QuestionQUESTION: hi, i have a 1975 mg midget that i got for 200 dollars that sat under a tarp for 2 years. i replaced the distributor cap, spark plug wires, condenser, coil, and spark plugs. it still wont spark. on the negitive side of the coil a wire runs to the distributor and on the positive two green and white striped wires are twisted together and placed on the positive post. i think that i have a number of problems. first off i have a 1974 triumph spitfire distributor. i accidentlly bought a condencer for a 75 mg midget(which is an electronic distributor) , but i have a spitfire points distributor. does that MATTER? also i am using a battery from a old porsha. does the battery matter? if it does can you tell me what kinda battery i need?
thanks,
wesley
ANSWER: You say the car won’t spark. Does it turn over? I really need more information.
I assume that you have a 1500 midget with rubber bumpers. This engine is basically the same unit fitted to the Triumph Spitfire, and they use virtually the same distributor, so they share common Lucas components such as points and condenser. Electronic distributors do not have a condenser, so the condenser that you have obtained is probably the right one.
Please could you double-check the colours of the two wires twisted together and attached to the positive terminal of the coil? I don’t think they should both be green and white, and this could be your trouble.
There should be two white wires with a black stripe attached to the coil negative terminal. One wire goes to the side of the distributor and the second one disappears into the wiring loom and comes out under the dashboard, where it attaches to the rev counter. The positive terminal of the coil should have one white wire with a green stripe, and there may be a second white wire with a red stripe.
As regards the battery, so long as it is 12 volts, it fits the space for the battery, the terminals are the correct type, and it has the power to turn the engine over, then it is OK. Be careful which way round you connect the battery terminals. Make sure you ground the negative side of the battery.
Let me know how you get on, and come back to me if you need more help.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: ok. thanks. ill give some more info. it is a 1500 engine with the rubber bumbers, the engine turns over, but wont spark. instead of the standard issue electronic distributor it has a 1974 spitfire distributor. this was in the car when i got it. the negitive side of the coil has a white and black wire running into the distributor and the other side has two wires twisted toghether at the end and fastened on the positive side. the two wires are both white with a thin green stripe on them. one of the 2 green and white striped wires runs to the solenoid and im unsure where the other goes. there also is a white wire on the left side of the resonater which is under the coil. on the right side of the resonator there is a white wire with a blue stripe. the battery i have is real crappy so i usually charge it overnite then, since the battery is to low to turn the engine with a key, i turn the engine using the solenoid, the positive battery post, and jumper cables. does that affect the engine not sparking?
thanks,
wesley
ANSWER: Firstly, I must confess that I am not familiar with the USA specification 1500 Midget.
I have to make some assumptions:
1) I assume that you are not trying to sort out the wiring loom, you just want to get the engine running?
2) From the fact that there are white wires with a green stripe, I assume that the car has a ballasted ignition coil. If you run the coil at 12 volts for more than a couple of minutes, it will overheat and burn out.
3) I hope the car has twin SU carburettors, not a single Solex.
4) The car has an SU electric fuel pump.
5) I trust that you have already put the points in the distributor correctly, set the gap correctly, and re-fitted the rotor arm.
OK, start by disconnecting those two white/green wires from the coil, and tape them up so they don’t touch anything.
Next, make sure there is a White/Black wire going from the side of the distributor to the negative terminal of the coil.
You will need some fuel, so temporarily connect the plain white wire to the positive terminal of the coil.
Remember, stale gasoline can make starting impossible.
If you have a Solex carburetter, it may have a fuel cut-out solenoid built into it. This requires power or else you will not have a fuel supply.
Attach the negative side of a GOOD battery to a good ground on the car using a black jump lead.
Connect a piece of wire from the positive side of the battery to the positive terminal on the coil, (along with those White/Green wires).
Now jump-start the starter motor with a red cable attached to the positive side of the battery.
It should start.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: hi, thanks again for your help. before i try this i want to let you know that i am just rying to get the engine running, it only has one carburettor, adn the fuel tank is currently sittin in the front seat on the car. so if i want to try this i guess i have to open the air filter and spray gasoline into the carburettor. right?
AnswerThat sounds very dangerous. Please don't spray gas around when you are using jump leads. One spark and you will have an explosion.
I am not familiar with the single carburetter setup on a USA Midget, so I really can't help you much more with this.
