Get a new distributor cap and rotor. I have twice had similar symptoms cured
by this simple swap. It is as if carbon tracks or cracks on the inside of
the distributor cap are "activated" by humidity.
At any rate I don't see how it can be the fuel pump...
on 4/12/01 7:45 PM, David Councill at dcouncil@imt.net wrote:
> Here is a challenging problem to ponder since we had rain and snow today.
> My son claims that whenever it rains or is wet outside, his car dies
> occasionally and sometimes takes 5 minutes or so to start again. Its kind
> of like a lot of problems we deal with on this list - we only know from the
> description given and not first hand experience. I don't get to drive his
> car so I don't know for sure what the problem is.
>
> His theory is its the fuel pump. He is only 17 and only knows what little
> I have taught him about cars. But he tends to be on the right track when it
> comes to troubleshooting the problem. The fuel pump is a constantly pumping
> Purolator pump so I figure if its pumping, its working. If it was silent,
> then I would know its the pump. My son's description does not give me
> enough detail to discern whether his problem is fuel or electric - I
> believe the car sputters before it dies and then it won't fire up (it turns
> over okay).
>
> I did an under car inspection and saw no problems. Besides the fuel pump,
> my other point of suspicion was the electrical connections on the starter.
> But this is a 65B (with a later 18V engine) so its just one main lead to
> the solenoid on the starter plus a small wire jumper from the starter
> solenoid post to a terminal on the side of the solenoid. So there is not
> much there to get wet. An interesting setup though since its a 65 - must be
> a fire wall solenoid to solenoid to starter connection.
>
> I have an extra set of HS4 carbs (just needs jets) that I may put on his
> car to replace the HIF4 setup - that way its easy to take the lid off the
> float bowl to see how the gas level looks. I've also thought about getting
> him one of the under the hood push button solenoids so he can easily test
> the car for spark.
>
> In the meantime, any one of you have some interesting similar experiences
> with wet weather problems that might give me something else to look for?
> Otherwise, I'll probably have to fix it the old fashioned way - by
> personally taking his car for a wet drive. If he'll part with it. I only
> got to drive it once this month but it was in the 50s (F), a nice early
> spring top down drive.
>
> David
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
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