10 replies to this topic

[tnewson]

Hi there,

I was driving my mini the day before yesterday. Slowed down to stop at a roundabout and the car cut slowly and quietly after i depressed the clutch. then i started it again and it started ok. I drove off, went to stop at the next roundabout and the same happened.

It was colder than usual the night that it happened and it hasnt happened since.

Generally the car doesnt idle easily.. it sort of bops in an inregular pattern.

the problem stopped when i pulled the choke out a slight bit.


I think it could possibly be the mixture but i wanted to check with somebody in the know before i started messing about with stuff.


tom

[taffy1967]

Was the car up to full running temperature when it happened?

[tnewson]

yeah, had been driving for a good 25-30 minutes before it had happened.

[tnewson]

It reminded me of when my VW lupo needed a new idle control valve...

[taffy1967]

Give it a good service if it needs one and perhaps a crypton tune will iron the problem out (perhaps the contact breaker points gap needs setting too?).

Also make sure the carb dashpot has some fresh engine oil in it too.

Edited by taffy1967, 28 December 2008 - 05:55 PM.

[blacktulip]

check the breather pipes arent split and connected properly too.

[tnewson]

Ok cheers fella, Will go through my haynes and find out how to do that dash pot thing haha.


Wouldn't be the points as i have changed to electronic ignition.


Thanks alot mate.


Tom

[JD8891]

You haven't messed with the air box have you? As I know fitting pancake filters ect can cause the engine to die on cold mornings as the air entering the engine is to cold.

[Guess-Works.com]

Well not sure about the above, but sounds very much like your crank thrust bearings are shot...

Test.... Start your car, in neutral, no clutch.... depress clutch, does the engine slow down ( or stall ) ?

If it does then test 2... ( ideally you will need a DTI and remove the radiator for this )

Remove radiator and then using suitable lever, push the crank pulley ( and crank ) into the block, then set up a DTI (dial test indicator) on the end of the crank bolt to measure lateral movement... when set, get a colleague to press the clutch pedal, any movement on the crank will show on the dial test indicator... what you are measuring is the crank end float, the book says it should be between 1 and 5 thou of an inch, anything more than this then it's time to pull the engine...

[tnewson]

Dont think its my crank bearings to be honest mate as its an iregualar problem which only occours when its extremely cold outside.

I have done the induction thingy to my standard air box. ( Chucked on a henry hoover hose to run in some cold air)

[JD8891]

Its prob the induction kit that's causing it, the old metal flap thing (yep that the tech name ) used to suck warm air from the exhaust manifold into the engine to prevent this problem, the certain manifolds have heaters which plum into the cooling system to heat the mix on its way into the engine.