12 replies to this topic

[srbmini]

Hi all,

I have a 1968 Mini matic. Everything is completely original My problem is that whenever it rains and being in Melbourne during non-summer months that's pretty regularly....anyway, when it rains Lesley will hold out for a bit, depending on the ferocity of the rain and direction, before loosing power, coughing and gradually slowing to a halt and turning off. Once off he wont start for a while. I can prolong driving in the rain by keeping my distance from cars in front because i guess I avoid all the additional fine water particles that they throw up.
I'm not sure whether this is an inherent problem with all original Mini's or specific for my case. My guess is that the rain gets in under the distributor cap and messes with all the electronics, since the distributor sits at the front just behind the grill.
I have tried to engineer a solution but the best I can come up with was to put heat wrap around each leads connection to the distributor cap or to see if there was a membrane which would allow air but not water through, but haven't had much luck with suppliers yet.
So I guess I just wanted to see if anyone has a better idea and also to check whether my diagnosis is correct.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Edited by srbmini, 19 May 2009 - 07:09 AM.

[Git]

Hi mate... a few people on here put a rubber glove over the dizzy, just cut a little hole out of the fingers and tape/cable tie them around each wire.
Might also be an idea to invest in a splash guard.

[mini-obsessive]

On mine i replaced the standard points for an electronic ignition kit.. will cost around £70
This would stop your problems but if you are looking for a cheap alternative then as Git says, purchase a splash gaurd that fits onto your rocker cover and fits infront of your dizzy and leads. If you are going to do this then i would suggest that you also do the rubber glove aswell as the splash guard alone will not prevent the problem only prolong it

[lrostoke]

I've found that electronic ignition doesn't make a jot of difference to wet weather running.
You only have to lift the bonnet in the dark, when its wet to see the sparks flying from the HT leads to were ever they can.
Only solution thats worked is a splash guard infront of all the HT leads and Dizzy cap.

I'm a tight arse and just use a plastic bag tucked down below the dizzy and pulled up so the HT leads are covered.
It was raining so hard here yesterday I was aquaplaning in places, it missed a few beats, but soon cleared but nothing to major.

[Ethel]

Electronic ignition encloses the switching device so will help if water gets in the dizzy cap. It can also produce higher voltage, which could be a mixed bag, more energy if some is lost but also more to create leaks. It could be induction causing sparks.

An ignition shield can help but shouldn't be necessary if the plug leads are in good condition and the LT wiring is water proofed. Check the insulation for splits, use decent boots on the connectors and arrange the wiring so water will drain away from the connectors.

[newdawn1st]

On mine I have electronic ignition, with the HT leads I had on previous it never had wet weather issues (surprised me for a mini) but changed them recently to proper mini ones (as the ht leads in use were clearly for use in a modern car as you could easily reach over the block and touch the manifold with them, yes that long! ) along with new rotor arm and dizzy cap (needed it as they were worn). Anyhow, once changed my mini ran smoother until it came to wet weather seems the boots onto the dizzy cap didn't reach down as far as my old ones so water was creeping in, bit of wd40 and a latex glove over the cap and ta da, fixed

[maryquant]

Havent tried it yet, but there is a product called Ignition Sealer, comes in a spray can and as far as I can tell puts a very fine siliconey layer over everything to help waterproof it. Might be an idea.

The impression that I get is that you should do everything listed above, and still expect your mini not to like the rain!

[sazal]

Like Git says, I have a Marigold (washing up glove!) over mine. It works a treat and my Mini never gets affected by the rain.

All you need is a washing up glove, 5 small cable ties and one large one Cut the end of the fingers off, then feed each lead through the glove and then seal them all with the cable ties

Is the Melbourne you're from the one near Derby?!

Edited by sazal, 19 May 2009 - 03:52 PM.

[Aaron_Gardner]

Had a weather shield that broke, replaced it with a marigold glove works a treat.

[srbmini]

It's the one in Australia,

thanks for the advice

[jayjay31]

I’m having this problem with my recent mini I purchased reining hard and after 10 mins of driving experienced the above , I give it a go

[jayjay31]

I’m having this problem with my recent mini I purchased reining hard and after 10 mins of driving experienced the above , I give it a go

[Spider]

Being a 1968 model, it's on the change over between distributor types, neither was good in the wet, but one was worse than the other.

 

Can you post a photo of your distributor?