MG MGB and MGB GT Tech Talk
Folks,
I have had this car since birth and love it dearly. However it has a couple of quirks that I cannot seem to fix. Can any one help with the following:
1. The ignition key starts the car first time when cold but have to keep on turning the key up to a dozen times when hot before the starter motor connects.
2. When the engine is cold the car revs at 3000 plus and settles to below 1000 only when the water temperature is at normal running.
Thanks in advance
1. Does the starter click, but not run? If so it's the solonoid on the starter. You could get a new solonoid or a local independent starter & alternator rebuilder can probably repair it.
2. Do you have an automatic choke? Water? Electric? Which carburetor(s)?
3. What year is your car?
I guess that Beamer and Kraut Can are making a German type perfectionist out of me. Kind of a Dr. Strangelove.
I'm guessing here; the car is experiencing the effects of corrosion causing more resistance when warm, if I understand you. Clean the battery posts. I once melted a cable connection due to resistance. Hot lead spilling right there in the gas station.
As for the idle part, you have an auto choke right? There you are.
one of my favorite movies. "You can't fight here, this is the war-room". Hate to name-drop, but George C Scott, the late actor, is my 2nd cousin. Also, I've learned that none of my ancestors drove British cars. They drove Studabakers, Desotos, and 1 Edsel. I'm not responnible for my cousins.
I have an Audi that did exactly the same thing with the starter. Worked great cold, but just spun and didn't engage the flywheel when warm unless you tried it about a dozen times. Replaced the starter, and all is well. You can check the starter circuit by measuring the voltage at the connection where the small wire hooks to the starter solenoid while you hold the switch in the start position. Should be 11V or more. If not, check the starter relay connection to see if maybe that's where your problem lies. If the voltage is OK, then I'd suspect that your solenoid or bendix drive is binding when it's hot. As far as the fast idle, the water choke can be a real pain. There is an article on John Twist's site that tells how to rebuild one if you're interested. I can tell you how a '79 SHOULD work. I push the throttle once to set the fast idle cam, then it starts after about 3 sec. of cranking, and idles at about 2000 until I tap the throttle, then it immediately slows to 1200, then after it's warm, it idles at about 900. So I know they can work right, but they're sure not the best.
