12 replies to this topic

[afswift]

Hi,

Iam having problems with my girlfriends mini, It is struggling to start in a morning, It splutters and stalls even when the engine idle is set high.

It also cuts out at lights etc even when the engine is warm.

Please does anyone have any ideas?

[The Matt]

Could be one of several things. Things to check initially would be oil in the dashpot (the blck screw cap that is in the centre of the carb). Check to see if any hoses are missing (breather or vacuum hoses).

The other things to consider checking are, points, dizzy cap (see if there is any damage to it, or if it is getting damp etc.

Failing that, it could just be that the carb needs tuning or something simple.

[afswift]

No hoses missing, replaced dizzy cap, rotor arm and leads.

There is oil in the top of the dashpot, should there be? if so how much??

Not damp. How do i tune the carb?

Thanks for the reply, need to get this sorted asap.

[Big_Adam]

tune a mini's carb. right i know this. warm it up. as in drive it like you stole it. then on the left hand side of the carb (viewed from above) theres a little screw with a spring. you should be able to push this up into the carb. if the car stalls then its too lean. if it rev's up then its too rich so adjust the mixture acoringly. but thats only on SU carbs.

oil in the dash pot should be just over the lip. if you put too much in just squirts out the top so thats no problem. won't stop it starting tho. i had basicaly non and mine worked fine. the oil just stops the carb dumping a massive load a fuel in stalling the car.

don't forget to change the air filter too. if its clogged then you'll get nothing from the car.

[afswift]

Does a J plate 1.0 have a fuel filter??? if so where is it?

[Big_Adam]

i think only the injection models have a filter in line anywere....hmm...cheack the rear subframe if you got one i think it sits on the back there. there is one in the tank but thats just to stop it sucking up sedament from the tank.

[afswift]

No its not injection. Just thought it was odd not having one!

Someone at work has said it could be timing. Do you think it could be?

[Big_Adam]

don't know about the timing ( i mean really i don't know. i'm not too bright. lol) but cheack the fuel flow. pull the pipe off the carb and crank the car over if lots of petrol spits out thats good. ifm vey little dose then the pump is either bugged or the lines need replacing.

get the timing checked anyway. another thing check the plugs themselves spark good. pull one out and put it agenst the block then crank the car over. should have a good little show. just to make sure.

[Jammy]

As mini_mad_me said it could be a lot of things.

What is it like when you floor it, does it cough and splutter more, or is it not as bad?

What does the oil look like on the underside of the rocker cap?

Does the position of the choke affect the running of the engine at all, ie. does it get better or worse with the choke fully out?

[afswift]

When you floor it it sometimes does nothing, others runs normally.

The oil looks fine under the rocker cover.

The engine stalls when hot with the choke out.

Cheers

[Big_Adam]

might be running really rich then. too much fuel being dumped in to the engine.

[PurpleDaisy]

The timing is basically the when spark plugs ignite the fuel, (hopefully) juuuust before the petrol & air have been compressed. If you've noticed your petrol going quicker or more stuff coming oot of the exhaust (or less, if it happens late... I think) then it's probably off, like your friend says.

Speaking of compression, maybe your head gasket is poorly?

[stickycreambun]

heya
you saying it the problems only happen when chokes out? i found before that my mixture was set almost as lean as it could go, so it would only run with the choke out and even then cut out every now and then. So you could try the mixture/carb related stuff suggested by big adam. the haynes comic has a bit of help too.