17 replies to this topic

[sheepy89]

well as the title suggests how do you make a mini more reliable? i have a 1986 austin mini mayfair and was just curious how to make it a lil more reliable? i know its a mini its meant to break down haha but i dont like getting in the car and hoping it will start and get me home haha

any ideas?

cheers

[1984mini25]

Keeping it serviced and switching to electronic ignition is a good start.

[mikey72]

Ball joints, track rod end, all the gaiters, grease all the grease nipples reguarly, just to make sure nothing drops off.
Big battery for winter.
Thermostat, water pump, bypass hose, fan belt, flush the radiator, change the antifreeze. Check all the other hoses and clips.
Halogen headlights for winter.
Regular oil and filter.
Electronic ignition conversion and new pliugs
They're probably all things you'll need to do sometime, and they're all cheap enough to do at once.

Edited by mikey72, 10 October 2010 - 08:16 PM.

[MiniLandy]

Megajolt.

It'll stop your mini throwing a strop whenever it spys a puddle.

[mike.]

Megajolt.

It'll stop your mini throwing a strop whenever it spys a puddle.

Seconded - Would recommend it to anyone. The only way i'd own a mini without MJ from now on would be if it was running on a full ECU setup.

Definitely worth the investment. The only time my mini broke down/ran rough in the past was either due to damp ignition parts or just general dodgy timing and poor quality after market points/condensers - All this is now replaced by the MJ and once the timing is set for your engine - it'll never need adjusting!

[GTIAlex06]

I keep hearing good things about Megajolt.


Can anyone give me a little run down on how much it costs, if its possible to fit yourself general stuff like that.

[Gaffer]

I keep hearing good things about Megajolt.


Can anyone give me a little run down on how much it costs, if its possible to fit yourself general stuff like that.

TMF search sure prices have changed since then

[sheepy89]

is this megajolt something that can be fitted by someone who has no idea what there doing or is it a garage job? basically is it easy to do?

cheers

[Guess-Works.com]

Personally, if I come across a puddle which would be big enough to spray water into the ignition system of a mini then I would go round it... as I would do in any car.

If you say you don't see the puddles, then you're not looking where you're going or driving too fast...

Therefore..

Another way to make your mini more reliable, is drive in a manner which is appropriate to the conditions and the vehicle you're driving...

Mini's are not unreliable... their owners are.

Edited by Guess-Works.com, 05 November 2010 - 05:28 AM.

[MiniLandy]

Personally, if I come across a puddle which would be big enough to spray water into the ignition system of a mini then I would go round it... as I would do in any car.

If you say you don't see the puddles, then you're not looking where you're going or driving too fast...

Therefore..

Another way to make your mini more reliable, is drive in a manner which is appropriate to the conditions and the vehicle you're driving...

Mini's are not unreliable... their owners are.

You don't have to go through massive puddles to get water in the distributor, I had trouble last year driving in very heavy rain, or road spray from lorries in rain, or snow melting all over the dizzy. All of the above left me stuck on the side of the road, wiping out my dizzy. As did pressure washing the car, even though i paid special attention to keep the jet away from the grille.

I've now driven in some seriously heavy rain, and the MegaJolt hasn't missed a beat. Starts much easier on cold mornings too.

As for the guy that wondered how difficult it was to install??

You'll need to take the radiator off, undo the crank bolt, change the crank pulley, and bolt the crank sensor on. If you're the kind of person that'll look at the engine bay, wet your pants, and run away, then it's too involved. If you can service your own car, and to a bit of amatuer mechanics, then you'll be able to install it.

The electrickery that needs doing is very straightforward, the wiring diagrams are pretty much foolproof

[CHUNKY365]

I'm sorry, but people do nark me off!

I agree with Guessworks.

If you don't service your car regularly, or prepare for winter. ANY car will break down.

My Mini has been through torrential downpours (almost monsoons) and always got through.

And why do people insist on advising people to follow the most expensive route. Megajolt is an expensive waste of money if you don't really need it and 99% of the time you won't.

The solution to running in wet/cold weather is so simple its ridiculous, but it seems to scare a lot of members on here due to us being mainly males/students and scared to go near the washing up sink or ask in the shop for the required items!

MARIGOLDS!

Yes those CHEAP rubberised washing up gloves will completely waterproof your distributor for the whole of winter at a cost of about £2!

