Hi - I wonder if anyone can offer any advice regarding a problem with a Series 2a 1970 2.5 petrol. The problem: when the vehicle is on the level it starts without any problem, revs and idles well. When you drive up an incline its cutting out and just before it does cut out, emits a puff of dark smoke from the exhaust, then its hard to restart, until you can get it back onto level ground. So far its had the following replaced - piston rings, valve seals, valves, spark plugs, head gasket, fuel pump, fuel lines from tank to pump, distributor, carburettor, coil. Any suggestions/advice on what would be causing the problem (which Im guessing prevents fuel uptake when going uphill) and how to resolve it would be really appreciated. Thank you.
steve2286w
Well-Known Member
Is the pick up pipe in the tank free from splits, the mesh on end of pipe is good condition , tank free of crap and enough petrol in tank.
What incline of hill stops it , what do plugs look like
Does it still spark after it’s cut out
What incline of hill stops it , what do plugs look like
Does it still spark after it’s cut out
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It's had a new carb, wonder if it's a cheap Chinese copy?
Or just badly adjusted?
I think the cheap ones start ok but wear out quick. Might be wrong
Ours was never any good. Previous owner had fitted it, first day out we had it broke down 8 times! It would run fine for hour then just over fuel and cut out, then be ok after a while until it broke down again.
Fitted a £20 2nd hand Zenith which worked a treat.
Rangieman123
Active Member
What is your fuel level when these problems happen? The bottom of suction pipe in the tank can rot away, hidden behind the mesh pre filter. Does it have this problem on a "full tank"?
It sounds like a fuel supply issue, either flow or pressure.
It sounds like a fuel supply issue, either flow or pressure.
Tall Ratbag
Active Member
The puff of dark smoke suggests the opposite of a lack of fuel.
Next time it cuts out / won't start, get the plugs out quickly, and see if they are wet with fuel, .
Next time it cuts out / won't start, get the plugs out quickly, and see if they are wet with fuel, .
Hi thank you for responding. It’s just when going uphill. A new carb was fitted to try to solve the issue but it’s still happening. Would the float need adjusting on a new carb?
Thanks for replying. Fuel level fine. Tank has been drained and refilled. Suction pipe looks ok.
Thanks for replying. Will check
It shouldn't but who knows. It's there a spark?
Thanks for replying. There is a strainer that is in where fuel is dispensed into the tank from the petrol pump, but the mesh on the end of the pick up pipe pipe has rotted, would this make a difference even though there is a filter/strainer for the fuel as it enters the tank?
Hi all. Please bear with me as Im not the owner of the vehicle - it belongs to someone who lives abroad so Im relaying messages and asking questions! Just had a phone call to say a mechanic has been working on the vehicle and this is the latest. He says it’s not a carburettor issue. When it’s on the level it works and drives just fine. When going up an incline it cuts out and puffs dark smoke. This doesn’t happen when it’s on the leve. If you take off the line to the carburettor and pump by hand, everything is ok but when the line goes on it’s being starved of fuel. When it comes back onto the level it’s fine. Sorry to be a pain with this.
If the pick up pipe is effectively too short when the fuel isn't level in the tank, on low fuel, it will be starved of fuel, or the carb.
I can not think what else a hill would have an affect on.
Don't think electric is bothered what angle the vehicle is at.
All the metal gauze in the filler neck does is filter out the big sticks, straw, rocks, which might fall in.
Will it drive flat out/ full throttle on level ground no problem at all?
I can not think what else a hill would have an affect on.
Don't think electric is bothered what angle the vehicle is at.
All the metal gauze in the filler neck does is filter out the big sticks, straw, rocks, which might fall in.
Will it drive flat out/ full throttle on level ground no problem at all?
British Leyland Rover
Active Member
I recently had this issue of bad running after an incline. It turned out to be dirt from the rusty fuel tank blocking up the carb jets. The weber fuel filter didn't stop a large chunk ending up in there.
