29 replies to this topic

[tony kenobi]

Hi all, some may know my story, some not.

MPI rebuilt about 2 years ago, but only driven 200 miles in it since because of a major problem.
Serious lack of power around 3000rpm, going through a lot of fuel and after a stage 3 head, cam etc etc, running like a bad of dirt.

So I took the little monster out of storage to try and sort this out. Brought it down to my local mini expert tonight and we can found the root of the problem.

When i rebuilt the engine, i remember looking at photos of other mpi engine bays for the order to replace the HT leads before i started her for the first time. Problem was when i fitted mine in the same way, she back fired through the manifold! The solution was to move them along the cylinders until she fired, but then she ran like crap.

Ive been told the cylinders 2 and 3, (middle 2) are firing ok and are driving the car, though 1 and 4 are away off hence the ugly idle and major problems when trying to run. Now the coil pack has not been replaced, most sensors have been. compression test is 100% and after pulling the plugs out when she is running, theres a spark at all 4, but the 2 outside are away off and the only way to get her to start is if the first lead is put to cylinder 3.

So now i know whats wrong, how do i fix this? The flywheel plays an important part with the MPI, have i put it on in the wrong position, or is there a simpler fault here.

Im getting so close to fixing what has been a 2 year problem which had me ready to sell the mini and give up, so any help or advice would be great. Im getting desperate!

[tony kenobi]

Oh, so you know what order my leads are in at the moment, 1 from coil pack is on cylinder 3, 2 is on cylinder 4, 3 is on cylinder 1 and 4 is on 2. Is this wrong?

[Sprocket]

There are numbers on the little triangular webs on the mounting lugs that indicate which is which

[tony kenobi]

Hi Sproket, yeah i know that. But ive a photo of my engine before the rebuild with the leads on and compared to now, they have all shifted to the right by 1 cylinder. Original photo has lead 1 on 4, 2 on 3, 3 on 2 and 4 on 1, but now ive got lead 1 on 3, 2 on 4, 3 on 1 and 4 on 2. so something is not right. If i put the leads on in the original order, she just backfires through itself, badly!

[tony kenobi]

Ok, so im 180 degrees out, and reading the next link, this is exactly the same problem as mine....
Link

So well done me, ive fitted my flywheel upside down! Can i change this with the engine in the car?

[mini 4o]

Ok, so im 180 degrees out, and reading the next link, this is exactly the same problem as mine....
Link

So well done me, ive fitted my flywheel upside down! Can i change this with the engine in the car?

yes,
when you do please take a photo with the bolt lock washer removed, as i am curious on how you fitted the lock washer
into a groove with is out of line.

take the clutch out and line it up with the old one,

john

[Guess-Works.com]

Did you change the clutch pressure plate when building the engine ?

It's a known issue that you must use a VERTO made one rather than another make as the these change the orientation of the timing ring on the flywheel, so even though the flywheel appears to be correctly located the timing ring is out, and hence either does not run or runs very badly.

[mykweb]

You are aware there are two variations of the coil pack on the MPi

There is the Haynes manual way and also an alternative.

Haynes manual says Looking at the coil pack

bottom left 1
top left 2
top right 3
bottom right 4

However I found this did not work with my coil pack after some playing about I went for

bottom right 1
top right 2
top left 3
bottom right 4


Mike

[tony kenobi]

Hi Mike, thanks for heads up, yeah I knew there was 2 ways, basically your top and bottom can be changed around, but mine is completely off for example...

Bottom left (1) is on 3
Top left (2) is on 4
Top right (3) is on 1
Bottom right (4) is on 2

So I'm one place off with each, and when they are on these it's backfiring above 3000rpm, drinking petrol like there's mo tomorrow and the end of the exhaust is blue with heat. Even at idle it sounds like it's just not firing right!

The link I put up is the exact same problems as me! In the back of my mind I always thought it could be the flywheel!!

[tony kenobi]

Gurssworks, yeah I kept the same flywheel etc as there's only 30k on it and it looked in great shape, I'll order a new bolt and washer to replace the old ones once I remove the flywheel. It's a right pain in the arse but if it gets it running right, it'll be worth it!!

[Sprocket]

You cannot fit the flywheel 180 degrees out of position ( I say that you cannot, but you can 'fit' (the word 'fit' being loosely used) it incorrectly, whichg is going to be THE problem). The dowels on the flywheel and the offset key in the crank tail will not allow this to happen. I have however seen the flywheel out of position and the the key washer not even in the slot, and that there is the problem. There can only be one explanation for that

The numbers on the coil are correct. Wroth also checking that the coil wiring connector is infact the correct way round, as even though it is key'd much like the flywheel is, it can be forced on upside down. This will cause two cylinders to fire all the time and backfire like a *******.

Like anything of this nature, no one will be able to diagnose a problem with an incorrectly fitted flywheel or wiring connector over the internet, but can only speculate.

[tony kenobi]

Hi Sporket, thanks for your input. It was a few years ago when I had the flywheel off, but I had the flywheel separated from the pressure plate. When putting this entire clutch together, if the flywheel has been put on correctly are the other components likely to make a difference ?

Where does the crank sensor pick up from the flywheel? Is it the ring inside the flywheel?

[Guess-Works.com]

Yes it's the ring on the inside of the flywheel... make sure the small locating pins on the flywheel are through the pressure plate... I've seen these pushed in too which has meant the pressure plate being fitted out of position which again would adversely affect the timing on an MPi.

[tpotterror]

have u checker the timing chain degrees if u set it at the wrong degree for the cam u have bought it will give to much fuel

[tony kenobi]

yeah the timing was checked several times before it was put back into car. Its defo not cam timing tho, as my leads are wrong way around. If it was the cam, my leads would work in the correct order but it would be rough and all over the place.

My guess is that i have the flywheel on upside down. So as the crank sensor reads from the flywheel, everything else thats bolted to it plays no part? When we mention that the washer is offset, i remember it had a raised centre, but surely it could go on 1 of 2 ways?