15 replies to this topic

[tiger99]

Based on previous thoroughly unpleasant experiences of that nature on a number of different cars, including Minis, Triumph Herald and Rover P4, I would be inclined to suspect the battery terminals. The battery can be perfectly good, but the pot type terminals expand and lose their tight fit on the battery posts, so only the self tapper in the middle is actually carrying current. Sometimes you can see traces of smoke. I always end up cutting them off, and getting a pair of clamp type terminals, which don't suffer from that problem, and in any case can be seen to be tight. If you use those on a Mini, please also get insulating covers so there is not just the flimsy cardboard battery cover betwwen live terminals and whatever you may be carrying in the boot. You don't want a fire.