24 replies to this topic

[Jamie_RoverMini35]

hey
my mini has me kind of stumped well last week i went to start it and the battery was near enough dead so the car wouldnt go so jumped it started fine a few times during the day but at night same again the engine wouldnt even turn over but when it was jump started everything ran fine but when i got home battery wouldnt turn the engine over but everything else worked fine so i though either wasnt holding a charge or not charging so i ruled both of them out and replaced with a brand new battery and alternator and battery earth lead and today it was much better until i stopped for fuel and all i could hear was the started solenoid clicking away rapidly so my friend pushed me and i bumped started it, and i was out tonight started mulitple times no problem... i have also checked the battery to see if anything is draining it but there is nothing? my next guess was the starter??
help

[Noah]

Coil?

[Alex_B]

Check all your earths, the starter solenoid connections and check thats got a decent earth to the inner wing, sounds like an earthing issue :)

[Jamie_RoverMini35]

will do and my car doesnt seem to have any other earths around that area or on the engine? its a 1994 mini 35 carbd

[Carlos W]

Earth from engine to body?

[Alex_B]

there is the main battery earth which earths the body, then an engine earth that will be on the left hand side of engine when looking from the front, its mounted on the engine support brace, then the solenoid is earthed through itself onto the inner wing,

all need to be of good condition and if in doubt take off and clean the metal behind and on the strap :)

[Jamie_RoverMini35]

nope not got an earth from engine to body? never have haha

[Jamie_RoverMini35]

yeah ive seen the earths on other mini's but mine hasnt got one on the engine to the body? cleaned my new earth starp and surroundings today for the battery

[Noah]

yeah ive seen the earths on other mini's but mine hasnt got one on the engine to the body? cleaned my new earth starp and surroundings today for the battery

35's use the SPi wiring loom so it may be different.

[Carlos W]

yeah ive seen the earths on other mini's but mine hasnt got one on the engine to the body? cleaned my new earth starp and surroundings today for the battery

You need to look into this

Edited by Carlos W, 13 January 2013 - 12:09 AM.

[Alex_B]

I am pretty sure all minis need an engine earth otherwise it will use the choke and heater cables as an earth,

I would use a jumper cable if you have one and earth the engine and try and start it, see if that is the issue but I cant think why it would stop the starter spinning

[Noah]

I am pretty sure all minis need an engine earth otherwise it will use the choke and heater cables as an earth,

I would use a jumper cable if you have one and earth the engine and try and start it, see if that is the issue but I cant think why it would stop the starter spinning

They do but I mean it may be elsewhere... :) I'll have a look at mine tomorrow.

[Jamie_RoverMini35]

but why would it start sometimes and not others, the cars been fine for years only started doin this recently haha

[Carlos W]

A jump lead from the engine to a body part (not the solenoid) would be adequate to help diagnose!

[Alex_B]

I think all including MPIs have them in the same place