14 replies to this topic

[nouniard]

Hi,

As the title says, I have a 1996 J-Spec Rover Mini SPi. I drove to work this morning and it seemed to run just fine...however, when I tried to go back out later it wouldn't start. After waiting a bit and trying again, it would start but sputter HORRIBLY before usually dying on its own after a short period or once I tried to give it gas.

At first I couldn't hear the fuel pump start up when I turned the ignition so I thought it might be that but it then started to work after fiddling around with connections and tapping it a few times, but it still won't drive, let alone idle properly...so it could be?

I took a video of it doing its coughing and sputtering for reference:



Any ideas? Thanks

[Sprocket]

Enough fuel inthe tank?

Check the vacuum pipes are still connected.

Edited by Sprocket, 27 March 2012 - 08:33 PM.

[charie t]

and clear

[xrocketengineer]

If that does not fix it, check out this thread to see if it is the same problem with the crank sensor:

http://www.theminifo...howtopic=179523

Another possibility would be low fuel pressure. I had that problem with 91 Chevy pickup with similar injection system to the SPI. The engine would barely idle and when you tried to rev the engine, it would cough and sputter. After replacing many parts with no improvement, I finally got hold of a fuel pressure test gauge and my pressure was next to 0 pounds per square inch and should have been at least 9. I replaced the fuel pump inside the tank and that solved the problem. However, the old pump was not bad. The short piece of hose connecting the pump to the hard-lines inside the tank had rotted and split lengthwise and the fuel that had been pressurized by the pump would leak back into the tank. That prevented any pressure build up in the fuel lines.

[nouniard]

I'll check my vacuum pipes this afternoon...also taking a look through that thread.

One thing I forgot to mention last time:

I've been moving to a new place and twice on the return trip, I would be driving along and the revs would drop to 0 RPM and pressing the accelerator would do nothing. I slowed down to go around the roudabout that was coming up (and pull off the road), yet as I went around the revs suddenly shot back up and I was able to accelerate away and return home.

Another sign of the fuel pump?

[Chris Harper Cooper]

Hi there,

I have exactly the same problem with my Cooper 1996 1275 MPi. The car starts and will idle fine. Onced I rev the engine to around 1.5k rpm or above the engine will drop its revs and bog down. I haven't been able to rev the car above 2k revs. This first happened as I was pulling off a roundabout, shortly after the car had warmed up to normal temp. I then let the car cool down and tried running it again, and it worked just fine. I got the car home and continued driving it as normal until about a week later when the same problem happened again. The car will now not drive and is stuck on my drive. I have spoken to a mechanic who says it sounds like the Idle sensor ( OR something along those lines) on the inlet manifold. I have recently dropped a new engine into the car (1275 MPi) but kept the same inlet etc etc. The mechanic says that because of this, the idle sensor on the inlet has not yet been matched with the ECU, causing it to over aspirate the engine. His explanation for the engine only doing this when warm is because when the car is warming up, it over compensates for the amount of air needed. I have been told to disconnect the battery for 30 minutes to allow it all to reset and then reconnect and take the idle sensor out of the manifold. I am then to start the car and hold it at 1.5k revs for around 2 minutes. I am then to reconnect the sensor and let the revs drop, he says that this should solve it! Any comments or suggestions? Does this sound right? Also, I am not too sure where the idle sensor (or even if that is its proper name) is located.

[xrocketengineer]

I'll check my vacuum pipes this afternoon...also taking a look through that thread.

One thing I forgot to mention last time:

I've been moving to a new place and twice on the return trip, I would be driving along and the revs would drop to 0 RPM and pressing the accelerator would do nothing. I slowed down to go around the roudabout that was coming up (and pull off the road), yet as I went around the revs suddenly shot back up and I was able to accelerate away and return home.

Another sign of the fuel pump?

My interpretation is that if the revs in the tachometer seem erratic, ie not matching the engine, then the crank sensor is probably the prime suspect. With fuel pump problems, the more you try to accelerate the worst the symptoms get. The symptoms will not go away temporarily. At least that was my non-Mini experience.
Maybe Sprocket has some other thoughts since he has a lot more experience with the SPI system than I do.

[Chris Harper Cooper]

I believe it is the Idle Control Valve.. I had exactly the same issues and once I changed it the car worked fine! :)

[xrocketengineer]

The SPI engine does not have the Idle Control Valve. Instead it uses a stepper motor to open the throttle and control the idle speed.

[nouniard]

I'm currently waiting on a new crank sensor I ordered so hopefully I'll know soon if that is the issue. The mini owner xrocketengineer posted about seemed to have the same issue (mini sounded the same) and that was his solution.

Here's to hoping!

Edited by nouniard, 02 April 2012 - 02:16 PM.

[Chris Harper Cooper]

Best of luck!

[nouniard]

It was the crank sensor! Mini is back to its daily duties. Thanks everyone for the help!

[xrocketengineer]

It is great to know that you got it fixed.

[camiloaa]

can you tell me where is the crank sensor located? or a pic will be much better!!
thanks
Cam

[xrocketengineer]

It is the black plug below the starter hole. It is held with two hex head screws. Mine was very tight in the round hole where it fits. I had to use some WD 40 to wiggle it out. Its connector is the blue one.

Edited by xrocketengineer, 10 April 2012 - 01:45 PM.