Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Stubborn start M3W

That is impressive that your original Banner battery has lasted for that long, most die after 2 or 3 years.

Mechanics joke that the problem is either fuel or ignition. but there is one more vital element needed to run an engine... AIR.
I had a 3W engine that would not start and went through every diagnostic... still would not start.

I removed the air filter, and seeing the butterfly valve being completely closed, old school carburetor thinking kicked in and I cracked it a tiny bit. It started.!
It was the idle air controller that was completely closed, allowing zero air to the engine.

The unit was cleaned and re-installed. It has not been a problem since.

There are many faults that the ProTune diagnostics will not detect.

Varta 19 years on a vintage Sunbeam, dynamo, cut out & on/off charge switch, no voltage regulator. Another Varta on a '64 Bentley S3 lasted 13 years.

Sticking throttle cable?

If the throttle is slightly open the engine will crank over but the ecu won't let it fire.

I did the new belt and upgraded pulley about 5,000 miles ago. Along with the pricey hot weather kit. All that looks fine. Surprised you got 7,000 out of the original battery, mine got about 2500. I replaced its replacement only days ago. The new battery is a Decka ETX30L and is said to produce 400 cranking amps. Seems a lot to me, what do the Uasa and Exides pump? Thanks for the tip about the clutch, seems obvious enough but I'd not thought of it.

Only just saw Kolvites's post. Where is the idle air controller?

It's part number E130013
It a black cylindrical thing sitting at an angle on top of the throttle body... held down with two bolts.

If you have the Three Wheeler Parts Book, version 6.5, there is a picture of it on page 15.

With a fuel injected engine, this is a common component. It is servo operated by the ECU. A google search will provide a full explanation of how it operates.

Fitted the Yuasa UR1 battery yesterday 30 Ah , CCA 300 A. Its virtually the same size as the original Banner but the terminal lugs are orientated differently. Morgan leave no slack in the cables so it was difficult to get them bolted up. Started first go, reckon my starting difficulty was the old battery was just not turning the engine over fast enough. The Exide AGM 21-31 is 31Ah & CCA 330 it costs almost twice as much the Yuasa.

I have the Yuasa battery has worked well for the last 5 years and still going (hope I've not tempted fate). I trickle charge it if being left for a while.

So frustrating. I cleaned the idle air adjust valve, dried it , reinstalled ( Thank you. ). Got the same almost start and nothing. Later that evening tried again on a shrug and it pops to life right off. A twenty minute drive, a ten minute break, won't restart. Won't start this morning after topping up the battery again. New battery goes in nine tries from 12.7 to 12.4 volts. Don't seem like much and still cranks quite merrily but only sounds likely for the first second or two, then just goes to spinning lifelessly. Like grrr, Thrum, grr, rrr, rrr. If it doesn't catch on that thrum it won't.