Starting Problems
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2026 6:00 pm
On a recent trip out our 1937 Rover 12 Sports Saloon played up a little on the way back, coughing and spluttering and down on power, so we had to stop a few times to try and diagnose the problem, but to no avail. However, she did eventually clear herself and we made it back OK.
I suspected it may be dirt in the fuel and indeed the fuel filter was an old plastic type one and showing that it had indeed collected some stuff. I therefore, replaced that with a new glass one and also checked the fuel pump filter, which was clean, and fitted new spark plugs.
She started up straight away, as she always has done, and I promptly got ready for a test drive to see if she was still a little hesitant. However, after leaving her to warm up I came out to find she had stopped…….and she now will not restart (turns over but does not fire). Upon checking the float bowl it was not full and so I thought maybe she had run out of fuel, despite the fuel gauge reading a quarter of a tank. So more fuel in, but still not desire to fire.
So any ideas on what might be going on and perhaps where to check next?
The car has electronic ignition so I am assuming that is not the cause.
And a quick question, reference the jet adjusting nut on the SU carb, which direction weakens the mixture, clockwise (screwing it in) or anti-clockwise (screwing it out)?
I suspected it may be dirt in the fuel and indeed the fuel filter was an old plastic type one and showing that it had indeed collected some stuff. I therefore, replaced that with a new glass one and also checked the fuel pump filter, which was clean, and fitted new spark plugs.
She started up straight away, as she always has done, and I promptly got ready for a test drive to see if she was still a little hesitant. However, after leaving her to warm up I came out to find she had stopped…….and she now will not restart (turns over but does not fire). Upon checking the float bowl it was not full and so I thought maybe she had run out of fuel, despite the fuel gauge reading a quarter of a tank. So more fuel in, but still not desire to fire.
So any ideas on what might be going on and perhaps where to check next?
The car has electronic ignition so I am assuming that is not the cause.
And a quick question, reference the jet adjusting nut on the SU carb, which direction weakens the mixture, clockwise (screwing it in) or anti-clockwise (screwing it out)?