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MG MGB Technical - Engine very intermittent cut out

Three times now while I have been driving, luckily on quiet roads, my mgb gt has cut out on me. That is everything stops for a second and then carries on as normal, it seems like the car is switched off for a second and then carries on.
I have had the car running and twiddled battery wires, wire to the engine and coil and stuff and this doesn't make it stop like it had done when I was driving.
Any clues anybody?
Thanks Andrew
A R Woodhouse

I had a similar problem on my '74. The connector to the ignition switch - that is, the plastic block at the end of the wires - had a bad connection. So the power to the entire ignition switch would cut out, doing much as you say.

Of course, this is one of a million possibilities. You would do well to see what else cuts out with the motor, and what else stays powered. That would help isolate the problem circuit.
Matt Kulka

I have had this problem on two MGB's. On both it was the connector to the ignition switch that was the culprit.

However, fixing it is another matter. I ended up splicing and soldering several connections. Since I parted out one car and am keeping the other, I decided I would not try replacing connectors.

John in Music City
John Lifsey

I've just run into the same problem. It's like a split second shut down of the whole system. From the past threads in the archives I've decided that it is a problem on the low tension side of the ignition due to the tach dropping out when the engine stall. I'll start there and hope that it's something as simple as a loose or dirty connection. It could be anywhere from the ignition switch to the coil and distributor. I'm going to start chasing it down tonight.
Brad Batchelor

mine did the same today after some spirited driving, first time i asumed it was incorect carb float levels, second time noticed the taco was go up and down iradicaly, so asumed low tenshion fault. It hasnt done it since. Had a trip to the MG B Hive near wisbeach today, great people and seem to no what there talking about. ended spending 159 on midget bits and 400 on the .
Hope you sort your problem out soon, there aint nothing worse than an intermitent fault.

MC
M C Lovell

Sorted mine out last night. Cleaned and reconnected LT wires at the coil. The connection on the negative side was a little sloppy. A little cleaning and tightening seems to have fixed the problem.
Brad Batchelor

This thread was discussed between 27/05/2004 and 28/05/2004

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