34 replies to this topic

[TheFabMini]

Hi all hoping you can help

Yesterday was driving the mini and all was well apart from when cold it was very hesitant to accelerate. Even once warmed up there was still a bit of a dead spot when going full throttle.
Decided to check timing and valve clearances, started the car fine and did my adjustments etc... then the car stalled...
I now can’t get a spark!
I’ve cleaned the plugs and held them against the block, nothing... has a wiggle about the coil and tried again and did get a spark! Put the plugs back in.. nothing. Take them out, no spark..

I took the lead off the top of the distributor cap and held that against the block hoping I’d get something so I could go get a set of HT leads.. nothing...

From reading old threads it says that coil packs don’t usually fail... does it sound like I have a wiring issue or a coil issue?
Standard 998 a+ engine with accuspark electronic ignition

[nicklouse]

Wire from coil to dizzy still connected?

 

12V to coil?

[Icey]

Coils don't fail? Not heard that before. I've had a few fail over the years and spent a day diagnosing problems on a Mini at the weekend that turned out to be a coil that showed spark with the plug out of the block but broke down under compression.

 

You can test the coil both high and low side with a multimeter to see if it's gone. First is to make sure there's some volts getting to it at all.

[TheFabMini]

With ignition on coil is showing 12.8v on the + terminal

[TheFabMini]

Test light on the negative side of the coil and it flashes as I crank the engine

[nicklouse]

then your issue is between the coil and the head.

 

if you have checked the coil and it is OK. rotor arm ok? dizzy cap electrodes ok? (all 5).

[TheFabMini]

then your issue is between the coil and the head.
 
if you have checked the coil and it is OK. rotor arm ok? dizzy cap electrodes ok? (all 5).

Rotor arm looks good but gave it a clean
Cap looks good, clean no corrosion
Plugs were new last week

I’m stumped!

[Icey]

Have you checked the resistance of the coil, high and low?

[TheFabMini]

Have you checked the resistance of the coil, high and low?

Not yet
Just took the cap off again and gave it a bit of a spray with wd40 and another clean
Put it back on and got a slight spark!
Plugs in and it coughed into life, stalled and now no spark again... so I’m gonna go with ordering a new distributor cap and some ht leads as it definitely can get a spark... just not always

[nicklouse]

you do have all 5 terminals in there?

[TheFabMini]

you do have all 5 terminals in there?

 

yeah all 5 in there, however the main central one on top of the rotor arm didnt seem to be perfectly central? I think I might have bent the spring slightly when cleaning.. dont know if that would cause any issues??

[hunterg30]

Carbon bush still in distributed cap?

[TheFabMini]

Right I’m completely stumped..
Fitted new plugs, ht leads, rotor arm and distributor cap.
Still no spark and won’t start!!

What’s next?! The coil is still as getting 12v etc.. is it worth replacing it anyways?
Or the electronic ignition?

[Its a min]

Have you got a spare set of points? If so, try fitting/setting them to see if you get any joy and it may also help identify if it's the electronic ignition. 

 

If you haven't, I'd probably spend the few £'s on a set rather than new electronic ignition to find there was nothing wrong with the Accuspark and they're always a good back-up just in case.

 

Also, have you checked the earth strap is making good contact?

Edited by Its a min, 19 May 2019 - 04:27 PM.

[TheFabMini]

Have you got a spare set of points? If so, try fitting/setting them to see if you get any joy and it may also help identify if it's the electronic ignition.

If you haven't, I'd probably spend the few £'s on a set rather than new electronic ignition to find there was nothing wrong with the Accuspark and they're always a good back-up just in case.

Also, have you checked the earth strap is making good contact?

I’ve got a spare set of points kicking about, will see if I remember how to fit them back in and hope that solves it!
Will also move the earth strap and see if that helps
What a faff!