40 replies to this topic

[Mr.Loove]

Hi,

My Mini is a ´96 1.3 SPi.

The problem is that it doesn´t idle. At first the idle is very very low, and after 30 seconds or so the engine dies. This is worse when the engine is cold, but it doesn´t work too well while hot either.

From cold, the engine starts just fine, and it´s running fine too.

How can I adjust idle?

What could cause the problem?

[Jackman]

It could be a temprature sensor... i dont know SPi's tho. Also you cant ajust the idle on a SPi i dont think.

[Sprocket]

You do not adjust the idle unless you have a diagnostic computer to test the idle air and stepper are tuned correctly. This cannot be done with out it. However the ECU will try and maintain an idle of 850rpm once it has been tuned. If the idle screw has been adjusted without the diagnostic, the system will be out of tune and the stepper will be in the wrong possition and the ECU can get lost, wich may lead to eratic idle. But before you go find a garage with the diagnostic tools try the following

When was the oxygen sensor last changed. If it has been some time or never then change it. Check all the vacuum pipes for splits and security. The thin black ones particularly the two that come off the back of the inlet manifold very close to the bulkhead. The elbows on these are notorious for splitting.

Check that the throttle cable is indexed properly. With the engine off but the ignition on, move the throttle cam to full throttle( do not use the pedal to do this) If you watch the stepper motor you will see it move into possition, release the throttle and check what is called the lost motion link, that it is adjusted correctly. There should be equal spacing between the prongs of this, adjust the throttle cable to correct if required. Turn off the ignition.

Check or change the above before going deeper into the problem

When ever the ignition is turned off the stepper should motor to a predetermined number of steps so the throttle is at a possition to alow the engine to start from cold, you can hear a clicking noise in the engine bay when the igniton is turned off, this is the stepper setting itself for the next time the engine is started. Once the engine is started the stepper reduces the steps as the engine warms up. Once at temperature the stepper will try and achieve 850 RPM. If there is a fault in the system the stepper may fluctuate tracking the idle to 850rpm. The stepper motor can also be faulty. There are four coils within the stepper motor and if one is not working, erratic idle could be a symptom.

The only other thing to considder, particularly if the engine has a flat spot, bucks violently as the accelerator is depressed when cold, is the PTC heater in the bottom of the manifold. Mine was duff and ended up replacing the whole injection manifold system as you can't get the parts seperate.( same goes for the stepper and injector)

If you need pictures or any other information let me know. See how you get on with the items at the top.

[clubman katie B.F]

get your self a carb lol

[Sprocket]

get your self a carb lol

I'd rather stick with the injection system, Its a far better fueling system; when it works . It gets a bad name because people don't know how it works and what the funny electric bits are for. Also you give people advice and ignore it then complain about injection being a bag of poo

[clubman katie B.F]

notice the lol at the end of my post....i was jokin

[funkygibbon]

i've got to say, after all the trouble i had with mine i'm glad i changed it all back to the carb set up...

Sorry mini sprocket, i was grateful for all the help you gave at the time, but what a nightmare...

[AlexM]

A mappable ECU is the way to go, you get the ability to tune the car (by computer) as well as keeping the injection system. :wink:

Or you could even go the whole way and get one of those replacement Mini Speed kits If only I had the money!

[Mr.Loove]

Thanks Mini Sprocket! (and u all)

I´ll go and check those.

I´ll let you know how badly I manage to break those parts

[Sprocket]

notice the lol at the end of my post....i was jokin

I know, its cool

[Sprocket]

i've got to say, after all the trouble i had with mine i'm glad i changed it all back to the carb set up...

Sorry mini sprocket, i was grateful for all the help you gave at the time, but what a nightmare...

No worries dude :cool: . The bloke I got the injection manifold off removed the injection manifold and fitted twin carbs, he retained the ecu for the alarm/ imobiliser and the ignition. This was because the engine was heavily tuned to the point where the injector ran out of squirt and melted the pistons :saywhat: . The twin point system was a quick fix that did nothing to improove the system over all, so the engine could pass emissions standards. ( i believe none of the mighty minis use the twin point system because its worse than the single point system))So fitting carbs does happen and it works, as you well know. :cheese:

Very interesting bloke he was too. To try and overcome the lack of squirt, he modified a standard manifold to take two SPI throttles/ injectors and linkaged them together, the only problem was the MEMS ECU could not carry the extra juice of the extra injector and he scrapped the idea. The guy hadn't heard of the Megasquirt system, so pointed him in the right direction. Expect a twin single point injection system showing its face in the mags in the near future He worked for the then Rover and has a garage full of gear No surprise.

[ruby mini]

I have the same problem, my SPI has been in Rover dealership for the last 10 days. It has been on the diagnostic machine but they are still at a loss and are running out of ideas. The computer does not show any faults.

[funkygibbon]

Gggggrrrrrrrrrr Rover dealer!!!! 10 day's, how much are they gunna rush you for that?

[ruby mini]

Not sure how much Rover are charging, but they have tried lots of different parts only charging if the new part works.

[funkygibbon]

Now that's exactly why i took mine off, you are in their hands when it all goes wrong and at the end of the day they have even less of idea than you do about it.. and they charge about £75 an hour!

I couldn't even find a mini specialist that really understood them?