5 replies to this topic

[mgjalopy]

Hi Guys

A little advice please. My little Piccadilly is struggling to run smoothly in this cold weather. It's been to the garage several times and they do stuff to the carburettor, but nothing seems to help.

I start it with the choke pulled out a way and then push it back in after a minute, but continue to keep the revs up for a few minutes. It never seems to get up to the correct idling speed. When I drive, I try to juggle the gears nearing traffic lights to avoid stopping, otherwise it tries to stall. The alternative I try is putting it in neutral and slowly braking with my left foot whilst keeping the revs up. Often it splutters as if misfiring. It's all very stressful!!

Any helpful advice out there?

Thanks

[minifreek1]

Sounds like carb needs setting to me, especially idle speed. It could be mixture setting is set too lean. Is it overheating or getting a little warmer than normal. Temperature needle should sit in middle the N range on the gauge, if it nearer to the H it's possibly running too lean and needs enriching.

[mgjalopy]

The carb was all done a few weeks ago. It was getting stuck inside so they took it all apart and cleaned it. My garage has been looking after my car for many years so I trust them to know what they're doing. The temperature gauge doesn't move very far in this weather as I don't do long journeys.

It's really frustrating as I am concerned about it stopping and refusing to start, with a queue of traffic behind me!

Is my procedure for starting it correct do you think, I see so many conflicting ideas if I look on the internet?

[mab01uk]

When to push the choke in fully is something that varies between Minis but you get a feel for and usually you can ease the choke off a bit at a time as the engine warms up. Sometimes you might have to put it back on if say pulling off out of a side road and you don't want the engine to stall until fully warmed up. If you don't do long journeys then it takes longer to get up to normal engine temperature and using the heater in cold weather will also slow the engines warm up. Also make sure your carb air filter is picking up warm air from the exhaust manifold correctly.

If none of the above applies then as said the running problems are probably carb/setup/fuel related, even though it has been cleaned there may be some wear or something sticking causing the idling problem.

Edited by mab01uk, 23 February 2024 - 11:51 AM.

[Richard e]

To pass mot on emissions the mixture was weakened - standard 998 with hf 4 carb - it ran terrible- hesitant on pickup and flat. So I richened it a couple of turns - now runs sweet and not obviously rich (plugs fine) - idle smoothed out too (as it was prior to mot). But compared to yours it does warm up on short 1 mile trips getting to just left of N on gauge - but still good from cold needing a bit of choke relying on idle increase from first 1/2 inch or so of choke travel.

[Quinlan minor]

Might be worth checking that the thermostat is working correctly.