11 replies to this topic

[nafnaforiginal12]

Not sure if i need a new battery/alternator but went to the car today and it started up fine. Charge light went out after 10seconds
whilst driving at about 60mph, the car tried to stall and the rev counter blipped to zero and back up to normal revs.
ALL electrical equipment but the headlights switched off and came back on again. Not sure whats wrong, have had a look at wiring and earth straps but all seems to be tight.
On my way home, i went to start the car, absolutely no power to anything but the headlights. WEIRD. Left it 10mins and it started... JUST. nursed it back home cutting out all the way and now it's sat miserably on the drive.

Car is 1994 Mayfair 1.3spi

Any suggestions?

Edited by nafnaforiginal12, 29 January 2012 - 06:27 PM.

[alsy]

This used to happen to me ALL the time, everytime it wouldn't start if I have the earth cable on the battery a wiggle it'd work. I just made sure that was completely secure; even if you think it already is! it hasn't happened to me since.

[minijoe]

make sure battery is secure in box ,if any movement the possitive terminal can touch the body

[nafnaforiginal12]

make sure battery is secure in box ,if any movement the possitive terminal can touch the body

Ahh, never thought of that, will have a looksie

[nafnaforiginal12]

Right, went to start car this morning, started fine, ran fine with all electrical equipment.
I drove it up my street and it cut out for a second then came back to life, left the car running for a while stood still and it was fine.
So even though the earth straps seem OK they mustn't be as suggested above. Gonna order some new ones as they are slightly frayed.

[AVV IT]

Frayed earth certainly straps won't be helping, but also check that battery the terminal clamps are tight, as a loose clamp will give the intermittent complete power failure symptoms that you describe. Make sure you that you also check the earth strap mounting point on the boot floor too though. The classic mini boot floor is notorious for corrosion and the panel can corrode and rot away unnoticed around the earth mounting bolt, (beneath the terminal on the end of the strap itself).

[dklawson]

Not much I can add except to say that your tachometer dropping to zero indicates a complete "stop" of the ignition system. That typically means a sudden power interruption. That can indeed be battery earth or power cable related.

However, you said the headlights stayed on when the engine died and no other electrical parts worked. That points more to a failure of the ignition switch itself. Headlights don't go through the ignition switch and if they work... that implies the ground and power cables are OK.

[AVV IT]

Sorry, I must have mis-read your original post and didn't notice that you still had power to your headlights . In which case your battery clamps, straps and earth mount won't be the problem, as they would all cause complete electrical failure and power wouldn't remain to the headlight circuit. It's still worth checking them all though, and particularly replacing the earth straps if they are frayed, in order to prevent charging problems and other electrical issues further down the line.

Edited by AVV IT, 30 January 2012 - 01:53 PM.

[nafnaforiginal12]

Ok, i'll replace the earth straps and i'll have a look at the connections to the ignition switch to see if they're OK.

[ryan22_lgm]

i have had this same problem! broke down driving up to the mini fair yesterday but got it going again. it feels like something ignition related when it happens like its sucking all the power away from the engine? the alternator light turns on.

[nafnaforiginal12]

Have had a look at the ignition switch wiring, there is a bad connection/break in the loom side wiring of the connector, you can tell by wiggling it. Problem is that there is not much room to play with as the loom comes from over the heater, any ideas as what to do?

Edited by nafnaforiginal12, 30 January 2012 - 04:39 PM.

[nafnaforiginal12]

Bump...