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MG MGA - Hard to start after 3 week lay off

My A is hard to start during winter if it sits in the garage for more than a couple of weeks (Melbourne - Australia winters are 3-15C or 37-59F!).
I pull the choke right out, and stick a piece of slotted wooden dowel between the knob and dash to keep it in position (can you fix the detent system so it stays in position when you turn knob?) then I try about 10-15 times before it eventual gives a bit of a kick (usually I have to stick the 4 amp charger on the contact on the starter switch as the battery starts to get a bit weak by 10 tries) - after about another 10 goes it fires, then another 3-4 and it runs, a bit rough but it soon settles down, after about 90 secs I remove the dowel spacer and put the choke back in and it runs fine - when its warm it starts first pull on the starter even when it has cooled down it will still fire up straight away later in the day. Even the next day it is not too bad but it just gets harder the longer you leave it. When the car is running it goes great, sounds fine (to my ear!).
I have a small 12 volt battery fitted (Century NS40ZS if that means anything to you guys). Do I need to fit a couple of 6 volt batteries to give me more cranking power (amphours). Is there anything I should check to make it easier to start (timing, mixture?)
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Mike

Re choke detent, you should be able to rotate the knob quarter of a turn clockwise to hold it in any desired position.

Could be a knackered battery and/or poor earth.

I have gone the expensive route with batteries. I have 2 x 12 volt batteries in parallel, each with its own isolator. Routinely I only have one switched on (I alternate each day to keep both charged). During winter first start of the day I occasionally flick the second battery on line to spin the starter, then isolate it. My car always starts within 5 seconds, usually quicker.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Is the choke linkage working properly and actually lowering the jet and raising it again when the knob is returned? If the pivot holes get worn, pulling out the choke will just increase the idle and not move the jet body, often leaving it in the lowered position. Then someone retunes the mixture to run normally with the jet in this position.
John DeWolf

Sounds like the float bowls are dry when you leave it for a while. I've been wrong before, tho.
Tom

Shame on you, Mike. If your winters are "3-15C or 37-59F", you shouldn't be letting it sit for 3 weeks between drives!

Seriously, though. If it only sits overnight, do you have the same problem, or is it only after 2-3 weeks?

I'm afraid the battery sizing means nothing to me. Do you rate batteries with "Cold Cranking Amps" down under like we do here? I just use a cheap battery from Walmart and it works fine on my 'B engine. Generally, it's the smallest one on the shelf (at least here in North America).

When you first turn on the ignition can you hear the fuel pump ticking away merrily as though it's filling up the bowls, or does it just give a tick or two?

Derek Nicholson

Steve,
When I pull the choke out and turn the knob a quarter turn it doesn't lock for some reason that is why I resorted to using the dowel spacer. Can the locking mechanism be repaired some way - shaft roughed up, etc? Battery seems fine for several initial attempts but engine doesn't seem to want to fire.

John,
How far is the choke lever supposed to pull down the main jets - I could not see any setting for this in MGA Workshop Manaual - I will try and measure and report back.

Tom and Derek,
When I first turn the ignition on after a couple of weeks the fuel pump really ticks away for say 10 seconds then stops when bowls full (I have checked it into a ice cream container and it pumps well, I have also checked fuel level in the bowls after it stops pumping and they seem fine.) Battery is 195 mm (7.75")long, 127 mm (5")wide and 225 (9")high

I wanted to make sure else was fine before lashing out on a new battery.

Derek your right - I should be out each weekend but things keep coming up, like fixing the kitchen for my wife, World Cup football (Australia into last 16) games in the wee hours of the morning here), cleaning up the garden - roll on retirement!

Regards
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

I agree with John in Canada about the possible reason being the jet body not moving enough when you pull out the choke. All you would be getting is a faster idle.

I've had a similar issue. If you try pulling out the choke as far as it will go, then manually get your hand between the carbs and pull the linkage up as far as it will go - then try starting again.

You may have to push the jets back manually after a few minutes as they can sometimes stick in that position too.

For me, in cooler or damper weather, when the car has been sitting in the garage, this makes the difference between the car turning over and over till the battery flattens, and a quick fire-up.

At some point I will get to the heart of the problem.

Richard.
Richard Ross

Definitely sounds like a choke (or lack of) problem to me too John -similar happened on my GT a few years back - I needed to readjust the choke linkage . Only other possibility is damp in the ignition ( dis. cap etc) -good luck Mike - and to Oz against Italy this evening - Cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

This thread was discussed between 25/06/2006 and 26/06/2006

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