Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi everyone........

I`ve just got a 1970 Morris Minor 1098cc (on Friday, exactly) and have been using it over the weekend, and have found a few (hopefully minor) problems. Since I`m not exactly mechanically-minded, i hope someone out there will be able to help me:-

The first problem is on the speedo clock. There are four little lights inset into it, one is the ignition and another is main beam, but i`m not sure what the two orange lights are. The orange light to the right is always on when the car is running, but flickers on and off when in traffic.

The second problem:- When the engine is running there is a clicking/tapping noise from the passenger side of the engine bay. It seems to be happening when the car is on the move and doesn`t stop when i`m either in traffic or travelling at 40mph. Whatever it is clicks for a few seconds then stops then does it again.

If anybody can help me I`d be eternally grateful.
Michael

Hi there, well not to worry. That click is from the petrol pump, it clicks as it pumps, its when it stops clicking that you get problems. If it happens hit it with something. It does work. As for the lights on your speedo, the red one is the ignitio woarning light, this is on when the battery isnt charging, so you need more choke. The yellow one just below is the oil warning light, it should go out when you first start the car after a few seconds. If not check the oil. If it flickers check how much you have in it or the type of oil. The other yellow light, below the main beams is the oil fliter warning light. Forget this as it was just an extra but is completely useless.

Hope this helps.

Hi Michael,

Congrats on becoming a Minor owner. I wasn't particularly mechanically minded either when I got my first Minor but have since replaced a radiator, starter motor, coil, starter solonoid, fuel pump, lights, fuses, chrome etc. It really is very easy to work on. If I can manage it you won't have a problem!! Suggest you invest in a few manuals - these are always available on E- bay. Also, if you let us know where you are there will probably be a local owners club near to you who will be a mine of information.


Hope this helps,

Louise

The clicking noise is probably coming from the petrol pump which is mounted
on the side of the battery compartment, it should click but not in sudden
machine gun like spurts. On the end under the plastic cover are the points
which can usually do with a careful cleaning as a first step. The warning lights
could be serious. If you have two orange lights then one is for oil pressure and the other is a warning that the oil filter is blocked!! If the oil filter IS blocked that would not cause the oil pressure indicator to come on as well.
The oil pressure operating switch is situated just behind the distributor and
has a push-on lucar connector on the top. They do go faulty so you should
fit a new one ASAP. I cannot see that you actually do not have oil pressure
in the engine because it wouldn't last two miles. The oil filter warning light
connection is on top of the oil filter(under the Dynamo/Alternator) and has
a green wire with yellow tracer on it. It was not used on the Minors for long
but you should obviously change the oil filter immediately. As a simple check
pull the wire off the top of the oil filter and see that one of the orange lights
has gone out. Another easy check is to remove the oil filler cap on
top of the engine and ensure that everything inside is covered in oil.

Aye - as Willie says - urgent oil and filter change required. Use 20w50 oil.

Thanks guys..... I wasn`t expecting any help so soon!!!!!!!!!!

Michael

PS Is there a part of the MMOC that meets in the essex area (I`m in clacton-on-sea) at all?

There's an Essex branch that meet around the Chelmsford area which is probably the nearest branch to you. I'm not a member but I'm sure somebody on here will be able to give more details.

I cannot see that you actually do not have oil pressure
in the engine because it wouldn't last two miles.

I managed at least 50 miles in a Minor (with Midget 1275 engine) that had a blocked filter. Unfortunately the MG engine didn't have the extremely useful 'filter blocked warning light' sensor so I only found out when my big ends started knocking!!!!