3 replies to this topic

[IN10CT]

Model:Cooper 1.3i
Year:1997
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible):Throttle cable was starting to stick and inspection showed numerous spots where the housing has been burned through. Rather than try to lube the old cable I ordered and installed a new one.

Well, I should have done my reading in advance because SPI is nothing like as simple as carb! By the time I refered to the official instructions, I had tried to adjust the idle screw. Yes, bad move!

Now i have gone throught the correct throttle cable adjustment steps numerous times and the engine will not idle correctly. I figure I am within 1/4 turn of it's original setting but although the engine runs well under load, if I let it drop to idle it initialy drops to around 1100rpm, then settles down to around 850rpm, then hunts around and often stalls completely.

Starting with no throttle is very rough until idle hunts it's way up to ~1000RPM.

Question, am I likely to be able to sort this out or should I admit defeat and get it tuned by someone with the correct equipment?

Edited by IN10CT, 03 June 2009 - 06:36 PM.

[Massey]

if im honest you lucky mine idles at 1200 to 1700 just because i bent the arm where the throttle cables sits for my inlet manifold to fit so it never returns fully i know should have got a spacer but never mind

have u tried adusting the idle screw on the carb and make should that arm where throttle cables sits is full back (so no throttle and the pedal has no play in it)
also check where the cable and the bulk head meet
check that the throttle cable housing is in its small hole so the cable isnt getting caught (might be stopping it from returning fully)

Dan

[spiguy]

Model:Cooper 1.3i
Year:1997
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible):Throttle cable was starting to stick and inspection showed numerous spots where the housing has been burned through. Rather than try to lube the old cable I ordered and installed a new one.

Well, I should have done my reading in advance because SPI is nothing like as simple as carb! By the time I refered to the official instructions, I had tried to adjust the idle screw. Yes, bad move!

Now i have gone throught the correct throttle cable adjustment steps numerous times and the engine will not idle correctly. I figure I am within 1/4 turn of it's original setting but although the engine runs well under load, if I let it drop to idle it initialy drops to around 1100rpm, then settles down to around 850rpm, then hunts around and often stalls completely.

Starting with no throttle is very rough until idle hunts it's way up to ~1000RPM.

Question, am I likely to be able to sort this out or should I admit defeat and get it tuned by someone with the correct equipment?

If you have adjusted that little screw that the stepper motor bears on, then it could take a good while to get it back to where it should be.

I have done this a few times, and I guess it must have worked out OK cause my emissions are fine.

Just adjust it in small increments until you find the sweet spot. If I remember, I didn't reset the stepper motor between adjustments.

I've found it can be counter intuitive - ie you think you should turn it one way but in fact turning it the other a little does the trick.

I know this is not very scientific, and Im sure there is a procedure using Rover Testbook that you are supposed to do to recalibrate etc... but nonetheless I have managed to do it. Takes ages though.

Also, I would suggest that if you think you've just about got it, take it out for a quick drive before you adjust it again, as I find it can sweeten up after a drive when you've been fiddling with that adjustment!

Of course, just make sure also that you havent damaged any of the vaccum lines while you 've been in there as that would seriously mess up your idle.

Stick at it, you'll get it I'm sure. And make small adjustments each time - 1/4 turn for example.

Cheers
Craig

[IN10CT]

Found the problem. It helps to check ALL of the vacuum hoses! Despite MiniSpares indicating only two vacuum tubes on the SPI, mine has four:

yellow - airbox
red - airbox to intake/trottlebody
short black - intake to fuel trap
long black - fuel trap - to ECU

The long black tube running to the ECU had come off!