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MG MGB Technical - Starting problems

My neighbour has recently bought an MGB from 77, restored and equipped with a Weber carb. It ran good untill yesterday, when he wanted to start the car. It cranks over quickly, it starts running but after one or 2 seconds it stops again. The spark plugs are ok, and it does fire. Also checked the fuel pump, which works ok, the fuel is running into the carb. I think the carb is the problem, but what I donot understand is that the car was running fine before. Can the coil also be the problem or is it the carb? Thanks in advance for your help!
Richard Houtkoop

That's what faults do - one minute they aren't there and the next they are! Could be anything, you have to eliminate things one by one.

The first thing to do is rev the engine until it starts dying while looking at the tach and ignition warning light.

If the ignition warning light comes back on as soon as it *starts* dying, it is loss of power from the ignition switch.

If no red light until the engine has stopped then if the tach drops to zero *as soon* as the engine starts dying, then it is an ignition LT problem i.e. points, coil etc. or connections.

If the tach continues to register as the engine spins down then it is either HT or fuel. Clipping a timing light to the coil lead and each plug lead and watching for flashes while cranking will tell you if it is HT (no flashes) or probably fuel (flashes).
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed between 08/06/2008 and 09/06/2008

MG MGB Technical index

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