15 replies to this topic

[JOHNKENT]

I,ve been trying to start my mini cooper 1991 after its been sat for a couple of years.

hooked a battery up, got no ignition lights and nothing on the turn of the key, but radio works as do the hazards and lights.

cleaned all the fuses and connections on bulkhead fuse box, cleaned terminals on starter motor and alternator, still nothing.

Firstly why no dash lights, ? secondly any ideas why it wont spin over, the engine turns freely by hand.

Can i hook up jump leads directly to starter if so how?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Edited by JOHNKENT, 30 December 2020 - 05:48 PM.

[beardylondon]

Someone will be along with a full checklist, but I have the same age car, and if your fusebox is anything like mine, I would replace it straight away, as mine was so corroded it caused loads of issues. It's the best thing I did and such a simple swap.

Edited by beardylondon, 30 December 2020 - 05:05 PM.

[MiniMadRacer]

Does it have an alarm / immobiliser?

[Carlos W]

Putting power to the starter  isnt Likely to get the car running.

 

You need to see if there’s power to and from the switch

[JOHNKENT]

Does it have an alarm / immobiliser?

 

No mate it doesn.t

[JOHNKENT]

Putting power to the starter  isnt Likely to get the car running.

 

You need to see if there’s power to and from the switch

What switch mate ? and how do i go about it.

[MiniMadRacer]

I woudl first check the main "earths"... so the Earth lead from the battery to the boot floor, make sure its clean and connected of course... make sure the Battery is charged.

 

Then check the earth lead from the engine to the chassis / body

[JOHNKENT]

I woudl first check the main "earths"... so the Earth lead from the battery to the boot floor, make sure its clean and connected of course... make sure the Battery is charged.

 

Then check the earth lead from the engine to the chassis / body

Cheers mate, checked all that, ive ordered another fuse box in case its corroded too badly. I,m a bit stumped if im honest. just to get the dash lights up would be a start. should i have 12 volts in the multi plug on steering colomn ?

[MiniMadRacer]

Hmmmm I am prob wrong but I didnt think the starter motor was in a fused circuit, so should at least spin over.....

 

Check the positive lead under the car, it hasnt touched and melted on the exhaust by any chance and "semi" shorting out...or chaffed through anywhere else

[JOHNKENT]

Hmmmm I am prob wrong but I didnt think the starter motor was in a fused circuit, so should at least spin over.....

 

Check the positive lead under the car, it hasnt touched and melted on the exhaust by any chance and "semi" shorting out...or chaffed through anywhere else

Good shout i,ll check that mate thanks

[cal844]

It's easy to rule out the ignition switch and wiring.

Remove the wiring from the starter.

Using a fully charged battery and a set of jump leads you simply clip the live onto the nut where the main power feed was, then bridge the starter across the red/white terminal.

Be very aware of sparks and use a pair of insulated pliers to hold an old socket to bridge the starter.

The car can also be made to run by making a short fly lead to the coil positive

[Carlos W]

Putting power to the starter  isnt Likely to get the car running.
 
You need to see if there’s power to and from the switch

What switch mate ? and how do i go about it.

Ignition switch.

Have you got a multimeter?

[JOHNKENT]

 

 

Putting power to the starter  isnt Likely to get the car running.
 
You need to see if there’s power to and from the switch

What switch mate ? and how do i go about it.

Ignition switch.

Have you got a multimeter?

 

yes mate

 

[JOHNKENT]

It's easy to rule out the ignition switch and wiring.

Remove the wiring from the starter.

Using a fully charged battery and a set of jump leads you simply clip the live onto the nut where the main power feed was, then bridge the starter across the red/white terminal.

Be very aware of sparks and use a pair of insulated pliers to hold an old socket to bridge the starter.

The car can also be made to run by making a short fly lead to the coil positive

From the positive jump lead to positive coil mate ?

[cal844]

It's easy to rule out the ignition switch and wiring.

Remove the wiring from the starter.

Using a fully charged battery and a set of jump leads you simply clip the live onto the nut where the main power feed was, then bridge the starter across the red/white terminal.

Be very aware of sparks and use a pair of insulated pliers to hold an old socket to bridge the starter.

The car can also be made to run by making a short fly lead to the coil positive

From the positive jump lead to positive coil mate ?

Yes that's correct, remove the coil positive and fit the short lead to this terminal. At this point you only need the motor to run for a few seconds to confirm if it's the starter or a wiring fault.


Remember to mark the wiring you remove so you know where it goes.

Take care to insulate yourself from the leads as there will be electrical arc sparks which is normal.

Regards

Cal