Ok, So on my little blue, my daily runner. We switched to an aldon ignitor this weekend.Which has caused nothing but trouble since. It has unearthed a number of problems. The story goes like this. We fitted the ignitor, and she wouldn't start. After double and triple checking everything had been done right, because when trying to start it was sounding like the battery was dead, we jump started it to take it to home base ;) ( the house with all the mini spares, but without the working shelter). The jump starting worked a treat. Started straight away, and better than that ran beautifully, did more than justice to the improvements that the ignitors claim to make. However. We got it to headquarters. Checked the battery was charged. Charged it overnight, Checked the alternator was charging the battery, changed the battery clamps, cleaned all the connections.. twice, checked the earths, tried a different coil, found a number of dodgy wire connections, which we fixed. At one point ( somewhere in between all of this, it started on one attempt..but then wouldn't again.. So we decided to see if there was a spark, which there wasn't, so we turned the dizzy and at one point we found a weak spark. tried again, but still wouldn't start. We jump started her to set the timing, but before starting her, we decided to check if there was a spark when the second battery was connected and it started with three! :S gave us a shock. So after that we plugged number 1 back in and then it wouldnt start. took it out, it started on three again. Plugged it back it.... started fine on its own without the jump leads, so we set the ignition timing ( so i could let the choke go all the way in finally :) ) . It then started fine every time we tried it for the next hour. Now this morning it wouldnt start ( i had driven it back to mine) so i jump started it from my mum. Drove it to headquarters ( again saddened by the fact the it drives so well when it actually starts!) and then the next three times i tried to start it, absolutely fantastic, started straight away and stronger than before.... So i came to the conclusion that is isn't starting cold.... Oh forgot to mention that the voltage drops from normal to quite low when turning it over also we have had to basically completely retard the ignition timing, it wont get any more retarded... ANYONE got ANY ideas???? Its a standard 998 1987 mini city E. Thanks Guys in advance :) Emily
P.s I have searched EVERY post here on not starting and on electronic ignition, so PLEAASEEE dont tell me off for starting a new post ---- our next theory is that the timing (with vaccum advance? I havent done this bit before... im kinda one of the head quarters trainies... ive only had the mini about 5 months) wasnt set to 8 degrees from tdc.... so we are trying that tonight, as this should sort the fact that the mini seems to need to have its ignition timing completely retarded.... anyone think that theory is logical? Thanks guys