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Car stops as if starved of fuel

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Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK   GBR
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Hi I have a 1966 MBG roadster unfortunately the fuel gauge is faulty and it had ran out of fuel after putting fuel in its started and ran as good as it always did .After going out in it today the car ran for 29 miles then just stopped as if their was no fuel after standing for 15 to 20 minutes it started when it runs it's a sweet as a nut . Could it be dirt in the carbs or could it be a faulty fuel pump?. looking at the fuel filter it not completely full .Should it be ?.

Kind regards Mark

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spikemichael Avatar
spikemichael Platinum Member Michael Caputo
Canton, IL, USA   USA
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1973 MG MGB "Freebie"
1973 MG MGB
1974 MG MGB "Spike"
1976 MG MGB "Cecil"    & more
fuel filter air bubble is 100% normal.

too many possibilities on the sudden stop to diagnose from the information given, everything from a ground that killed the coil to a clog in the fuel line.



Michael J. Caputo
'79, '77, '76, '74.5 (rubber dual SU), and '73 owner. Extensive experience in 12v Audio System design and installation. Vendor of Regalia and Promotional Products since 1993. Supplier of Accessories to MOSS. Forum Member since 2009; with a warped sense of humor since birth. Publisher of the annual MGB & GT Calendar, mailed worldwide.


Member Services:
Please send photos for next year's calendar to photos25@mgbcalendar.com. If you need help with your Weber downdraft carburetor, feel free to call me at 978-249-5760, USA, Central Time!
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CederholmC Avatar
CederholmC Carl E. Cederholm
BROOKLYN, NY, USA   USA
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1953 Chevrolet Bel Air "The Sled"
1969 MG MGB GT "Supercharged"
1972 MG MGB "Brooklyn B"
1981 Toyota Land Cruiser
If/when this happens again, leave the ignition on and listen for the fuel pump and pull the fuel line off at the carb. Have a cup ready to catch and fuel.

If you have fuel spitting out your problem might be ignition related and now fuel related.

If you don't have fuel and don't hear your pump, the fuel pump might have a short or be bad.

If you don't have fuel but hear your pump you have a blockage somewhere.


Hope that helps,
Carl

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dipstick Avatar
dipstick Kenny Snyder (RIP)
La Center, WA, USA   USA
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1941 Ford N-Series
1958 MG MGA 1500 Coupe "Rosie"
1970 MG MGB GT "Pat's GT"
1971 MG MGB "Gifted To Me"    & more
1. When the engine dies, key off, immediately pull the front float bowl cover and see if there is any fuel in the float bowl.

2. The coil may be failing when it gets hot after running for a while, then when cooled down starts working again. Usually with the coil the engine sputters for a while before dying.



Be safe out there.
Kenny

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Jim K Avatar
Jim K James A. Krasnansky
Liberty, KY, USA   USA
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1970 MG MGB GT "Chloe"
1971 MG MGB GT "Roscoe"
1972 MG MGB "Camilla"
Never let your tank go empty. Dirt that is otherwise suspended in the fuel, or pooled at the up-take gets sucked into the line much more readily, and more concentrated. If you have a fuel filter, change it. If you don't, install one just before the carbs.



Jim K is a grease-stained wretch

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tomkatb Avatar
tomkatb Larry Baygents
Dayton, Ohio, USA   USA
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1963 MG MGB
If I had a SU fuel pump I would give it a gentle wack with a screwdriver and see if it then works.



L.W.(Larry)Baygents
63B
77 Spit

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ddubois Dave DuBois (RIP)
Bremerton, WA, USA   USA
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Mark - If the engine just stops abruptly, I would look at the ignition for the source of the problem. A fuel related problem usually stutters and coughs before completely dying as the float bowls get sucked dry. If you want to troubleshoot your fuel system, see the article, Fuel Delivery Troubleshooting Guide in the SU Fuel Pump Articles section of my Homepage, linked in the signature block below.
Cheers,



Dave DuBois
1953 MGTD
1966 MGB
http://homepages.donobi.net/sufuelpumps/

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Basil Adams Avatar
About 12 miles from Sears Point, CA, USA   USA
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If you think it's fuel, take the gas cap off. If it runs after that, clean the tank vent. When the vent is clogged, a vacuum builds in the tank until the fuel pump can't pump anything and the car dies. Run with the cap off and see if it doesn't die :-) Basil 707.762.0974 basiladams@yahoo.com



Basil C. Adams
1956 MGA Coupe (Show Car)
1957 MGA Roadster (Driver)
1958 MGA Coupe (Racecar)
1959 MGA Coupe (unrestored)
1960 MGA Coupe (unrestored)
1960 MGA Roadster (Driver)
MKIII Elva Courier (E1056)
1967 427 Cobra
1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal
A coupla late MGBs
1960 Austin Healy BN7
More Cars than Brains

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1946spanky Avatar
1946spanky Mike Tamlyn
Perrysburg, OH, USA   USA
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1975 MG MGB "KERMIT"
Had the same problem with my 75. I checked everything as described above. Still had the same problem. I noticed that the engine light was not coming on when this happen. I tuned the key on without trying to start the car. Starting moving wire bundles under the dash and found that when I pushed up one bundle the light came on, pulling down it when out. Took the connector apart cleaned all the connectors on both male and female and have not had the problem for the last three years. If all else fails give this a try. Good luck

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Nicecar Gary (ex "Harv") G
Victoria, BC, Canada   CAN
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1980 MG MGB "Red On Red On Red"
Wear safety glasses when working around fuel. The smallest splash can cause big problems. (Don't ask me how I know!)

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