12 replies to this topic

[Gavsminimad]

Hi,

I hope somebody can help me.

I have a 1988 Mini Mayfair and unfortunatly she broke down yesterday

After a long wait after she broke down I had the car inspected by the RAC man who kindly had a look for the problem of the breakdown. He suggested that it was fuel starvation fault and maybe the fuel filter or the carb is to blame. He suggested to strip and rebuild the carb and change the fuel filter.

This is how the car broke down:

The car started as normal in the morning with no faults, I drove it around about 1mile up the road and the engine seemed to be slowing down when I was accelarating.

I pulled over and inspected if the exhaust had come off because the straight through pipe was abit short and dosent really fit perfect so I was woundering if it had come out. I suspected this because the car was really loud wen I revved the engine.

The exhaust was fine and in place so then I checked the:

• engine temp (that was fine)
• fuel level (that was full)
• checked under the bonnet for a loose HT lead becuase the car drove like it was running 3 of the 4 cylinders but all of them was fine.

I then got back in the car (at this point it was still ticking over, quite unnormal I might add) and tried to pull away and the car wouldnt go. The clutch was fine it was just that it didnt seem to accelarate so i tried again and it died. I tried to fire it back up but I had no luck.

The started motor was turning but it seemed like there was no fuel.

Can anyone suggest any ideas?

The following has been done to try n get it started:

• Changed all the spark plugs
• Tested the ht leads and are all fine
• Opened the fuel cap to make sure that there wasnt any air trapped in case that could have been making a vaccum

Many Thanks

Gav

[lrostoke]

ok first is there fuel in there, just because the gauge says full doesn't mean it is.

mini's of that year as a rule don't have a fuel filter unless one as been fitted

to check fuel is getting to the carb, remove the fuel pipe off the carb and turn over the engine, fuel should pump out.

If thats ok then remove the floatchamber lid (where the pipe attached), is there fuel in there ?
If there's no fuel then susepct a blocked float needle valve.
also check for sediment in the bottom of the float chamber this can stop fuel flowing into the carb jet.

[Gavsminimad]

Yes I filled up the night before, I will check the following suggestions and keep you updated. What should I do if petrol dosent come out when the engine is turned over?

Thanks for your reply.

[superted87]

It would obviously suggest that your fuel pump is knackered.

Again Make sure you have fuel in the tank and that your fuel lines are all in good order, both metal and rubber.

Try to turn it over and catch the fuel in a small drinks bottle (make sure you get the outbound fuel line not the return if you have one because that will never pump!!!

If it is not pumping anything then the pump could be broken. Remove the fuel pump, easy job, and inspect it. Unfortunately if it has broken down then you may have fuel contamination in your oil etc. If you have this will thin the oil and give it characteristics that you dont want. May be worth changing your oil if the insides are mangled.


Buy pump, fit pump, test pump, reconnect , Smile.


Do the carb bits first though mate as these are common faults.

[Gavsminimad]

I have checked the pipe which goes into the float chamber and that is pumping out petrol so the pump is fine.

Ive also checked in the float chamber and that has petrol in it and it seems very clean on the inside.

Can anyone suggest why my car won't Start???

[jif2006]

Ignition fault,

Purchase from halfrauds some ignition lead testers around £8.50 red made by lazer.

http://www.halfords....tegoryId_165469

Put in the sparking plug and HT lead and see what kind of spark you are achiving as this kind of fault cna make you believe its fuel starvation but infact the condenser has foweld up and so the contact breakers have thrown out which would tally up with the following.

Being stood
Lenght of time driven when faul occoured
Firing on 3 cylinder apperance.

Change contact breakers and change condenser and I think jobs a gooden.

In advance for those whoem perhaps think this is wrong "in my experiece the above"

Kind Regards

Bradley

Edited by jif2006, 08 December 2008 - 09:06 PM.

[lrostoke]

Re-reading your first post, I'm going to say head gasket..

Few things that suggest it, not running on all cylinders, sounding louder than normal..

[Gavsminimad]

I don't think its the head gasket because I have no problem with the engine overheating plus the radiator isnt gunked up, its nice and clean.

Im going to strip and fully clean the whole carb and reassemble it and see if that helps I have already bought some Carb cleaner and im going to order a new condenser, new points and a new carb needle.

If that doesent solve it I have no idea what it could be

[John H]

Barnsley, South Yorkshire i take it? I'm willing to come take a look.
PM me your phone number.

[998dave]

Youve got fuel going into the carb, have you got it coming out of the overflow when you turn over? If not it's going somewhere.

Can you smell it in the cylinder? What colour were the plugs you took out?

Put one of the old plugs on an HT lead and rest it on the engine block, turn over car - do you get a spark?

If not it's an ignition problem, could have been coil, rotor arm, dizzy cap, damp.

Dave

[Gavsminimad]

All the spark plugs have been changed and its recently had a new dizzy cap.

The dizzy cap has also been sprayed with a fluid by the nice RAC man who tried that when he arrived.

I have purchased a condencer, new contact points and a new carb needle. If I strip my carb down is it nessasary to have a new service kit e.g. HS Jet
Carb to inlet manifold gaskets, Needle valve and needle seat ,Float chamber gasket etc? This is around £25 so i dont know if its a must or if I can save abit of cash and not get 1.

Edited by Gavsminimad, 09 December 2008 - 07:23 PM.

[Gavsminimad]

I have ordered the Carb service kit, should know if this solves it by friday

[dklawson]

New avatar Dave? What is that a picture of?

ALWAYS go through the electrical/ignition system FIRST before thinking of touching the carb. Though your initial symptoms don't completely describe this failure mode, be sure to start by installing a new set of points and the condenser. Make sure you set the points gap correctly and see if that alone doesn't get you running. Even if it doesn't fix your problem, that needs to be done along with setting the valves and checking/setting the timing. Rebuilding a carb involves adjustments that should only be done once the ignition system is completely in order.

Do not start rebuilding the carb until you have read up on the procedure and have at least a basic understanding of the initial settings and adjustments that have to be made just to get the engine started.