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MG MGB Technical - Help, She's died and won't start up

Today, my 73 B started fine, pulled her out of the garage, and let her sit and idle while I closed the garage. Put her in reverse again, the tach dropped briefly to 0 then back to normal again. Backed her up a few feet and she died. Won't start back. fuel pump doesn't click. I got out the 12volt tester and it shows nothing at the 2d fuse from the bottom and nothing on the coil. According to the wiring diagram, it looks like the coil, fuel pump and coil would all be interelated. What do I try next?
Greg Bowman

I probably should have also mentioned that she will turn over and the ignition light comes on at the dash. I'm just glad it happened in the driveway, since I was going to drive 40 miles to our club meeting. Thanks in advance.
Greg Bowman

Try testing the white and brown wires at the ignition switch relay. The white coming out powers the ignition coil, fuel pump and OD circuits when the relay is energized. The brown wire is "hot" (unfused). Possibly the relay itself is shot.
Andrew Blackley

Greg, You need to check the white wire back to toward the ignition switch until you find 12 volts. A good place to start is the connector with white wires in the bundle of connectors near the fender well behind and below the fuse box, if one white wire has 12 volts check the connector, no voltage there go to the connector at the ignition switch. Good luck, Clifton
Clifton Gordon


Greg, back to basics, it's either fuel or ignition. First pull the fuel pipe off the front carb and turn on the ignition. If fuel pours out, it's ignition. If not, there's no power getting to the fuel pump or fuel pump is faulty.

If its ignition, take out a spark plug, reconnect the plug wire and turn the engine over, while looking at the plug. If it sparks the ignition is problably ok. If no spark, check the points and then the coil.

Let us know the results,

Andy 74 MGB GT
Andy Preston

Thanks guys. Just a bad wire under the dash. Looked OK, but when I jiggled the wire, it came to life. I even made it to the club meeting.
Greg Bowman

This thread was discussed between 12/09/2002 and 13/09/2002

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