QuestionMy father-in-law bought a 75 MG Midget on 7/29/2009. This car had not been registered since 2005, so it sat for a while. When the purchase was made it was started, and it ran for some time (approx 5-10 miles through test drives and transport home). When driving home it lost power, and stopped running, and we spent the day trying to start it. I have a lot and will identify the tests completed to date.
The first problem we thought of was electrical (spark), because the MG needed to be jumped to start at all (old battery). We swapped out the battery and the unit would turn over. When changing the oil, my father-in-law was concerned he may have knocked wires loose from the distributor to coil connection removing the oil filter. The midget was "updated" with an electronic distributor, and when the two wires exiting the distributor at the bottom are connected to the coil with their mating colored wires we got no spark. When we disconnected them we got spark (wires were white w/green and white w/blue stripe). There is also a small circuit (plastic with what looks like a transistor or diode soldered to it). This plastic piece was taped into the wire harness w/ nothing connected to it. Question 1: does this sound right? disconnected wires and a circuit board? The distributor is a Lucas and its P/N was verified as correct. Also I have read where the electronic distributor should have two connections red and black, which it does.
Second-Fuel supply. We were eventually able to (with starting fluid) to get the car to start, but when the gas was hit, no idle and eventual stall. We pulled the fuel pump open, and there was no debris in the filter. We put suction on the fuel pump supply and gas eventually got to it. We read about changing fuel pumps, and I believe this is what our problem is.
Would a fuel pump fail so badly after running for a few days (I guess the seal could. Can I remove the pump and test its capability? I have read about replacing the pump. Can I do excessive damage installing the pump improperly?
This is a single carb MG Midget 1975 1500 cc.
AnswerHi Rob,
The fact that you were able to get it to fire off with starting fluid means it is a fuel problem.
It concerns me that you had to apply suction to the fuel line to get fuel. You should repeat that and as soon as you have fuel, lower the hose and see if you have a good flow with just gravity feed. If you do put the line on the pump and with a "T" in the line close to the carburetor and a fuel pressure gauge on the branch of the "T", read fuel pressure. You should have from 1.5 to 3 PSI just spinning the engine with the starter. If you don't you have a fuel pump problem. Replacing a fuel pump is not difficult but be careful to keep the arm straight as you install it and if there is a fiber block between the pump and the block be sure to put it on the new pump and compare the shape of the operating arm on the new pump with the old pump. And "Yes" a pump after sitting for a long time can work for a short time then die as the diaphragm could have been old and brittle. Be sure to check that you do not have fuel in the oil also.
Howard