So simple to fit, no unneeded costs due to expensive pulleys, sensors or all that crap!

1. Get your MARIGOLD (any other brand will do)

2. Cut the very tips off the fingers and thumb.

3. Check your points, dizzy cap and rotor arm. Replace if necessary, shouldn't need doing until after winter once done.

4. Slide the glove over the dizzy and pull the leads through the finger tips. One plug lead per finger and the coil and feed wires through the thumb.

5. Using cable ties, or tape, or string, or tieig wire, or whatever! just seal up the finger tips andthumb ends where the wires\leads go through.

6. The do the same to the 'wrist' end thats over the dizzy making sure you've covered all the plastic dizy cap.

This'll stop any water getting in, has been a 'fix' for donkeys years, cheaper than Megajolt, less hassle to fit and can be forgotten about once done.

f you need to check the dizzy or points again, just cut the tie holding the glove to the dizzy and rmove all in one, just re-tie it once finished.

Its just too easy really!

[AVV IT]

.....or you could always try fitting the plastic weathersheild over the distributor that was factory fitted as standard on many models. (this type of thing) They are often removed and not refitted for aesthetic reasons, or just because owners cant be bothered with the hassle of refitting them. Having driven in puddles, fords & torrential rain, with no electrical problems I swear by mine!

[Dolly 89]

I'm sorry, but people do nark me off!

I agree with Guessworks.

If you don't service your car regularly, or prepare for winter. ANY car will break down.

My Mini has been through torrential downpours (almost monsoons) and always got through.

And why do people insist on advising people to follow the most expensive route. Megajolt is an expensive waste of money if you don't really need it and 99% of the time you won't.

The solution to running in wet/cold weather is so simple its ridiculous, but it seems to scare a lot of members on here due to us being mainly males/students and scared to go near the washing up sink or ask in the shop for the required items!

MARIGOLDS!

Yes those CHEAP rubberised washing up gloves will completely waterproof your distributor for the whole of winter at a cost of about £2!

So simple to fit, no unneeded costs due to expensive pulleys, sensors or all that crap!

1. Get your MARIGOLD (any other brand will do)

2. Cut the very tips off the fingers and thumb.

3. Check your points, dizzy cap and rotor arm. Replace if necessary, shouldn't need doing until after winter once done.

4. Slide the glove over the dizzy and pull the leads through the finger tips. One plug lead per finger and the coil and feed wires through the thumb.

5. Using cable ties, or tape, or string, or tieig wire, or whatever! just seal up the finger tips andthumb ends where the wires\leads go through.

6. The do the same to the 'wrist' end thats over the dizzy making sure you've covered all the plastic dizy cap.

This'll stop any water getting in, has been a 'fix' for donkeys years, cheaper than Megajolt, less hassle to fit and can be forgotten about once done.

f you need to check the dizzy or points again, just cut the tie holding the glove to the dizzy and rmove all in one, just re-tie it once finished.

Its just too easy really!

you could do that but then in my opinion everytime you open your engine bay your going to throw up because they look so ugly i have a mini to enjoy and want it to look as good as it can not put rubber gloves on it to make it look a mess if my mini was on the road i wouldn't do anything because my standard 1991 mini city last year didnt miss a beat no weather sheild no marigolds nothing just maintenance and driving alot never had a problem with water

[miniman retford]

you could do that but then in my opinion everytime you open your engine bay your going to throw up because they look so ugly i have a mini to enjoy and want it to look as good as it can not put rubber gloves on it to make it look a mess if my mini was on the road i wouldn't do anything because my standard 1991 mini city last year didnt miss a beat no weather sheild no marigolds nothing just maintenance and driving alot never had a problem with water

Go on fit a Marigold but make sure it's a pink one ! Would suit you

[AVV IT]

i wouldn't do anything because my standard 1991 mini city last year didnt miss a beat no weather sheild no marigolds nothing just maintenance and driving alot never had a problem with water

On a later 90's model, wouldn't you have electronic ignition as standard? In which case protection from water ingress is less of an issue than it is with the traditional points & condenser set up. That said driving a car with electronic ignition does not make you exempt from it, plenty of later minis & also those earlier models converted to electronic ignition still break down due to water ingress. I remember one L2B a few years back (2002 maybe?) when the heavens opened and suddenly literally dozens of broken down minis of all ages littered the A23!!