Griff stalling

[SteveGriff]

Hi Guys,
My griffith has started to have problems ticking over only when the engine is warm. It regularly struggles to keep a steady tickover, often hunting around 400rpm before stalling.
I have looked in the book and reference is made to a sticking stepper motor, but I cannot locate it. I would like to know if I am heading in the right direction and where is the stepper motor?

When I get more time I am going to look at the electrics. The car has various electrical faults. The cigarette lighter, cd auto changer, and main beam don't work. Yesterday the windscreen wipers stopped working (intermittent and full) for about 25mins before starting up again. I suspect some bad connections somewhere or maybe bad earthing.

Thanks.

[5.0ltr]

On the wiper issue, mine had a similar fault that was just a loose wiper relay on fuse board.

[roseytvr]

Steve
The stepper motor is at the left rear of the plenum and has a big plastic black nut. Treat it with care as they can easily break but I would give that a clean first. Clean your dear thing points particularly the front chassis and two engine earths. Maybe worth checking the 100amp fuse as well. Good luck

[GlynMo]

Will my new Griff have dear things?!

[PeteGriff]

SteveGriff said:

Hi Guys,
My griffith has started to have problems ticking over only when the engine is warm. It regularly struggles to keep a steady tickover, often hunting around 400rpm before stalling.
I have looked in the book and reference is made to a sticking stepper motor, but I cannot locate it. I would like to know if I am heading in the right direction and where is the stepper motor?

When I get more time I am going to look at the electrics. The car has various electrical faults. The cigarette lighter, cd auto changer, and main beam don't work. Yesterday the windscreen wipers stopped working (intermittent and full) for about 25mins before starting up again. I suspect some bad connections somewhere or maybe bad earthing.

Thanks.

Hi StevGriff, the stepper motor is at the back of the plenum, see pic below , just press the clip and pull connector off, extract with large adjustable spanner, it's 32mm AF if I remember correctly, carefully clean all gunge from it and inside the hole (Steve Heath book very good for instructions). Rgds, Pete:

[Hedgehopper]

Pic. of the stepper motor. Make sure you clean the seat as well as the motor. On reassembly do not overtighten or you will crack the threaded end off (although you can successfully superglue them back together). I ditched the gasket and used an O-ring done up finger tight.

[QBee]

I'd have a dig around the fuse board and relays. IIRC, there is a relay for main beam, and fuses too. Your car handbook has a diagram I think. And check the earths.

[SteveGriff]

Thanks for the info guys, plenty for me to work on.
On the subject of the main beam, the bulbs are ok and the main beam indicator lights up on the dashboard so I am thinking its a bad connection between the relay and lights.

The dipped beam works but I will look into upgrading this somehow, its not exactly bright. I notice that plenty of websites have "upgrades" for the Griffith lighting arrangement.

Thanks again,
Steve.

[gavgavgav]

A couple of quick things to help rule out the easy stuff;

Just unplug the stepper motor and see if it hunts about when it is unplugged. May have to warm up engine to get it going (I never seem to have to) then unplug it when revs are at normal level.

When it warms up, are the fans kicking in and then the idle lowers? If so try using a jump lead and connect the -ve battery terminal to somewhere on the engine block. This will rule out the earthing issues.

Have a listen to the fuel pump (nearside rear wheel), does it run continuously during the fluttering of the idle?

[jimed]

Re the wiper issue - if you were out in the rain at the time it is possible that you may have got some damp in the park switch. That can cause all sorts of problems for the wiper as it carries all the electrical motor connections. It is located under the wiper motor; to remove it undo the wiper motor clamp and you will then be able to rotate the motor upwards thus allowing you to slide the park switch up and off the motor. Note the connections and then clean the switch (you can't get inside it though) externally and blow it dry with either an air line or a hair dryer (that worked well for mine). Refit is the reverse of removal and good idea to give the connections a blast with some spray grease or something similar once fitted and fully connected to try and seal the electrics.
If the park switch is faulty you can get a replacement from fleabay - search for wiper park switch and there should be plenty to buy - some copies and some original Lucas ones (probably the best ones to get if price is OK is the Lucas) - the switch was used on some land Rovers as well as some minis I think.
Jim

[EGB]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Mine did this when slowing down for lights and round abouts. Cured with my mod. See EGB. Still good. However try to cure with adjusting the plenum air bleed valve first. See second photo for it's position.

Edited by EGB on Monday 18th March 12:30

[QBee]

On the other hand, if it suddenly starts stalling at junctions and the battery seems low on juice, suspect the 100 amp fuse.