9 replies to this topic

[Calum]

Hi, im new to the forum so please be gentle!

Basically i have a 1989 Austin Mini 30. 998cc A series engine.
i was driving it home and it started to jitters if reved over 3000 and eventually stalled. Of course this is late at night and tipping it down with rain.
Tried to start it again about 3 min later and it did, left the choke out for a bit to let it warm up, set off again but kept the revs low. 10 miles later it stalls again while going up a hill. At this point its insurance and low loader and me in a very bad mood.

My battery is now flat and i havent had a chance to try and jump the car to see if it will start running again since this happened. But i dont see why it wouldn't...

Anybody any ideas as to what this is? Im very stuck and being a student i have no money to throw at a mechanic looking through every possible fault...

here's a picture

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[chipmongrel360]

Hi, welcome to the forum :)
The problem might be as simple as the dizzy getting wet in the rain, so the spark might be dying causing the juddering and stalling...
Has the car ever displayed the same problems in dry weather?

[Nick Warwick]

check the points haven't closed up in your distributor.

[jaydee]

Looks like the timing is out, but unless you've been playing with the dizzy or put crap fuel in the tank, i'd exclude that for now.
Start by replacing points (gapped at 15 thou) and condenser, inspect rotor and dizzy cap for wear or cracking and replace if damaged. Clean thorughly with WD40. Smear some vaseline on the mating sufrace of the dizzy cap and the dizzy body.

[bmcecosse]

As above -it would just be water on the ignition. Does it have a proper shield fitted? Absolutely essential for any Mini. And a can of Damp Start is hady for emergencies - but don't rely on it for everyday use. A new dizzy cap and new HT leads may be a good idea too...........

[Mini118118]

Hi there sounds ignition related, try a new condensor and points... Had the same problems myself two weeks ago, for £15 I fitted an electronic ignition kit from the link below. Problem sorted... There are plenty of you tube videos that show the install...... Best £15 I ever spent.. Cheers

http://www.mm-4x4.co...-kit-2720-p.asp

[se_juggles]

Does it stall in the high revs or when changing down gear and idling?

[Calum]

Hi again. Thanks for the brilliant response.
The wet weather was my thought as well as the car happily drove from Berkshire to Lincolnshire the day before all this. Probably should have mentioned this!

It started fine today as well. Although city driving so couldn't really rev much above 3000 anyway.
Seems points and distributor cap are a popular thing and my uncle also surggested the ht leads. I've just got them both ordered from minispares. I'll change them and report back on another wet day.

Thanks everyone, I was expecting days before a response!

[Calum]

Hi everyone.
Great news is that I've replaced the
Points
Ht leads
Distributor cap
And I put a guard infront of the distributor
And now it all works great, even in the rain ive been getting.

Thanks for the help everyone

[Ethel]

Don't forget the LT connections on the coil, and arrange the wiring so water will run down to a loop in the middle rather than along the wire & onto the dizzy, or bare metal contacts.