Morris Minor Owners Club

Just tried to start the car. It starts and runs for about 30 seconds, the revs increase slightly then it cuts out. Leave it for a few minutes and it does the same thing again. Any one any ideas ?

Almost certainly ignition or fuel related. Begin by checking for spark when it stops. If a strong blue spark, check the fuel side. If no spark or a very weak yellow excuse, check the ignition system further.

RAB

Check the flow from the fuel pump, sounds like it's not keeping up with the engine's consumption.
Is there any misfiring when it is running - this would indicate a possible ignition fault.

No theres no misfiring it just increases the revs slightly then cuts out. The fuel pump is 15 years old is this due for a change or do they carry on working for longer than this.

Take off the pump to carb delivery pipe, pop the open end into a jar or jug and switch on the ignition.
You should get a good flow of petrol with the pump pulsing continuously.
If not it may be prudent to fit a new unit - they are not wildly expensive - rather than try to repair an old knackered one.
If the pump is working fine then the next job would be a carburettor strip, clean and reassemble paying particular attention to the float and valve needle.

Just taken the pipe off from the carb, turned the ignition on, no sound from the pump so looks like a new pump.

May be worth checking the electrical connections to the pump before you spend your hard-earned on a new one... pump may be sticking so tap the pump body with a hammer or similar and see if it ticks then (with ignition on)

A new pump from Burlen will be around £100 or you could get a decent used one on Ebay but of course there is no warranty on a used pump.

If it is the fuel pump, and it is only one of the avenues to check, avoid the electronic fuel pumps,, they are incredibly noisy (I changed back to SU) and I have not heard good things about the reliability of the Hardi copies of SU pumps.!

Bull motif and the the other usual suspects are, perversely, sometimes cheaper than Burlens who make / supply / recondition them but beware of postage costs.

I have had the Hardi pump for nearly 10 years on my car and have had no issues with it. Yes, they are noisy if mounted directly but easily cured when fitted with rubber bobbins.

Regards
Declan

Declan_Burns wrote:I have had the Hardi pump for nearly 10 years on my car and have had no issues with it. Yes, they are noisy if mounted directly but easily cured when fitted with rubber bobbins.

Regards
Declan

Looks like you and I are in a minority Declan
I mounted my Hardi fuel pump as Declan suggested and have had no issues with noise since, yes they are noisy but that is no reason to discount them as rubbish.

Trickydicky

I did not 'discount the Hardi as rubbish' (sic). I commented that I had found the electronic pump noisy and that I had not heard good things about the Hardi.

This was based on comments on this and other fora and the experiences of posters on these fora. Your's and Declan's experiences are clearly different

I would be grateful if you would not attribute comments to me that I have not made.

Tried all the electrical connections and they seem fine so have bitten the bullet and bought a new pump, an SU with the old style contacts. Will be fitting it tomorrow.

New pump installed and car is running as sweet as a nut.

good news

Glad to hear it.........Happy Motoring!