4 replies to this topic

[kdogg]

hey,

H reg, mini 998cc with no engine mods but new plugs and leads. - im sure you will probably realise im a learner!
here goes -

when i turn the ignition, the car starts no problem - maybe a few seconds later the engine conks out - this can also happen when driving down the road some time after starting (when the engine is hot).

The worse scenario so far is the following: driving down the road, the engine dies. if i turn the ignition the engine will start again but may immediately stop after i release the key. - i understand how dangerous this is (keeping ignition turned)

somebody i spoke to thought it was an electrical problem - something to do with the primary ignition current being too weak so when the ignition is turned the larger current keeps the engine running.

this problem doest happen every time the engine is started, but probably once a day.

ive cleaned all the terminals on the coil and distributor. could the fault be with the battery itself??

any ideas will be much appreciated!

thankyou

[Dan]

For one thing current in the ignition system will be lower when cranking than other times, not higher.

Check that everything in the ignition system is tight, the baseplate of the dizzy and points being my first though. Check for cracks or arcing around the dizzy cap, wear in the dizzy spindle or the carbon brush in the cap. Also don't discount the fuel system over this without checking it. Intermittant faults can be very hard to track down.

[dklawson]

Like Dan, my thought is that you have an intermittent problem due to a loose connection. In particular, does your car have a ballasted ignition system? (Look for a pink wire going to one of the coil's low-tension terminals and a yellow/white one going to the other one).

If you have a ballasted ignition system and the car only wants to run while you operate the starter it sounds like you've got a fault in either the ignition switch itself or the pink wire going to coil (+).

[Boab]

Sounds as if the idle speed needs turned up, as it conks out when warm. What RPM does it sit at when started with the choke out, should be about 2-3k rpm, once the engine is warm and the choke is in, 800-1000 rpm

[jonny998]

I had a very similar problem that turned out to be a piece of old fuel hose next to the fuel pump that was allowing air to be sucked into the fuel. As i drove along all the fuel in the float chamber was used(on the side of the carb) and then the car would cut out, was also a pig to start after it happened. If your fuel hoses are original I would highly recommend changing them-my mini has never run better since i changed mine. For a few pounds its worth doing anyway for piece of mind.
Next time you drive perhaps take a screwdriver with you and if the car stops again try taking the float chamber top off(only 3 small screws) and see if there is fuel in there.There is a small needle valve in the lid that can stick.
Hope this may help