18 replies to this topic

[Alex Hawkins]

i have looked at previous posts on this topic but i am not expert and struggled to understand 

 

The problem is that my 1984 mini sprite's points keep closing, iv had the AA out on the m4 six times in three weeks!

had the points, condenser, rotor arm, dizzy cap everything replaced but still it persists, please can someone help me!

what is the simplest way to solve this re-occurring problem? please try not to use too much terminology as i wont understand sadly (nooby)

pictures would be GREATLY appreciated or a step to step guide 

 

Thankyou Alex

[Danmini74]

Convert to electronic ignition? Cheap, simple and easy to fit. 

 

Dan

[Tamworthbay]

Have you tried thread lock on the mounting screw?

[dennismini93]

iv just had this issue!!! all i did was bring the engine earths back to bare metal and now its allll gooooooooooood give it a go, its quick and easy and wont do any harm is its not the issue

[CityEPete]

Convert to electronic ignition? Cheap, simple and easy to fit. 
 
Dan

Yep, what he said

[Alex Hawkins]

dont want to electric ignition as its limited edition and basically as it came out the factory 

[cradley-heathen]

dont want to electric ignition as its limited edition and basically as it came out the factory 

i appreciate that its an original car, and that you want to keep it that way should you want to sell it, but if you keep the crappy points dizzy you can pass it on with the car when you sell it.

 

however having said that, its not going to de-value the car by changing it to electronic, its an accepted thing to do. the other thing is, are you actually planning to sell it? if not dont worry about it, it could be ten years before you sell it, or never!

 

what Tamworthbay said is a good idea, i would also add to this that getting a better washer behind the little screw that holds it in position will help too.

[Alex_B]

fitting an electronic ignition module inside the dizzy isn't going to devalue your car in any way, its an electronic upgrade to the points and as such cannot be seen without removing the dizzy cap and it gets rid of all the related issues with points and condensers. 

Win win really, mine cost about £15 and took 10 mins to fit, not had a problem since and its been fitted a year! 

[Stevie W]

Hi,

If you want to keep the points & condenser for the sake of originality, it's worth checking a couple of things if your points keep closing up:

1). When installing the points, are you using the felt wick that sits in a slot on the points bracket?
This wick must be present and should be moistened with a little engine oil. The idea of this is to
lubricate the plastic cam follower on the moving points arm and prevent the dizzy cam wearing it
out.

2). Whilst on the subject of the dizzy, check the actual dizzy shaft for worn bearings. Grasp the
shaft between two fingers and check there is no sideways movement. Movement here will cause you
all sorts of problems.

Hope this helps!!

Cheers, Steve.

[sonikk4]

To be honest with you as Cradley has said its not going to really detract from the value of the car. Change the dizzy to either a accuspark or powerspark one. Keep the original dizzy and that way if you wish you can always refit it.

 

The problem you have sounds like the points are not being located correctly on the small pin or the nylon pad is overheating causing it to wear and close the points. I had points on Paddy and fitted a electronic dizzy and have not looked back.

 

The points available today do not appear to be as good and that then can lead to issues.

[CityEPete]

I keep my points and condensor in the boot with a spare rotor arm and cap, 15 mins at the side of the road would have them back in if the module ever failed, that said I have had ten years of using them on 3 different classic cars with no issues. They are a service part anyway, what about tyres, battery, exhaust etc all will be modern versions if and when they need changing.

[dklawson]

Want to keep points?  Follow the advice of StevieW above.  Make sure the felt wick on the points is fully wet with engine oil (end to end). No felt?  Apply some thin grease to the 4-lobe came that opens and closes the points.  Have you replaced the coil?  If so, did you fit the correct type for your car's ignition?  Fitting a ballast coil on a car without ballast resistance will result in overheated points where the heel block can melt, allowing the points to close up.

 

Fitting an electronic ignition is OK.  Nothing to be afraid of, particularly as it is reversible.  If you fit an aftermarket kit to your dizzy, do as CityEPete suggested and carry a spare set of points and a condenser in the boot.  It is really simple to refit the points if you have to.

[Ethel]

I've also seen this caused by the wrong screw used in place of the original.

[Dan]

Me too, when my wife first got her Mini we were still kids and she had it serviced by a mobile mechanic the first time. He dropped the points screw and used just any old thing to fit them, which both locked the dizzy baseplate up and failed to clamp the points properly. It has to be the right screw. If your dizzy has the wrong screw in and you follow some of the above advice to fit an electronic module in it, still using the wrong screw (depending on the kit you use obviously), the module will also slip and the problem will remain. Always identify and at least try to fix the problem you have before trying a workaround, otherwise you won't know what was wrong and if it's actually been fixed. This is what causes many of the previous owner issues we all have with our cars. Please everyone, answer the question that was asked. In this case there are very simple reasons the points may be closing up, but most of the replies here ignore that completely.

Edited by Dan, 06 April 2014 - 09:20 AM.

[CityEPete]

I know what your saying Dan but hold your horses a minute, part of the reason for suggesting an electronic ignition module was because a worn dizzy could be why the points are getting rattled loose, a module will resolve that issue as the cam lobe isnt required if its worn. All the other benefits are a bonus :-D