9 replies to this topic

[hammoj28]

Well it's really starting to get to me now. Every time it rains my headlights start to go dull, my indicators take about half an hour to come on, when I flash the lights the stereo goes off and on and everytime I accelerate the engine stutters like hell!! I just manage to get home and then when I switch it off I can't start it anymore. I am going to get a new distributor cap and I have got a new battery. It keeps happening though. My mates Dad said the dizzy cap probably has a hairline crack but would that cause a flat battery?? Help??

Thanks in advance.

[mayfairman]

I know the feeling mate when driving in heavy rain.
Have you got a rain sheild on your engine ,that covers the distributer and covers the front of the engine.Normally it is attached to the rocker cover.
One solution i used when it happened to me on the A303 in heavy rain the ncar kept cutting out,so i removed the dist cap and dried it out with some tissue paper,after replacing it i realised i had some disposable gloves in the boot for working on the car with.
What you do is cut the each of the finger tops off,take the leads off the dist cap remember which terminal they go back on,slide each of the leads through each finger then slide the glove over the dist cap and replace the leads hey presto one dry distributer and leads.
Remember though this is only temporary try and get a proper sheild

[hammoj28]

Yeah I will have to get a proper shield. Any idea who sells them??

[cowboy]

dampness is a real pain when it comes to mini's...

i do like mayfairmans idea about the rubber glove, but also a good or regular service will always help with our mini's

glad to hear it's sorted

cowboy

[Dan]

All the specialists sell them. There were a few different types from Rover but most aren't available any more.

Also check your fan belt condition and tension if all of your electrics are affected. A bit of extra water on the pulley will make the belt slip sooner than in the dry. It should sit nice and high in the vee of the pulley, if it is down in the bottom of the groove, or badly frayed, or really highly polished or cracked then it needs replacing. I know it's obvious, but do not check this with the engine running!

[hammoj28]

Thats the thing I ain't got a shield yet and I ain't got it sorted properly. There is either an electrical drain somewhere or the fan belt isn't tight enough and is not doing it's job there fore the alternator ain't working properly. I think I will replace most things electrical aswell.

[Madmax]

mine stutters in the rain under acceleration. thought it might be down to the dizzy + litres of water ill have to sheild it some how.

[m3ntalist]

I felt like I was driving through the english channel the past week. Not had a single problem (apart from not being able to see anything)

Yes the car has one of them shield things........

[Jordie]

since having my clutch done, the car seems abit jerky. it needs a new slave cylinder, but the weather has been bad so i might have to check that.

I got a splash guard thing, u could easily make one.

[Guess-Works.com]

Don't have much trouble with the wet, but the earth drain and fanbelt/alternator are the ones to watch....

It's quite likely that in the rain you have just about every bit of electircal equipment switched on,headlights, rear demist, wipers, fan, radio ( if you have one )... all this is going to put a load on the electrics, and if there's any earth leak then it's not going to be long before the battery starts to die.

Make sure there are no exposed contacts ( as there are a lot which run under the bonnet slam panel ), and check the soundproofing around the fuse box is not acting like a sponge and retaining water.