Jerking Forward In Lower Gears

Hi Everyone,

 

I just bought my first classic mini (1997) 1.3 which I am super excited about. However, after driving it for a few days now I have been a bit frustrated by the behaviour at lower gears (worst at first gear) when I give a tiny amount of throttle. The car is jerking forwards and is not smooth at all. This does not happen if I give more throttle and accelerate. Any ideas why that could be? Been searching around here but have not found a similar case.

 

Thanks for any leads!

 

 

Check your engine steadies & mountings for starters.

Could that be related to the engine mounting, Shouldn't that be noticeable then at higher revs as well? Since the jerking motion, almost like jumping forward, is quite strong.

It could be a characteristic of the car,they do not drive like new cars.The throttle and drivetrains are very direct.Of course you may also have a fault or two.It is difficult to remotely assess your definition of jerkiness.Steve..

Years ago I had a first motion shift needle roller break up which gave similar symptoms; pulling away in first, the car would occasionally jerk forward and stall. Eventually, the bearing completely disintegrated and permanently locked the mainshaft to the first motion shaft so all I had was 4th gear

Hopefully this is not your issue...

It could be a characteristic of the car,they do not drive like new cars.The throttle and drivetrains are very direct.Of course you may also have a fault or two.It is difficult to remotely assess your definition of jerkiness.Steve..

 

True, I will try filming it as it happens every time I drive!

 

Years ago I had a first motion shift needle roller break up which gave similar symptoms; pulling away in first, the car would occasionally jerk forward and stall. Eventually, the bearing completely disintegrated and permanently locked the mainshaft to the first motion shaft so all I had was 4th gear

Hopefully this is not your issue...

 

Hopefully not :/ 

Could that be related to the engine mounting, Shouldn't that be noticeable then at higher revs as well? Since the jerking motion, almost like jumping forward, is quite strong.

It's difficult to know exactly what you're experiencing, but lower gears increase the torque & the whole car has less inertia relative to the engine/flywheel.

 

I'm equally of a mind with Steve, Minis are quite different wee beasties that can take some getting used to. The engine is almost solidly mounted, the clutch is more like an on off switch than a dual mass flywheeled, modern, vague mobile. You may just need to "acclimatise", but you also wouldn't want to let the things I mentioned go unsorted if they are faulty.

 

Assuming it's an injection, giving all the engine management sensor connections & hoses the once over is simple enough to try.

Minis  drive very different to any modern car.  First gear is especially difficult.  For example, I'm pretty sure I never change into first unless I'm completely stopped.  First is very, very abrupt compared to a modern car, both in terms of initial take up from the clutch, and then the response to the throttle. 

Hi, i have 97 mini and mine drives like yours I put it down to mini characteristics, engine stays are ok

 

Derek.

It's difficult to know exactly what you're experiencing, but lower gears increase the torque & the whole car has less inertia relative to the engine/flywheel.

 

 

I'm equally of a mind with Steve, Minis are quite different wee beasties that can take some getting used to. The engine is almost solidly mounted, the clutch is more like an on off switch than a dual mass flywheeled, modern, vague mobile. You may just need to "acclimatise", but you also wouldn't want to let the things I mentioned go unsorted if they are faulty.

 

Assuming it's an injection, giving all the engine management sensor connections & hoses the once over is simple enough to try.

 

Vague mobile    That does some up a lot of modern vehicles.

Vague mobile    That does some up a lot of modern vehicles.

 

I love my slushmatic Volvo lol you plant the pedal in the carpet, some magic stuff happens while it makes up it's mind and empties your petrol tank and you find yourself shifting forwards nice and smooth

 

still though I do miss the idiosyncrasies of a simple little manual boxes of the late 80s to early 90s cars that I cut my teeth on, you had to learn each one and how not to embarrass yourself by stalling at the lights.  then you progress on to the perfect downshift and feel like Senna

Edited by stuart bowes, 08 August 2022 - 01:19 PM.

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I love my slushmatic Volvo lol you plant the pedal in the carpet, some magic stuff happens while it makes up it's mind and empties your petrol tank and you find yourself shifting forwards nice and smooth

 

still though I do miss the idiosyncrasies of a simple little manual boxes of the late 80s to early 90s cars that I cut my teeth on, you had to learn each one and how not to embarrass yourself by stalling at the lights.  then you progress on to the perfect downshift and feel like Senna

 

"...while it makes up it's mind and empties your petrol tank..."