13 replies to this topic

[natehall]

Model: Mini 1275 Rio
Year: 1993
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible):
We have put a fresh battery on the car today, and when we tried to start it, the red light came on but not the yellow/orange light and the car refused to turn over at all. Unfortunately we dont have the information to hand about what this light is for and from a quick glance the haynes comic is as reliable as ever and turns up no clues.

the wiring loom appears to have been bodged quite a bit - and I have managed to get a fair whack off the price due to this - but I could do with making sure the engine still runs...


Any non-standard parts that might be involved with the problem?
I think only God knows - the car has an alarm on it, I am not sure if this is a standard alarm or not but there is an alarm

[natehall]

Model: Mini 1275 Rio
Year: 1993
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible):
We have put a fresh battery on the car today, and when we tried to start it, the red light came on but not the yellow/orange light and the car refused to turn over at all. Unfortunately we dont have the information to hand about what this light is for and from a quick glance the haynes comic is as reliable as ever and turns up no clues.

the wiring loom appears to have been bodged quite a bit - and I have managed to get a fair whack off the price due to this - but I could do with making sure the engine still runs...


Any non-standard parts that might be involved with the problem?
I think only God knows - the car has an alarm on it, I am not sure if this is a standard alarm or not but there is an alarm

right, i now know the orange/yellow light is oil pressure from a quick google, which from my understanding is an information only light and as such wont affect the thing starting...

so now to work out the issue - im guessing there is a way to bypass the starter switch on a starter solenoid after I have checked for power at the coil, it looks like its a carbed engine but its a catalyst.... sorry just thinking out loud as to how to get it started so I can make sure it runs..

[Ethel]

It is your car ?


Red light is ignition, sounds like it could be the starter relay.

[natehall]

It is your car ?


Red light is ignition, sounds like it could be the starter relay.

ok, it is my neighbours car that I am buying off him if we can get it started , where do I find the starter relay? and is there a way to bypass it to verify that this is the issue and allow us to get the thing started

[Ethel]

Well as long as you're not pinching it

[natehall]

Well as long as you're not pinching it

nope its cost me to many pennies alrleady to be pinching it

where will I find the starter relay and is there a way I can bypass it to prove its at fault before buying a new one?

[samsfern]

starter motor relay should be on the left hand side of the bulkhead, near the subframe tower bolt. They only cost 2 or 3 quid.

[natehall]

starter motor relay should be on the left hand side of the bulkhead, near the subframe tower bolt. They only cost 2 or 3 quid.

Thanks that great to know - will get on it in the morning

[samsfern]

theres also a wire with a wide spade terminal that should be plugged onto the starter solenoid, i KNOW its a brown and red wire, just make sure that's connected.

[natehall]

theres also a wire with a wide spade terminal that should be plugged onto the starter solenoid, i KNOW its a brown and red wire, just make sure that's connected.

Thanks Sam - really hoping to get that going in the morning as it is in desperate need of a lot of work before it gets to far gone..

[natehall]

starter motor relay should be on the left hand side of the bulkhead, near the subframe tower bolt. They only cost 2 or 3 quid.

do you mean this relay?

[Ethel]

The very thing (as Billy Connolly would say)

[samsfern]

that looks like it, there should be 4 wires going into it, one being brown+red.

[natehall]

that looks like it, there should be 4 wires going into it, one being brown+red.

Excellent - I dont even need to buy a replacement as I have dozens of those relays from other cars I have broken for spares (non-mini's) based upon the haynes comics pinout description.