9 replies to this topic

[Andrew_P]

Merry christmas everyone, here is my problem, bear with me as I have no mechanical knowledge at all, I just love min's!

I was driving to pick up my girlfriends mini when I put my foot down it seemed sluggish and non responsive, was similar in other gears but only really noticeable at higher revs, and also seemed to use more fuel than usual. So when I got to my mechanics I explained the problem and he filled the dash pot with oil and closed the gap of the points because he said they were too wide, and mentioned a possible problem with the fuel pump. When I got home and drove it today it was 10 times worse, hardly any power, and very sluggish, used tonnes of fuel and the engine didn't warm up. Could the points of been closed too much or is this another problem?
I have a 1275cc carb mini if that helps!
Thanks for your help in advance!
Andrew

[taffy1967]

Well if the electrics haven't been replaced for some time, then I'd consider fitting new spark plugs, ht leads, dizzy cap, rotor arm, contact breaker points and condenser.

NGK Spark Plugs are the best in my opinion.

Well that's what I'd do first anyway, but I'm sure someone else will be able to confirm whether you need a new fuel pump?

[lrostoke]

When he did the points did he recheck the timing..
Messing with the points will alter the timing

[il-barba]

try to check that the float chamber is not overflowing and pouring petrol out

[Andrew_P]

Thanks for your advice, I don't think he did check the timing, should I increase the gap of the points a bit?If so is it easy to do?Also how would I check to see if the float chamber was overflowing?Like I said I'm pretty useless!

[Purple Tom]

Daft thing, but check to make sure that nothing is blocking your air filter, and also that the air filter is clean and not full of dust etc...

[dklawson]

All of the above is good advice. Don't be overwhelmed by it though.

You said you're not a mechanically inclined person so I don't know how to advise you. However, I think I'd start with the things Taffy and Tom suggested, replace those tune-up parts. HOWEVER, replace them one at a time and try your test drive again, do not change everything at once. You want to change things one at a time so you know which change helped or hurt the situation. Also, when changing the cap, rotor, and spark plug wires... do those one position at a time ( i.e. mark the plug wires for which position they were on the dizzy cap (and which plug they go to), then photograph them, and change the wires out one at a time so you don't get them out of order).

Hopefully once you've fit those new components the engine will run better. If not, fit new points and a new condenser. From memory... I believe most Lucas dizzys use a points gap of 0.015" (however, be sure to check that this is correct for your car/distributor). Again, make changes one at a time. Don't shotgun this by doing everything at once.

[Andrew_P]

Thanks for all the help guys, I'll order some stuff and spend some time in the garage!

[HARBER07]

Take the dipstick out and see if it smells of fuel. As you said it had been using a lot of fuel, it may be that the fuel pump has given up, leaking fuel into the sump - which is far from good.

[taffy1967]

Apart from the obligatory Mini haynes manual, I'd also recommend you get hold of a copy of this book, because it taught me loads and is clearly written with loads of clear illustrations: -



The prices have gone silly on what's left on Amazon: -

http://www.amazon.co...2065884-7642319

But you should be able to pick one up cheap on e-Bay.

For instance: -

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...y...:1|240:1318

Or also a buy it now price: -

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...A...:1|240:1318

Edited by taffy1967, 27 December 2008 - 09:25 PM.