7 replies to this topic

[geo]

Hello, im new to these forums and new to the mini scene. I have a project car i have been working on but i am not the most tech minded of people, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Some background info....

>> its a 1987 998cc mini city e, worn engine smokes on occasions.
>> had been sat for a couple of years rusting away
>> last year i brought it and done up all the bodywork, full respray, new alloys, new interior etc..
>> i then put it through an MOT and spent £375 to get it on the road, i have a list of its problems and can post if needed.
>> i drove the car for about a week before crashing
>> it then sat for a month before going to a body shop for a new subframe and most of the front end
>> before leaving to the body shop i had problems with the car misfiring, i checked all the plugs and found them to be sooty and oily, once cleaned th poblems seemed to go


The problem now is that when i try to start the car it turns over and some times fires up but then cuts out. i have checked the plugs again and found them to be sooty and oily, when cleaned up i put them in for about a minute still with the same problem but with an added clanking sound when i try to start the car. i then removed 1 of the plugs again to find it had become sooty again.

if any one has any idea of what could course these problems please get back to me as soon as posible. Im now in debt by nealy 3 grand thanks to my mini and cant afford to spend out lots of money, so any thing i can do myself will be helpful.

cheers for any help

George


edit

forgot to mention that the car has been over filled with oil

[Dan]

How overfilled and for how long? And was it run like that? Oil getting onto the plugs after only a minute sounds pretty bad, but it could just be really out of tune I suppose.

Tune it according to the Haynes book for a start (fueling and ignition) and see how it goes. If it still doesn't work then there could be something very wrong.

[geo]

Cheers for the help Dan, it had been over filled with oil since its MOT about 2 months ago but has spent most of that time sat on the drive. It is overfilled by about three centremeters above the max on the dipstick.

I have been told to undo something called a sump plug to drain the oil out, is this an easy job and is it likely to help


Thanks again

[Leonard]

the oil really should be between min and max on the dipstick. if the oil level was really high, then some could get into the carb through the breathers, and would burn in the cylinders and foul up the plugs. drain some out until the level is right, then make sure the ignition system is dry, and set it up as dan says

[Leonard]

3cm is alot, the sump plugs at the drivers side of the gearbox, at the front. you need a 15/16" (i think) socket or ring spanner to undo it, and make sure you have something to catch the oil in. DO NOT overtighten it. do a little bit at a time, then wipe the dipstick and check the level again, until its right.

[minislapper]

It would probably be easier just to drain the entire contents then refill to the correct level. It won't do the car any harm to give it an oil change whether it's been driven anywhere or not.

[geo]

Well i have just changed the oil, cleaned up the spark plugs and checked the ignition system is dry. No change though .

Dan i have looked in the Haynes book and cant find any thing on tuning, could you explain in some more detail exactly what im looking for, page numbers would be nice

Cheers George

[minislapper]

Chapter 5 of the 1999 edition (the blue one) gives you details of how to check the points/condenser/other ignition components. It also tells you how to set the timing etc.

Make sure you make sure the battery is fully charged, the car has some fresh fuel in the tank and check earth straps for a good connection. Check the connections on the solenoid and the starter motor to make sure nothing is amiss. If the garage have put in a new front subframe etc then something could have been dislodged at the time.

I suspect if it's been sat the points could have closed up. Easy job to check and re-set them. Just read the manual !

Good luck.