Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi all, my pick-up stopped after some time running with it today, I was driving at normal speed it suddenly sort of coughed and stopped, there is petrol in the tank but it wouldn't start again or it starts and goes off again after a couple of hours the car just starts back normal again. What can it be please?

First thing to check when it stops is to open bonnet,leave ignition on, and tap
the petrol pump smartly! If this produces a fast ticking from the pump then
it could be as simple as the pump points needing a clean (under the plastic
cap at the terminal end.

Or perhaps there is a vacuum forming in the petrol tank - next time it happens take the filler cap off and listen for air sucking in ! Maybe also the condenser or the coil on last legs - change the condenser first, it's cheaper.

thanks a lot I'll remember it as I presumed i went to pick up the pick-up about 5 hours after it stopped and it started as if nothing ever happened and working well again till it does it again, hehe

It does sound like vacuum in the tank - seeps away while standing. Other possibility is carb icing - which normally I would not consider in Malta - but I think you have been having some coldish weather of late? Not as cold as up here in Scotland though!
It's fffrreeeeeeezing!

well last time it happened i thought it was dirt in the petrol i got the carbauretter out and cleaned it and out came lots of dirt but it still did it again today :| what i forgot to ask is what shal i do to remedy the problem? just open the filler cap to leave air go in? well in Malta its freezing too over here we have a high humidty problem so its also freezing here and also we have lots of rain this year

If it's the vacuum thing - you will have to allow air into the tank - perhaps drill a small hole in the filler cap, or arrange a breather off the filler pipe. BUT - if it's wet and freezing then carb icing is a real possibility. It forms ice round the piston/throttle area and stops the engine. But I would expect engine heat to melt this away in less than 5 minutes - and then the car will start and run just as normal! In UK the engines had a long intake on the air filter which could be directed at the exhaust to suck in hot air during winter months - you could try this.

no i don't think ice is the problem of the two id expect to be the vacuum thing maybe then thats why the pick-up throw petrol out from the filler cap?

Well no, if petrol can come out I would expect air to be able to go in !

As it only happens after a certain amount of driving, you need to check it immediately as soon as it fails - otherwise it'll be a lot of guesswork.

If it is a vaccuum in the petrol tank, you will hear a whoosh of air when you remove the cap.

If not - If you remove the fuel pipe from the carb (with ignition on) what happens?
If you get no flow of petrol, then it is likely to be the pump - some pumps will stop working when they are hot. A very common problem with the SU pump is that the points don't make good contast (they get worn with many decades of use) and if the pump starts to work when you give it a sharp tap then the root cause is point. If they are heavily worn they will need to be replaced.
If you get a good flow of petrol then the problem may be the carb (e.g stuck inlet needle)

yes one thing i forgot to mention is after I leave it for a couple of hours, after it has stopped when I go back to start it, when i turn the ignition on the petrol pump ticks a lot but if i try to start it just as the car stopped it only ticks once or twice

ok guys, I think i've solved the problem (hopefully) just as willie said in the begining and ray also mentioned it probably is the petrol pump points as today it did it again i took off the filler cap nothing happened, but then i opened the bonnet left the ignition on and tapped the petrol pump and it started ticking again and off I went on my way again, anyway i took the pump off now and hopefully i'll find a good set of points tomorrow for it. Thanks a lot guys you've been of real great help!! thanks

Good to hear you have found the problem. Happy Minoring!