6 replies to this topic

[pr3nna88]

Model: mini racing flame
Year:1989
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible): my mini broke down and it got towed to a garage for the easyest option. not the easyest option in the end. they tested the engine as they didnt know what was up with it and they fitted new points and condensor (£93 +vat what a rip off) and they then decided that it was my carb. [b/] they took it off and cleaned it and reset it to its original specifications. i got the car back yesterday £230 worse off. it wont rev past 2.5/3000 in 2nd gear so i took it back today and they drove it and made it richer so it was running at 3.5%??? but they said the main problem was the K&N air filter... that has been fitted to the car for the last 12 months which it ran perfectly with until they took the carb to bits and the solution is to go back to a standard air filter? i would like to keep the K&N on but dont know how to adjust the carb and what damage could be caused by running to rich? or too lean?

i am now broke and cant afford any more garage fees so would really like to sort this my self. can anyone tell me how to make my carb run more richer? as when they altered it it will now go to 3500 when going uphill. any advice on this will be much appreciated



Any non-standard parts that might be involved with the problem?
yes a cheap K&N style filter

Edited by pr3nna88, 10 August 2010 - 01:46 PM.

[finch661]

do you know what carb i is. if its a hs4, there is a nut at the bottom that you turn clockwise to richen and anticlockwise to weaken. If its the HIF series, then there is a screw by the left that alters the mixture. quick internet search will determine what you have (my moneys on a HS4)

it could be that they have also adjusted your timing? get yourself a haynes manual and that will explain how to tune the car!

Edited by finch661, 10 August 2010 - 01:52 PM.

[samsfern]

they should have checked the timing when they done the points and condensor, doesnt mean they bothered to though. 3.5% co does seem too lean, these engines werent designed to run that lean.

Sorry but i must say, they raped you on the price of what they done, i would have refused to pay that, its an hours work at most, and at most a tenners worth parts. Considering my work charge 40 per hour, youve been done over, sorry.

Edited by samsernie, 10 August 2010 - 02:10 PM.

[pr3nna88]

ye its the hs4 carb, what would i damage by running it too rich? or too lean? or is it just adjustment untill it runs best?
its fine while its sat on the drive its just when the engines under load, mostly hills.
ill turn it up a little and see how it is.
yes they did alter the timing when the replaced the points and condensor but i assume they would have set the right, would the k&n affect that too? the carb and fueling is the only thing i darent play about with on the car as everything else i have had a go at and wouldnt know where to start with a carb.

cheers

[samsfern]

thne mixture will have to be quite a way out to cause any serious damage. Is the vaccuum advance pipe connected?

[pr3nna88]

the really thin pipe that goes down to the dizzy? ye thats on and is ok.
ill adjust it later as i have to revise for an automotive engineering exam that i have on thurs. the bloke at the garage really annoyed me fobbing me off like i dint know anything. his exact words were ' you need to take that silly k&n off and put the standard one back as the engine is getting too much air and is needing too much throttle'.
wish i had had it towed home now and posted on here and done it myself and saved the money. haha.

ye i know i have been ripped off and i questioned it but they said it took 3+hours to clean the carb but theyve only charged me for 3. and the £93 wasnt only for replacing the parts it was labour for the initial resting to see what was wrong. im deffinately not going back there though.

cheers
Ash

[bmcecosse]

Definitely find another garage ---- if any doubt about the air filter - just take it off and run without. Does it go ok now ??