16 replies to this topic

[johnnysti]

Let's back up a step though, pull the plugs back out. Put the car in neutral with the parking brake on. Pull the fan belt to rotate the engine in the normal direction of rotation. Watch for the timing marks (presumably your Mini is late enough that they are on the crank pulley). When the zero degree mark is coming up on the pulley and near the pointer on the timing cover, shine a flashlight in the #1 spark plug hole (nearest the water pump). You should see the top of the piston coming up. Now take the dizzy cap off. Compare the rotor position to the wires on the dizzy cap. The rotor will be pointing at the lug where the #1 cylinder wire goes. Now that you know where #1 is... put the other wires on 1-3-4-2 going counterclockwise from #1.

EDIT: NEVER assume that a new sparkplug is gapped correctly for your engine. Sparkplugs are commercial items used in MANY engines and they can't all require the same specifications. The gap may be correct by coincidence but don't count on it happening.

Hi all

Ive done the test that dklawson said and after lining the timing mark on the crank pulley and fane belt to make it all line up and found the following.

The dizzy arm is sitting between 1-3 on the dizzy cap with the piston showing in cylinder 4 (in fire order is 2)

So what shall i do now??? Does that seem normal?? If so what is the order on the dizzy cap now??

Please help as ive got it all apart and dont know what im doing!!!!


Johnny

[dklawson]

For #1 at TDC the rotor should be pointing about where you say it is. If you want to be 100% certain, take one additional step to what I put in my earlier post. Remove the valve cover.

With the valve cover removed, look again at the timing marks, making sure that the zero marks are lined up. Now look at the valves. Remember that #1 is the cylinder closest to the water pump and #4 is over by the gearbox/clutch. When #1 is at TDC both its valves will be "up" and closed... you'll be able to move the rocker arms on the first two valves. At this same time, both valves for #4 will be "down" and open, you'll see the valves springs are compressed. This will confirm that you're looking at the condition where #1 is at TDC.

Now go back to the dizzy cap and rotor. The rotor will be pointing toward the position where #1 wire goes. Looking DOWN on the installed cap from the front of the car the remaining wires go to cylinders 1-3-4-2 moving counterclockwise around the cap.