I have a 1275cc clubman, and havinga bit of trouble with starting her up over last couple months (hasnt been getting better )

first problem (though it might not be a problem) is the fuel pump never turns off, i understand it is meant to prime the fuel line/reservoir and then turn off...i have left ignition on for 5 mins and the clicking never stops....this however is not the problem ive been having.

might be cause its cold but i have been having trouble getting the car to turn over after it has been turned off over night or for a long stretch. ill let the fuel pump work for a little then 20-30 seconds later i will turn the key. all i hear is the starter motor trying to turn the engine. after a few attempts at this the engine STARTS to get some fuel in and ignite that. BUT the wierd thing is a few tries after that (when the engine is almost kicking over) a fairly loud CLICK will come from the engine bay, then without fail the engine will roar to life after this click.

my questions are, what is this click, is there any reason it takes so long for the car to turn over (other than being a carbi) and should i investigate the fuel pump not stopping?

cheers for your time

Lachy

Try pressing F8 before the GT logo comes up and go in via safe mode.

ah if only it had bios, that stuff i can understand like the back of my hand

I reckon the pump keeps on going in mine.. it just changes tone a bit..

Could be the temperature, are you in the hills/down south?


The click could be , at a guess, the carby back firing..

Check out your mixtures. Other than that, check the usual. Spark, battery, etc.

Does the car run fine once it's started?

im just south of adelaide, and yeh its not warm, i just didnt know if it would start a bit better if i investigated the click, sometime it can take upto 5 mins to get it started

once its started though it seems to have no problems at all

cheers

hey foo..

the pump is gonna be like that cause its the type of pump it is. i made the same complaint to the previous owner when i had it and i found out it was just the type of pump... i have the same pump on my current mini atm. so if u want that to stop u need to get another electronic pump or change to mechanical.

with the starting problem did u check the battery?? the motor would click like that if the battery was flat.

_________________
oil leak?..what oil leak..that puddle under the car is just sweat from all that horsepower

i thought it was that kind of pump since it is still puttering on while the car is running hours later...

as for the battery, i did not check the battery cause it hasnt not been able to turn the car on....unless i am very badly mistaken...the battery wouldnt be able to start the car at all if it flat?

its just one click and its just before the engine seems "warm" enough or has petrol in it to turn over :S ... but no i havent checked battery yet...its on the list now though.

ive also asked my grandpa (he used to work heaps on MGs) and he said it MIGHT be something to do with a solenoid switch?

yeah ive had similar problem with the soloniod switch lately on my van... but mines been more of a " i turn the key and nothing happens..".

check the battery first.

_________________
oil leak?..what oil leak..that puddle under the car is just sweat from all that horsepower

ok will do, mainly cause its the easiest cheapest test to perform

cheers,
foo

Could be timing when u turn the key then let it go does the motor kick back like it turns over when u r trying to start it but when u let go of key it spins other way a fraction the motor

haha, could you please make that a little clearer, its been a long day and that didnt even make it in the first ear let alone straight out the other

i understood the issue it might have with timing not much else :p

thanks though

Sorry lol if the motor is advanced to much when u turn it over the motor will spin the right way then when u stop turning it over it will kick back the other way u can tell this buy getting under the engine bay and turning it over and watch the fan and when u stop turning it over does the fan spin back a lil

ok i shall check this too

cheers for re-wording it

if it aint that dunno

yeah id be checkin the basics first. make sure your timing is good, make sure you are actually getting fuel (take the lid off the fuel float(s) and check after the pump has been going for a few seconds), and check that your points, contacts, rotor, cap and spark plugs are in good order. lastly check you dont have a vacuum leak somewhere (ie exhaust and inlet manifolds)