10 replies to this topic

[Doc]

Hi peeps.

I need your advice on a technical issue that has cropped up in the last couple of days.

I fill up Frosty at the local Esso with Super Unleaded and am merrily going along my day. Pull up to the rugby match I was playing in and all was fine. Jump back in Frosty turn the key. She starts up but was ticking over kind of slow so I blip the throttle to pick the revs up and then all seemed fine. Stuck her in reverse and reverse out of the space I was in, foot on clutch and other on brake, revs drop off and she cuts out. "Oh" I think, "maybe it's a bit cold and she is having an off day." I turn the key and she fires up again.
So off up the road I go accelerating nicely, everything seems normal. I accelerate up to some lights when I see them change so foot on brake and clutch again and the revs drop off again and she cuts out dead. "Buggers" I think, "no problem she will start up again" Turn the key and she turns over fine, not slow or anything but she doesn't fire up this time.
So I jump out of her and push her to a turning that was luckily very close and pop the bonnet, I head straight for the fuel cut off switch to see if that has popped but is fine. Scratching my head I jump back in turn the key and she fires up again. Strange.
So back off down the road and I thought I would test her out, I pick up some speed and depress the clutch and watch the revs drop rapidly, battery light comes on so I throw her in second and lift the clutch back up and just manage to catch her for her to pick up again. So now I am toe-heeling at every set of lights so the revs don't drop off. I have noticed that if you let the revs drop slowly and let the ecu manage things she will idle at 1500 rpm rather than the normal 800-900. During all this everything sounds normal, accelerates fine, no sound of an exhaust blow, just seems fine until I put my foot on the clutch when decelerating and the revs just keep on dropping.
Then to finish it all off I jump in her last night for a quick trip and she seems worse. A lot more throttle required to get her to settle right after firing up and then on the way back I can feel her "pulling back" under acceleration and a few little miss fires. Having to drive he at about 4500 rpm minimum just to get her home without her, what feels like she's about to, cut out.
Sorry for the life story but I need to get to the bottom of the problem as she is my daily drive. I think it may need a fuel filter change, I have never done one since I have owned her (4 years), but I wanted your more expert advice on the matter just in case any of you have had anything like this before. Everything seems fine to me just seems to be a fuel supply problem.

Is there anything else I should check or reset etc. If not it's off down to Halfords for a fuel filter and out with the Haynes and see if that has any results.

Frosty is a '94 SPi with stage 1 kit fitted and that's it.

Any help would be great,

Doc.

[Jammy]

If you have a problem with your mini then it goes in the Technical and Problems section.

[Doc]

Cheers mate, I did have a look in here but the topic titles I was reading threw me off, it seemed more performance enhancing rather than broken bits and bobs. Thanks again.

[redhotmini]

fuel filter change would help, its worth doing if its not been changed in 4 years. had a similar problem in my mpi, i ran it almost empty and when i filled it up i had the cutting out and stuff. changed the fuel filter because it was full of *******. good idea to run some fuel injector cleaner through it as well.

could just be its way of telling you to drive it properly and stop spinning it on roundabouts

[WiredbyWilson]

try cleaning the throttle body too as if they get all gunked up then a sudden change in weather etc can cause probs, take the air filter off, and give it a good clean with carb / brake cleaner and a nice piece of rag

[Sprocket]

Fuel filter is favourate

next on the list is plugs, leads, dizy cap and rotor arm, If they havent been replaced recently do it, they are not expensive and eliminates the problem, they are service items after all.

Once all this has been sorted, and its still happening, its may be mechanical, a leaking valve perhaps.

Could be a broken wire, this is happening more recently and it always seems to be the fuel pump supply.

[Bungle]

a new Fuel filter solved a similar problem on Mrs bungle lawn mower

[Sprocket]

So your missus has a freshly mown lawn?

[Doc]

Nice one cheers guys and cheers for the extra bits sprocket.

I'll have a go and change the fuel filter this weekend, I have been running her kind of low lately.

She has new plugs but could do with new leads and I will sort out a new rotor arm and dizzy cap as they could probably do with being changed.

Reet I will be back on Monday with my results. Fingers crossed.

Cheers again,

Doc.

p.s. as for lawns, you cant beat just a trim cricket square

[nev_payne]

Question - Super unleaded - I was on the understanding that it was far higher octane than regular '95. Surely this would be causing some issues?

[Sprocket]

Wwont cause any issues other than making your wallet a little lighter. The engine needs to be optimised to take advantage of it, and you cannot do that without altering the compression ratio and ignition mapping