I’m very cross with Mabel

[mole42]

This morning I set off to drive from Bristol to Portsmouth for a conference. I was happily plodding along the M4 at somewhere close to the speed limit, all is well, temps and pressures normal, in fact Mabel seemed to be quite enjoying the run.

I stopped at Membury for a “comfort break”, returned to the car, started up and rejoined the M4.

About a mile from Membury, heading East, the engine started to lose power and finally stopped altogether. I pulled as far off the road as I could, put on the hazards (so glad I fitted them at last!) and tried to restart the car. Nothing, turned over alright but didn’t fire up. Yes, the fuel filter was full but that’s really all I checked.

So, being a sensible chap and not wishing to tempt fate by fiddling with the car on the motorway with big trucks thundering past I called the breakdown. He was there within 25 minutes because his base is just near Membury services. We decided to put the car on the loader and get off the motorway and then we stopped at the next junction to see if there was an easy fix. No, the same situation. Engine turns but won’t start. So I decided to take advantage of the get you home part of the breakdown service and we returned the car 50 miles back home.

Outside my house we unloaded the car and the recovery man said “try it again and see if we can spot the trouble”. You can guess what happened - the bloody thing started perfectly, ticking over like a good ‘un.

I left the Mabel at home and travelled to Portsmouth on the train. I might give her a good kicking when I get home.

Richard

[dasadrew]

Those faults are bl00dy annoying, as you never know if they're going to repeat, never having found the reason. It's then like waiting for the second "Gotcha" !

https://www.drivebygolf.com/golf-gotcha/

[Lingen]

Richard. It sounds like a fuel issue if it gradually died / lost power.I would check 1. the inertia switch that cuts off the fuel pump. 2 the fuel pump.
If the inertia switch is still fitted, bridge it out and see if the problem goes away. If it doesn't then it is probably the pump.failing intermittently.
Mike.

[mole42]

Hi Mike, yes, I think fuel. It’s a newish pump, one of the electronic ones which hasn’t missed a beat in the last 30,000 miles but I did have a similar failure a couple of years ago on the way to Stoneleigh which was cured by pushing the inertia switch in and out a few times.
If I hadn’t been on the motorway I would probably have sorted the problem but there’s something about 38-tonners thundering past at 56mph only inches away that precludes rational thought…
I don’t remember much trouble with inertia switches when I used PIs regularly but that was 30 yeas ago. Maybe time to ditch it.
Richard

[Kithmo]

Sound like Mabel is suffering from Home sickness to me

[davidf]

I hate problems that go away without me sorting them. You know they will come back and bite one day. Definitely sounds like fuel; most likely something to do with the pump.
I wish you all the best sorting it. Maybe wiggling some wires can replicate it?

[bonnietiler750]

My Tr7V8 will do the same thing what I do is Grab the distributor head and shake it, Bizarrely, It always starts, Must be a loose earth from the Electronic ignition or some such I cant find it neither could the Auto-Electrician, been like that for 4 years now, It never stops when its running though only occasionally after being left..As a wise man once said 99% of ignition problems are fuel related.....and the reverse is also true

[Rod1883]

That sort of thing is usually electrical in my experience.
Are you still on points? If so, check/replace the condenser, check/replace the coil, leads etc.

[mallardstag]

I don’t remember much trouble with inertia switches when I used PIs regularly but that was 30 yeas ago. Maybe time to ditch it.
Richard

Don't ditch it it's a vital safety feature. A good clean up as described in the here should make it last reliably for many more years.

[mole42]

Don't ditch it it's a vital safety feature. A good clean up as described in the here should make it last reliably for many more years.

I was thinking I’d make an electronic one with a substantial relay which would be more reliable than the venerable grey tube.

[greystag]

had the same thing last week, wiggled the fuses about and hey presto,fuel pump started and brum brum ,fuses and holder looked mankey so took it out, and fitted stagwebers very nice stainless steel unit with proper size fuses you can buy anywhere.when i removed old fuse box you can see where the water had got in and it was no wonder the power could not get thru with all the crud,have a good look at yours could be the same.Regards Terry