won't start!!!!!!!

Post by **davidmayo** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:55 pm

I bought my morris about a month ago, it had been lying on a chaps drive. I drove it of the trailer and around the field for a bit and it conked out. My problem is there is no spark to the plugs, i have inspected the distributer, points working fine, rotor arm good and no cracks in the distributer cap. I have power from the coil to the points, but i just cant get any spark to my plugs. the distributer body turns a bit with the clamp tightened. my mum has a morris and her distributer is rock solid. Any ideas to get my plugs to spark?

thanks, david.

Post by **KirstMin** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:11 pm

If you take the dizzy cap off and turn the starting handle with the ignition on do you get a spark between the points when they open?

If yes...

And if you are not getting a spark at the plugs then between them is only one thing isn't there? The coil that is. I think that is the most common thing... its happened to me a few times

Post by **davidmayo** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:12 pm

i have thought of the coil but i have got power coming from the coil to the distributer

Post by **KirstMin** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:51 pm

Try swapping it with another one and see - if you have a spark at the distributor that doesn't mean your coil is ok.

Post by **Chris Morley** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:59 pm

There's a fragile little (low tension) wire from the terminal to the contacts - this has been known to break and stop a car dead.

Post by **davidmayo** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:11 pm

ok, i have tried switching the coil with two different coils and still no difference so i dont think it is that

Post by **davidmayo** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:14 pm

my distributer turns and wobbles, when i know that it is meant to be solid. does anyone know if this might make a diffence to the spark

Post by **Cam** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 5:18 pm

Yes, if the centre spindle moves about then the dwell angle will be all over the place and your timing will be erratic. The spark should be OK ish (might be a little weak if the movement is so severe as to open/close the points gap). Just the spark will occur at the wrong time!

Post by **KirstMin** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:40 pm

but if the car was fine and then just didn't start after a months rest this wouldn't seem to be your problem - as cam says, you should still get a spark to the plug - which you are not.

davidmayo - are you sure you have a spark at the points - when you turn the starting handle with the distributor cap off and the ignition on, is there a spark each time the points open?

Post by **Willie** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 6:48 pm

DAVIDMAYO.....reading your earlier post I think you are saying that
the WHOLE distributor body can turn??? Is this so???

Post by **davidmayo** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 7:49 pm

yes, willie this is correct

Post by **davidmayo** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 7:52 pm

yes kirstmin there is always a spark.

cust in case it helps, i will tell you when it stopped working, it was working fine its just i was driving it aroung when the car just stopped dead and rolled to a stop then when i tried it there was no spark

Post by **davidmayo** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 7:54 pm

sorry i thing my last post was a bit confusing.

just in case i meant that there is always a spark at the POINTS

Morris Minor Owners Club

won't start!!!!!!!

won't start!!!!!!!

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