When we started planning our summer trip in January, it was clear that I have a couple more days left on my time off balance than my wife.
The entire round trip will be approx 4000km. We have three-and-a-half-days travel time. Do make the most out of this – I came up with idea to drive the Morgan to Munich in advance and leave it at my office. I also thought: if I get there alone without an issue – there should me no reason to worry about breaking down in Italy.
Today was the designated day for Leg Zero – the prequel for summer trip. I booked the latest flight back home and planned to hit the road 10 hours before the check in time. The weather has been quite bad the last couple days. Normally I would drive down the Autobahn A3 and A9. But looking at the weather forecast I came to the conclusion that the A61, A6 and A8 might be a better choice.
But even though we packed or luggage already yesterday, last minute items took a bit time and I did not get going before noon. And just after the start, Google maps told me to turn around and take the A3. There was long queue on the A61. But why listen to a mobile phone when I know the backroads around Bonn quite well. It is a better start for a trip anyway.
This worked quite well and I took a first break after 2,5 hours and almost 200km. More traffic jams ahead around Hockenheim and Karlsruhe made me take a detour via Pfinztal – following the B10 to Pforzheim. Everything was working well, a fuel stop showed me that the average fuel comsumption is a around 8,5l per 100km – all good.
As I mentioned a couple times before – the Morgan is everything else but fast. Nevertheless it manages the 130km/h and it is easy to go with the mainstream traffic flow. Up to the Alphöhe the Autobahn A8 ascends in juts two lanes with a lot of curves. For unknown reason some overcautious drivers in front of me were doing 70 to 90 km/h.
A lot of shifting between 3rd and 4th gear was required and the engine ran great. After passing Ulm it really started to warm up and it started to become a real nice summer day. With the trip counter showing 450km after 5h – it was time for another bio-break. The new temperature gauge works well and usually shows just under 90°C. When I got back to the car after a few min – I climber quite a bit – I decided to turn on the ignition and let the Revotec fan do it’s job while I had a snack.
The entire stop took less than 10min. The Morgan started normally, I slowly drove from the service station and just when getting back into the Autobahn I lost engine power again. This time it was not the misfiring which I had before with the coil issues – it was clearly a lack of fuel.
Before the trip I changed the Malpassi fuel filter, checked the Facet pump and measured the fuel pressure. And all worked well up to this point. What could be wrong? To be honest – when you are stranded on the shoulder of the A8 – which does not have any speed limit in this section – it is difficult to get a clear thought. I decided to call the ADAC and get help. But on a Sunday afternoon during vacation time – it can take hours before help is on it’s way.
I moved the Morgan as close to the crash barrier as I could and started checking all I could while standing behind the barrier. I started in the back – fuel pump was working. The filter had caught some small white particles – the last couple times I checked it – it was completely clear.
The Malpassi filter looked alright – the jets in the Weber were all clear. The float as well. Cluelessness. After sometime I thought: what it the fuel I got 200km was not really clean? The small particles would not be visible in the paper of the filter – maybe I should just try cranking up the fuel pressure regulator. And after 2 full turns of the screw – the engine finally started running again. I cancelled the ADAC and after 45 min finally got back on the road.
At the next exit I left the Autobahn – took another break and got a water resistant plastic bag for my tool roll. I secured this in the engine bay – I did not want to get everything out of the car again in case I need it. I filled up the car with expensive Super Plus at a Total filling station and had no issues for the rest of the trip to Munich. Total time has 7,5h for 560km – including all breaks and the break-down.
Fixing C6622 
Leave a comment