 335 three two four 710 / zero 775 seven 74 63.

Many thanks , John
Last edited by simmitc on Fri Apr 29, 2022 9:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Full address removed as per posts below, telephone now less recognisable by bots.
oliver90owner
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Re: Minor won't start

Post by oliver90owner »

Posting your address, etc on an open forum is opening yourself to a visit from an unwanted scally. I suggest you remove it.
KeithL
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Re: Minor won't start

Post by KeithL »

What @oliver90owner says first of all.

Secondly, what 'tinkering' did you do?

simmitc
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Re: Minor won't start

Post by simmitc »

Firstly, welcome to the forum, we should be able to offer plenty of advice for you. If you are not already a member, then consider joining the MMOC and your local branch as this is is usually a good route for local expertise; and the club magazine will have advertisements for many specialist services and parts suppliers.

Meanwhile, it sounds like you have a couple of issues: welding for which you will need a contractor, and non-running that you may well be able to fix yourself with advice from here.

For the welding, you could start a new thread and post some pictures of what you think needs doing.

For the non-starting, can we get some history? You say that the car was running "reasonably well", but clkeqarkly not perfectly, so what exactly was it doing, and then, as Keith asked, what have you done since? Exactly what is happening now? Is the egnine turning over and not firing, or is it not turning? Any sounds that you can here?

Report back and we can offer some more advice - if you can get the car running yourself, then you can drive it to a welder to look at the other issues.
1john
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Re: Minor won't start

Post by 1john »

Thanks very much for your replies and information. I am a member of MMOC , I didn't know you could post on here if you weren't.
I've been using the car every other week or so just into Ashbourne , to give it a run. There was a rattle coming from the engine , I know that covers any number of issues but I don't know how to better describe it.
I was intending taking it to Birmingham to a Morris Minor Centre but when I got in touch they apparently now only supply parts. I searched a bit and found a place in Hebden Bridge but that's too far away for me. There is an "old fashioned" garage at Brailsford about 10 miles away, I'll probably try him as a starting point. I'm not mechanically minded , I could change the oil , clean the spark plugs , that kind of thing , plus I haven't got much spare time , so I'd rather pay someone to do it really.
The tinkering , this is all I did - the indicators stopped flashing , interior light wasn't coming on and horn not working - this indicated a fuse problem but all looked good. I changed them anyway but that wasn't the cause, so I checked all the connections that were accessible and re-connected everything. The only other thing I did was unscrew the air filter (only because I wondered what it was ! , now I know) and put that back in place. I then moved it off the drive , left it running and a moment later it stopped , I turned the ignition , it started and then died. Now (although I haven't touched it for a few days)
the engine sound like it's going to start on the first turn of the ignition but on subsequent tries it just chugs , and yes , it has got petrol in the tank.
Myrtles Man
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Re: Minor won't start

Post by Myrtles Man »

Any competent local mobile mechanic ought to be able to sort you out. Worth phoning around I would have thought.
1john
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Re: Minor won't start

Post by 1john »

Yes , thanks , I think I'll do that , I could waste a lot of time fiddling about and getting nowhere . If I want the electrics updating a bit do you think I'm as well just going to a local garage instead of a Minor specialist ?
myoldjalopy
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Re: Minor won't start

Post by myoldjalopy »

Best if the local garage has an old-timer mechanic who is familiar with these cars. A 'rattle' from the engine could be any number of things, but possibly the head gasket has gone, which might explain why its not running now, but without further details I am only guessing, so its best someone who knows their way round a Minor has a look at it...
simmitc
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Re: Minor won't start

Post by simmitc »

I quite understand time and opportunity cost; but you could check a couple of things very quickly:

With the ignition off. handbrake on, gear in neutral, use the starting handle to turn the engine. Is there equally resistance on each turn, or is there one (or two) spots there the handle turns more freely. This could indicate a blown head gasket.

Check the water level in the radiator. Has it altered, or does it have an odd odour?

Remove the centre lead from the distributor cap and wedge it hear the cylinder block. With the ignition on, turn the ngine on the starter. Is there a good fat bright spark?

The results of these tests could indicate where the problem is within a few minutes. Will have to leave recommendations for local services to those that know the area.
1john
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Re: Minor won't start

Post by 1john »

Thank you for taking the time to reply simmitc , Myrtles Man and myoldjelopy. I've got a few hours free tomorrow so I'll go through the checks suggested and post the outcome.
1john
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Re: Minor won't start

Post by 1john »

I did the 3 checks a bit ago -
Same resistance on each turn of the starting handle , fairly hard to turn really.
Water in radiator smells a bit rusty but otherwise normal and level is fine.
Central lead from distributor is sparking okay.

I tried to start it again afterwards and it sounded a bit more hopeful but now battery dead and on charge.
simmitc
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Re: Minor won't start

Post by simmitc »

That sounds positive, head gasket probably OK and points/coil OK.

The next stage is to replace the central lead in the dizzy, then remove the No/1 spark plug (nearest radiator). Reattach the HT lead to the plug and wedge the plug so that the metal case is earthed against the cylinder block. Crank the engine again and check that you see a good spark in the plug. This will be less frequent than with the previous test. What we are aiming to do is prove that the rotor arm and distributor cap are OK. You could repeat with each plug in turn, but that's probably not necessary.

No spark, you need a new rotor arm and/or a new cap.

If you get a good spark then, with ignition off, place your thumb tightly over the hole for the spark plug and turn the engine using the handle. When you feel the compression building under your thumb, remove your thumb and shine a torch into the cylinder. Continue turning the handle slowly until you see the piston come to the top of the cylinder. Now remove the cap from the distributor and note where the rotor arm is pointing. Refit the cap and check that the HT lead where the arm is pointing is going to number 1 plug. The remaining leads, going anti-clockwise, should go to 3-4-2.

I presume that the distributor has not been moved and is secure.

A flat battery will always cause starting problems.
myoldjalopy
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Re: Minor won't start

Post by myoldjalopy »

Good advice above, but while you are at it, it is worth checking the condition of the plugs and their gaps - should be 25thou (0.025"). You could also check the rotor arm - with the dizzy cap removed and the HT lead removed from the cap, hold the end of the HT lead about 1/4" away from the top of the brass on the rotor arm and crank engine. (You may want to wear thick rubber gloves in case of a jolt, or hold the lead with some insulated pliers).There should be no spark, but if there is then the rotor arm is faulty and needs replacing.
1john
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Re: Minor won't start

Post by 1john »

Managed to get someone from a local garage , Rocester Car Sales , to come and look at my car a few weeks ago. He was quite bemused when he looked under the bonnet and found the starter motor had dropped off. Tried to bump start it down the road but ended up on a piece of towing rope to the garage.
They checked plugs and points but problem was fuel pump ; they cleaned and replaced some of the wiring. Bolt holding starter motor had sheared off so not sure what they did to fix it back in place , anyway they drove it back to me next morning (garage only 3 and a half miles away). Bill , £105 , and service brilliant , will definitely be going back to there for some other jobs (indicators started going again but horn and interior light still not working). Car now driving and sounding well.
Very pleasing old-fashioned garage , hand-written paper receipts and coiffured lady secretary. What's not to like , as they say.
myoldjalopy
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Re: Minor won't start

Post by myoldjalopy »

Sounds like you lucked out there, then! But no wonder the car wouldn't start if the starter motor had fallen off :lol: I expect they put a new bolt in to replace the broken one. But it sounds like the petrol pump was in need of attention too. Glad the cars running again...... 8)
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