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Troubleshoot Me Please.


Best Answer TristanCam , 30 December 2017 - 06:49 PM

Absolutely correct. Main connector from the starter. I didn’t find the loose, corroded connection because it was hidden under a wrap of electrical tape. I can’t express how happy I am to hear that rarely engine running! Wish I could attach photos, but a genuine thanks for all the help. Go to the full post


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#1 TristanCam

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Posted 29 December 2017 - 02:54 AM

Hello, thanks for the help. Basic question really. As I pulled my 1962 mark 1 out of the drive, the radio (modern setup) flicked on and off a few times and then all the electrical system went out, and wont come back on. The battery is fully charged and the starter will turn, but nothing else. Not knowing much, I went through what I could. Found the two fuses, which are good; checked for loose wiring, absent connections, found nothing out of place. Wiring to the battery is fine. All I can think is my ignition or voltage regulator must be out, perhaps due to drain? I did leave it at idle for several minutes before driving. Any suggestions before I take it to the garage? I dont trust American mechanics (Scots
Lad temporarily in the USA), but am not trained in engines.

#2 Spider

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Posted 29 December 2017 - 06:17 AM

Sorry to hear of your recent Mini Motoring experience!

 

I don't think it would be much. Given your description, probably the first place I'd look is at the starter switch in the floor, underneath the car, there should be a thick Brown Wire (although, after all this time, it may look Black) coming off the battery side of that switch and heading up to the engine bay. I'm guessing this may have broken away.



#3 timmy850

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Posted 29 December 2017 - 06:31 AM

Is the battery known to be in good condition and have enough cranking power? It can possibly be charged enough to turn over but not have enough power to start it up.



#4 Stevie W

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Posted 29 December 2017 - 08:35 AM

I’m with Mr Moke on this one!

Years ago I had a similar experience to you on my ‘79 Mini 1000. Was just leaving the farm where we lived and the car just went dead without any warning!!!

As you’ve done, we went through the electrical system systematically and could see nothing visibly wrong. We left the ignition switch in the accessory position with the radio on, which acted as an indicator for the presence (or otherwise) of power.

After spending the best part of an hour on it with no luck, I desperately wiggled the main feed off of the inner wing mounted solenoid.....and the damn thing sprung into life!!!!!

The terminal wasn’t loose but corrosion and road grime had built up and caused the problem. With the battery disconnected for safety reasons, I removed all the connectors from the solenoid and cleaned each. This did the trick and away we went with no further problems.

Cheers, Steve.

#5 TristanCam

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Posted 29 December 2017 - 11:27 PM

Thanks for the tips. Yes the battery is fine. The starter is connected directly, and not through the ignition. So the starter always works, as it does now. An interesting thing I discovered: a cigarette lighter is wired, also to always be on, which powers a Satnav. There is power to that, until I switch on the ignition, when it loses power. Switching the lights on without power also shuts power to the lighter. Of course with th ignition on, nothing had power, and only the starter and cigarette lighter have power with it off. Could it be as simple as replacing the ignition cylinder? That would not explain why the power flickered a few times or why it ran until I began to drive. My thoughts are the ignition coil or power regulator may need to be replaced, likely because although I have an updated 12v full size battery and alternator, the stereo takes quite a bit of power. Then again, Im quite a poor mechanic with little grasp on what Im talking about. Maybe rather than fix it, this is my time to convert it to electric. Ive yet to track the cable from the starter ad recommended (been a long day), but certainly intend to after work. Cheers for the help, and of course, additional comments and suggestions are most appreciated.

#6 carbon

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Posted 30 December 2017 - 05:02 PM

When you switch the lights on (sidelights then headlights) do they light up OK?



#7 TristanCam

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Posted 30 December 2017 - 06:31 PM

No lights whatsoever, nothing electric is functional with or without the ignition on, except the starter and cigarette lighter, both of which work with the ignition off, then I lose the lighter with the ignition on, starter still works, it does not start the car, as it does when accidentally pushed without keys. Nothing else electric works at all in either case. I know the way it has been wired is a bit odd because of this, so it looks like Ill have to pay a mechanic.

#8 Spider

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Posted 30 December 2017 - 06:41 PM

It does sound like the feed from the starter switch, or the other end of it is making a poor connection, could be loose or corroded.

 

You might need to disconnect a few wires to check the condition of these connections. The one at the Starter Switch is particularly prone to problems, like being ripped out or corrosion due to it's location. I'd suggest for safety, disconnecting the battery (the Earth is wisest) before working on this.

 

It certainly does seem your battery. main connections and earths are OK, given that it turns over so well.



#9 TristanCam

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Posted 30 December 2017 - 06:49 PM   Best Answer

Absolutely correct. Main connector from the starter. I didn’t find the loose, corroded connection because it was hidden under a wrap of electrical tape. I can’t express how happy I am to hear that rarely engine running! Wish I could attach photos, but a genuine thanks for all the help.




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