4 replies to this topic

[djmonkey]

998 mini mayfair
1987

ive noticed a few engine problems recently, and was wondering if anyone can help me.

1. when i start the car, i have to feather the gas which ive been told is ok to do. but when i drive my foot has to be constantly giving some revs, as it will drop below 10, and then struggle and stall. it starts up no problem again though. after a bit of driving, it will idle fine at 10, or just above 10. is this normal mini behaviour?

2. another thing i noticed today is the rpm needle bouncing up n down. i reved it all the way up through the range, in neutral, and it starts bouncing from 15 and all the way up to 35 and then as it reaches 40 it moves as it should. what could this be? thinking about it now the speedo was a little inaccurate as well, sitting at 20mph when i was travelling slower than that. ive noticed the speedo's needle bouncing around at low speeds too. are the two things linked?

few things i know, and have done:
the car does need a new exhaust fitted, its blowing and has been bodged together by the previous owner. i changed the oil a couple of days ago for some 20w/50 unipart stuff from minispares. it has a k&n cone type air filter, which i cleaned and re-oiled over the weekend too. i also think the engine is running a bit rich as the plugs were black last time i looked. but i read today that stop start driving will do this as well. im going to check the plugs again tomorrow.

thanks

[Ethel]

Rev counter suggests a low tension ignition fault. Check the connections, points, condenser etc.

[mini-man-dan]

Sounds like you've got 1275GT clocks (120 mph??), they are renowned for bouncing around.

[cooperrodeo]

I have had experience of a couple of rev counters bouncing around at certain revs, yet they didn't do it when tested with a variable frequency source. I came to the conclusion it was due to vibration of the parcel shelf coinciding with a resonant frequency of the spring on the needle of the rev counter.

[djmonkey]

thanks for the advice people. but took it for a spin this morning, and the needles have both magically healed themselves!

didnt go for long but the rpm and speedo worked fine. might just start changing those bits as a precautionary measure anyway as the car is pretty old.

it was still stalling though. what could this be down to?