MGB & GT Forum

Happier New Year ahead, I hope!

I'm getting weary about this recurring problem, running fine for weeks, then power suddenly fades, & I limp home on what feels like 2 cylinders! Have to substantially rev to keep enough engine power to try to keep up enough speed to not get run over by other drivers.

Last time this happened, it turned out one of the plastic floats in my SU carbs had gas inside. Replaced both with new floats & improved needle & seats! This time, I made it home, I shut it down and walked away very disgusted. Next day, tried to start it. Sputtered briefly, then apparently gave up trying. I did notice the fuel pump never quit clicking before I tried to start it. Yes, gas is almost full. I'm to the point I wish I hadn't sold my 2006 MX-5! I had decided I'd rather drive my 1977 MGB classic car. Suggestions for making RELIABILITY maximized are appreciated. Currently have single point set in an older distributor. Gotten to not trust it, despite carrying a spare! I'd rather drive it, than pray I make it home each outing.

Mileage is 99,350, which I believe is original. I've owned it since 1999.

Thanks guys!

Bob, it often turns out to be something pretty simple, despite the frustration and annoyance. Once you get that problem out of the way, it might run fine for years.

Is there any connection between your earlier problems and this latest one? Were you the one who rebuilt the carbs? Is it possible you got something 'off' a little? I installed the needle and seat upside down once. Doh! Maybe the floats weren't bent just right? Or is it something as simple as a clogged fuel filter? Step by step check each possibility.

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Drew Maddock, So. Calif. USofA

Mine lost power for a little while and then for good. Turned out to be a bent valve stem. Do a compression test.

I feel your frustrations Bob. I almost gave up too. I've let mine sit for months because I was so frustrated. I had a number of things happen to mine, all of them were relatively minor things that once they were figured out and fixed, reminded me why I drive this car.
Once I put the wrong rotor on the distributor, it was too small and it would run until the coil got too hot then it would quit, leaving me stranded. Once the coil cooled down away we went, for a short time. My buddy Guido found it quite by chance when we were going over everything trying to figure it out.
Or the time I drove it 60 miles up the road to the Wheels across the pond car show and as soon as I pulled into the park the Alternator bearings disintegrated forcing a tow home.
My most recent last month was a day trip to Key Largo, about 100 miles, and my throttle cable broke! Literally the only thing that had not been replaced! We rigged it up and I got home.
My point being is most of us have been through the same thing as you so don't think you're alone. Once you get to the point where you've replaced pretty much anything that can break because of age then you will have some reliability.
This site is a wonderful resource with great people willing to help anyway they can.
Don't give up, you won't be sorry.

Scott T

If I understand you right you are driving and everything is fine, then you begin to lose power? Do you have to pump the accelerator to get the rpm's up? Does it help to pull out the choke and enrich the fuel mixture? When this happens to me it has been because the fuel to air mixture l leaned out due to problems with my carbs. Floats, needles, and the like.

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Travis
'72 MGB

It's really hard to diagnose this kind if problem over the air, There are soooooo many things that could be your problem. Most of them very small and simple. You could chase your tail for a while. If you have or know of a good British car mechanic. I would take it to him and while he had it, completely chick the car over for other possible problems. What you have to except is you have a car scaring almost 40 years of age. An short of a professional ground up restoration,there will be problems. Even if you bought it from someone that claimes to have restored it,trust me when I say a lot of individuals call themselves restoring a car and all they did was make it pertty. In my buisness I can't tell you how many cars bought on E Bay turned out to be nightmares for customers.

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http://www.importandsports.com/

Tom -- FYI, the link to your business website does not work.

Yea I know Stuart. I have been retired for over 2 years. I need to go in and take that link out. Not sure how to do that.

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http://www.importandsports.com/



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-01-30 11:11 AM by Tom Bedenbaugh.

Not a problem at all Tom -- simply trying to help.

Bob,

First thing to check is where is the stoppage?

Turn Ign on, hear fuel pump going, pull hose into carbs off to see if fuel is coming out pipe (have a catch can ready).

If no fuel coming out then it is from there back. Check filter, lines for kinks and blockages, fuel pump, and tank checking flow at each as you go back.

It may be that you have crap built up in your tank and that crap is getting through to the carbs and jamming one of the float systems. This would require taking the tank out, cleaning it thoroughly then putting it back to try again. I had to do just his so can give some info on cleaning that worked for me.

If there is plenty of fuel then its back to the carbs. I presume when you replaced the floats and needles the carbs got a good clean out?

Start with this simple plan of elimination and at least you'll know what direction you're going in.

Cheers Rob

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Cheers Rob

Oh and Bob,

Remember that these cars are 30 to 40 years old (older in some cases). Like to see what a Miata is like at that stage of its life without any care.

Maintain them and they are pure pleasure, to not is pure folly.

Not saying that you don't maintain, but unless you have owned the car from new the term maintained can be substituted with used in the case of some PO's.

Cheers Rob.

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Cheers Rob