problems with engine starting...
Discussion
Hi,
Over the last few days I've been experiencing problems starting the mini from cold. the battery is brand new, and it turns over the engine ok, but the more you try to turn it over and it doesn't start, it drains the battery.
mentioned it to my dad and he thinks the starter motor might be the problem.
anyone else got any ideas what it could be?
all the best
Over the last few days I've been experiencing problems starting the mini from cold. the battery is brand new, and it turns over the engine ok, but the more you try to turn it over and it doesn't start, it drains the battery.
mentioned it to my dad and he thinks the starter motor might be the problem.
anyone else got any ideas what it could be?
all the best
What age is your mini, and does it live outside?
If it's an older car with carb(s), it will be harder to start when cold. Are you using the choke at all, and if so does it have any affect?
If it's a newer injection engine, then it should be capable of starting pretty much regardless, assuming all is well elsewhere.
If it's an older car with carb(s), it will be harder to start when cold. Are you using the choke at all, and if so does it have any affect?
If it's a newer injection engine, then it should be capable of starting pretty much regardless, assuming all is well elsewhere.
I shouldnt have thought it would be your starter motor because u say it is turning over ok, does it stammer, hesitate or slow down whilst tring to fire , these could be symptoms of a poorly starter.
Check if you have fuel to the carb (presuming it is a early carb model). check your plugs and leads which should be changed regardless for piece of mind if nothing else. also remove your dizzy cap n check for moisture and clean out with a bit of WD40 and clean the carbon up with a small piece of emery cloth and clean out again. check air filters and all the little pipes which come from the carb are connected properly. hope this helps good luck. ..neale..p.s happy new year to all you piston heads.
Check if you have fuel to the carb (presuming it is a early carb model). check your plugs and leads which should be changed regardless for piece of mind if nothing else. also remove your dizzy cap n check for moisture and clean out with a bit of WD40 and clean the carbon up with a small piece of emery cloth and clean out again. check air filters and all the little pipes which come from the carb are connected properly. hope this helps good luck. ..neale..p.s happy new year to all you piston heads.
Have you checked out the engine earth strap ?? Helpfully its mounted across the engine stabiliser bar, so when the rubbers in the stabiliser bar wear and the engine starts to move about the connection becomes intermittent........
I've had similar experiences with a car which would crank and crank all day long but not fire, until I replaced the engine earth strap !! While you're there, check the battery earth strap as well as the strands of copper can break when you move it out of the way when pulling batteries in and out.
Hope this helps.
Phil.
I've had similar experiences with a car which would crank and crank all day long but not fire, until I replaced the engine earth strap !! While you're there, check the battery earth strap as well as the strands of copper can break when you move it out of the way when pulling batteries in and out.
Hope this helps.
Phil.
Have you checked all the usual factors?
Does it have a spark?
Is the static timing correct?
Is the fuel getting through to the carb(s)?
Is the float chamber filling correctly?
Is the points gap 0.015" and are the points faces clean and smooth?
Does the carb dashpot have nice thin oil in it (3-in-one is ideal in this weather)?
Does the carb piston lift easily?
Are the plugs gapped to 0.025" and clean?
A more silly question, are the plug leads on the correct plugs?
Then, if it's been outside (or maybe even inside but not started for a while) it could be that it's got what used to be called a 'cold soak'. If it has, buy a tin of Bradex 'Easy-Start' and squirt a bit of that in the air intake.
In fact my Cooper 'S' would not start yesterday, despite living in a garage all the time, even with a fully-charged battery and even though I know all the settings are correct. Eventually we connected it up to the battery of my Rover rally car, which has a damn great battery, ran the Rover engine at 2000 rpm, warmed under the Cooper's sump with a fan heater for 1/2 an hour, then cranked it and cranked it and eventually it fired up fine with 80 psi oil pressure. Took it for a run around the lanes for an hour and it's great agsin. I never tire of driving the 'S' after almost 48 years of Mini motoring - it's a bloody addiction!
Happy New Year to all on here.
Peter
Does it have a spark?
Is the static timing correct?
Is the fuel getting through to the carb(s)?
Is the float chamber filling correctly?
Is the points gap 0.015" and are the points faces clean and smooth?
Does the carb dashpot have nice thin oil in it (3-in-one is ideal in this weather)?
Does the carb piston lift easily?
Are the plugs gapped to 0.025" and clean?
A more silly question, are the plug leads on the correct plugs?
Then, if it's been outside (or maybe even inside but not started for a while) it could be that it's got what used to be called a 'cold soak'. If it has, buy a tin of Bradex 'Easy-Start' and squirt a bit of that in the air intake.
In fact my Cooper 'S' would not start yesterday, despite living in a garage all the time, even with a fully-charged battery and even though I know all the settings are correct. Eventually we connected it up to the battery of my Rover rally car, which has a damn great battery, ran the Rover engine at 2000 rpm, warmed under the Cooper's sump with a fan heater for 1/2 an hour, then cranked it and cranked it and eventually it fired up fine with 80 psi oil pressure. Took it for a run around the lanes for an hour and it's great agsin. I never tire of driving the 'S' after almost 48 years of Mini motoring - it's a bloody addiction!
Happy New Year to all on here.
Peter
I had the same last week with the thou, checked points,plugs,connections, leads, carb etc. All fine.changed the coil and bingo fired fist time.
I have just fitted a brand new one to replace the temp spare from the shed and the old gugger goes better that it has done for a while, so I recon the old coil was failing.
I have just fitted a brand new one to replace the temp spare from the shed and the old gugger goes better that it has done for a while, so I recon the old coil was failing.
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