10 replies to this topic

[hatchet]

Whilst driving my Cooper today he was missfiring now and then and the rev counter was jumping up and down all over the place! this was also happening whilst idling. The idle sounded its normal 'just below 1000 rpm' but the counter was up and down around the 2000 mark.

I've had the car missfiring on me before but I've never noticed the rev counter behaving in this fashion.

Can anyone shed some light please??

Cheers 'Abbo'

[Guess-Works.com]

The thing which springs to mind is a short to earth of the electrics, or a loss of power to the coil at least...

Would explain the 'flicking' of the tacho and the missfire...

Run round the engine bay, checking all contacts, cleaning them if necessary, failing that, start checking the ignition system...

[hatchet]

Cheers JG

I'll have a look ASAP.

[Dan]

How old is your car? Carb or injection? On a carb car with conventional ignition I would say that your points are sticking or bouncing or the condenser is on its way out. Or maybe the coil itself. Definitely ingnition/electrical though as Guessworks said. Check over the distributor thoroughly (if you have a real one). Or it could be the distributor cap has cracked or is too dirty.

[Alburglar]

Stick a sexy lucas coil on yer 1380 and put old coil on coop.

Alternatively put go faster stripes on it, that should even out the play in the distribulater.

Yep, I know what I'm on about.

[hatchet]

Cheers Ali

Putting the stripes on would make alot of sense come to think of it! I'll nip down to Halfords during my lunch break for some and get em fitted asap.

Thanks for all your help everyone!

[hatchet]

Dan

It is a 1991 carb'ed model with electronic ignition, so I shall check the cap and rotor and swap over coils with my other Mini to see if that helps.

Cheers
Abbo

[Dan]

With electronic ignition also check that the ignition module has a good earth. If none of this works you might want to consider getting the module examined 'because it might be that. Most garages have the gear to examine ignition modules.

[hatchet]

Finally got some spare time to have a look at the Cooper. Turned out to be a dodgy coil!

Thanks for your help everyone!!

Abbo

[cowboy]

With electronic ignition also check that the ignition module has a good earth.

dan just a quick one sorry to hijack this post, where is the ignition module earthed, might help with something for someone else

cheers mate
cowboy

[Dan]

Some are earthed through the dizzy body, and some by a lead in the module connector. Or if it's aftermarket ignition, usually by a ring terminal under the module mounting screws.