10 replies to this topic

[jane]

Looking to replace my ignition coil, but not sure which I need. Can anyone tell from this photo?

If going off mini spares I'm guessing this one would be right? > ballast coil ?

It's a 998 87 city



thanks :)

[Ethel]

Reckon so, clean up those wires, if there's a pink striped & a yellow striped one (+ve terminal) it's ballasted. Why do you need a new coil though?

[tiger99]

Please clean, tidy and secure those disgusting bullet connectors before you end up losing headlights while on the move at night. And I don't mean that yours are more disgusting than anyone else's, they all go that way, one of the worst features of the Mini, so everyone else, have a look at yours too. It just happens that your picture illustrates the point rather well, and thanks for posting it.

Oh, and it is far better to get rid of the black wires and run the earth from each light unit to its own seperate earth bolt in the inner wing, instead of the daft way Rover did it, running a common earth from both lights back to a single earth on the bulkhead, using a needless amount of wire, losing some voltage, and making failure more likely.

[jane]

Great, thanks will do that.

I'm trying to eliminate possible issues as it's been sat unused for some time and it's not starting.The engine's turning fine, just not firing.
Not entirely sure whether the coil is the culprit, but the existing one's looking a bit messy anyhow...

Cheers

[tractor]

have you tried taking a spark plug out of the head and connecting it to the ht lead that goes into the dizzy then just rest it on the block and see if you get a spark? if you do the coils proberly alright, if not try the engine earths and stuff, then at leas you'll know if your coils working

trac

[jane]

Trac - just been reading that on another site, will def give that a go.

[KSTANDSTEVE]

Also look on the HT Lead end of the existing coil - there may be a voltage stamped on the plastic there was on mine.

[dklawson]

I'm trying to eliminate possible issues as it's been sat unused for some time and it's not starting.The engine's turning fine, just not firing.
Not entirely sure whether the coil is the culprit, but the existing one's looking a bit messy anyhow...

I always advise replacing coils "last". Looks do not indicate condition and while coils do fail, it is not common and typically does NOT happen when a vehicle is in storage. Many electrical items are not returnable so save buying expensive electrical items until you have determined they really are at fault.

[The_Stig]

One way to test the HT leads is to grab one while touching the car elsewhere (to earth) and have someone turn the engine over. If you feel something, they should be replaced.
Or measure one ohms. The wires are allowed so mant per foot...

[dklawson]

One way to test the HT leads is to grab one while touching the car elsewhere (to earth) and have someone turn the engine over. If you feel something, they should be replaced.
Or measure one ohms. The wires are allowed so mant per foot...

If you feel something? That's an understatement!.

[tiger99]

And NOT if you have a pacemaker, or capacitive discharge or plasme electronic ignition, or both! Unless you are suicidal, of course.

Edited by tiger99, 14 October 2012 - 06:26 PM.