7 replies to this topic

[Zulu162]

Now that the weather is getting abit more on the chilly side, my mini is having some starting issues. It starts readily enough, on the 1st or 2nd turn of the key, but then wont actually run smoothly until i give it abit of poke and then the engine makes a small but still load bang from around the top of the engine. Doesnt sound quite like a misfire... Hard to explain really. Any ideas all?

[carbon]

If you can give a bit more info about the car this might help point you in the right direction.

For instance with the older minis fitted with carbs they can often need slight adjustment beween summer and winter if they have been set for low CO emissions. If they are set up for summer then they can run too weak in cold weather, which can cause misfiring until the engine is warmed up...

[firstmini]

I have a 1989 mini thirty - being my first winter with the car I had a huge shock on Monday when it would not start and I ended up killing the battery..... anyway after getting home and charging the battery and wiping inside the distributor cap to make sure all was dry.... so we are now starting again although on the way home yesterday there was a huge bang (as if someone fired a gun from my exhaust) and all I could see from my rear window was black smoke??! We are also struggling when first running, if I dont rev enough we go to stall! Would this all be down to the carbs as you mentioned above? Please help as although love my little moo she's my first car and first winter and makes me think of buying something newer so dont have these problems!!

[bmcecosse]

A good overhaul/renewal of the HT leads and dizzy cap and rotor arm will work wonders. And - fit a really good ignition shield behind the grille to keep moisture off. And - treat it to a new set of spark plugs too. Champion N9Y work well.

Edited by bmcecosse, 07 November 2012 - 03:00 PM.

[jaydee]

Champion N9Y works BEST, mine with 11:1 CR really suffers with NGK plugs when engine cold, and eats them in few hounderd miles.
NGK became shocking since are no more produced in europe.

Anyway, back to the OP, i can guess mixture is too lean (or choke isnt correctly adjusted).

[Ethel]

The bang is most likely a misfire, it will have ejected unburned fuel into the exhaust and the hot exhaust from the next cylinder to fire properly will have ignited it. Servicing the ignition system is a good start; it could be a combination of several minor faults so work through things methodically. Electronic ignition will certainly help in any case.

[BenCoul]

I'm having running issues myself, and my mini is my first car, and this is my first winter now that I've passed so I know how you feel.

As already suggested, replace some or all of the ignition system (leads, plugs, dizzy cap, rotor, starter coil, points condenser). These parts are relativley cheap and easy to fit. Even if this isn't the source of the problem. It'll still make starting it easier, and help the battery last longer when trying to start. (that's what I found with mine)

Other than that, I'd consider looking at carb or exhaust as the next suspects.

[R1minimagic]

Most Minis are probably running 20W oil which doesnt help starting or battery performance, using 10W50 instead would help a lot