14 replies to this topic

[j0-rdan]

Once again I have gone out to start the mini and the battery has gone flat before the engine started.
Its a new battery so no problems there, the starter motor just continuously wurrs round and round.
Checked all the sparks and they are fine and the car runs fine once started.
Also I know the engine is probably flooding due to such a drawn out start but there has to be something thats causing this?
I am aware I need some rolling road time, but will this really potentially solve this problem or should I be looking elsewhere?

[amarcd]

Once again I have gone out to start the mini and the battery has gone flat before the engine started.
Its a new battery so no problems there, the starter motor just continuously wurrs round and round.
Checked all the sparks and they are fine and the car runs fine once started.
Also I know the engine is probably flooding due to such a drawn out start but there has to be something thats causing this?
I am aware I need some rolling road time, but will this really potentially solve this problem or should I be looking elsewhere?

Is the choke working correctly?

[Big_Adam]

You say the starter just whirls slowly?

You tried taking the starter off and checking it in a vice that it moves nice and freely?

[j0-rdan]

You say the starter just whirls slowly?

You tried taking the starter off and checking it in a vice that it moves nice and freely?

Choke is working fine and the the starter motor seems ok too. I don't understand how once I eventually get it started it will go the whole day without a problem, even if parked for several hours it will start first time.
If anyone can help I would really love you forever as this is getting me depressed

[finch661]

does the starter crank the engine? occasionally my starter just whirrs (doesnt spin the engine), hence doesnt actually start?
does jump starting it help? if so possibly a battery/earth issue
spray some quick start or starting gas in the filter and see if that makes a difference?

double check that the jet is being pulled down when the choke is pulled. i spent ages stripping down my electrics and carb, only to find that the connecting lever wasnt working....sigh

Edited by finch661, 29 October 2010 - 09:04 AM.

[mkmini81]

I had the same problem. have you checked all the earth straps on the engine and boot? i replaced mine and has been fine since.

[miniman retford]

Does the battery really go flat, do the headlights & dash light up ? i had a similar problem last year just at the start of the cold weather as once started with a jump pack it was fine the rest of the day until the next morning. Turned out to be an earth fault, although i cleaned up the strap to the boot floor & checked the engine earth didnt make any difference so i fitted another small earth lead from one of the thermostat housing bolts to the inner wing & it's been fine ever since.

Edited by miniman retford, 29 October 2010 - 10:39 AM.

[andrew1986mini]

i had this problem when i had my first mini is it when the wealther is really colded as in freezing

because when the weather was like this for me the mini would not start and all it was, the previous owner had not mixed anti freeze in his rad water so that it froze the water and the engine would not start because it was so cold that that it was really hard for the engine to turn over could be something to look at i was really surprised when it worked with mine

[j0-rdan]

Ok thanks guys, I will have a look at the earthing and let you know, in the meantime any other suggestions would be great.

[j0-rdan]

Ok so I have been checking all the electrics and when I tried the jump starting trick it did start the car up, I think that perhaps it is a problem with the petrol getting to the engine? Maybe the fuel pump is slowly failing. Does this seem likely/possible?
Thanks

[Cerberus]

Ok so I have been checking all the electrics and when I tried the jump starting trick it did start the car up, I think that perhaps it is a problem with the petrol getting to the engine? Maybe the fuel pump is slowly failing. Does this seem likely/possible?
Thanks

Surely if that was the case, jump starting it would make no difference to the problem, as your not using the fuel pump from the other car, just the power of the battery.


You can check the fuel pump by taking the fuel pipe off at the carb, putting it into a jug/container and then cranking the engine, preferably with the coil disconnected so the engine doesn't start.

[finch661]

if the jump starter worked, it suggests that your battery is suspect! If it was an earthing problem, then the car would still struggle with starting (slow starter), this all depends of where you attached the jump starter neg lead (body or battery terminal). It was a fuel issue, then the car might not start at all. check your float chamber for fuel (though usually the float chamber remains full for a few days!

start to narrow it down = look for the two main things, FUEL and SPARK

First check that there is fuel in your tank, and in the float chamber, also make sure that the choke jet is being pulled down
second check you're getting a spark. take the HT lead coming out the the coil and place it on the block. crank the engine and look for a spark. if there is a spark, replace the lead and repeat the test for the 4 HT leads. if there is no spark, then check that your getting 12V to the coil!

If you have fuel and a spark, crank the engine. if the starter spins and doesnt fire, take one of the spark plugs out and see if its wet/has fuel on it (you'll determine if there is fuel getting in)

if the starter turns very slowly, charge the battery up and try again. if it still happens after a charged battery, suspect bad earths.....

[j0-rdan]

if the jump starter worked, it suggests that your battery is suspect! If it was an earthing problem, then the car would still struggle with starting (slow starter), this all depends of where you attached the jump starter neg lead (body or battery terminal). It was a fuel issue, then the car might not start at all. check your float chamber for fuel (though usually the float chamber remains full for a few days!

start to narrow it down = look for the two main things, FUEL and SPARK

First check that there is fuel in your tank, and in the float chamber, also make sure that the choke jet is being pulled down
second check you're getting a spark. take the HT lead coming out the the coil and place it on the block. crank the engine and look for a spark. if there is a spark, replace the lead and repeat the test for the 4 HT leads. if there is no spark, then check that your getting 12V to the coil!

If you have fuel and a spark, crank the engine. if the starter spins and doesnt fire, take one of the spark plugs out and see if its wet/has fuel on it (you'll determine if there is fuel getting in)

if the starter turns very slowly, charge the battery up and try again. if it still happens after a charged battery, suspect bad earths.....

I was thinking that if it was an electrical problem and maybe connected to fuel, then as the fuel pump is electric maybe that was whats wrong? Choke is working fine, sparks at every plug and the plugs do seem wet, also battery has alot of energy before running out.
Maybe I should check the electrics on the fuel pump? It does seem to be better if I really pump the accelerator before trying to start the car..
Thanks for the responses
Jordan

[finch661]

as mentioned above, take the fuel pipe off the carb and put it in a container. turn on the ignition (dont know how your pump has been wired - one ignit pos 1 or 2...) and see if you get a flow of fuel. if not then your pump is knacked. its interesting that it starts when you jump start it though, suggesting its not a fuel issue. have you had your timing checked?

[69Cooper]

I have been suffering similar problems with mine not starting when cold and now I think I've finally resolved it.

First of all I don't use my Mini very often and up until recently it had been stored in my in-laws garage and evry time I would visit I would try and start it, I quite often struggled but put it down to not much use.

When I brought it home this summer I got it a brand new heavy duty battery (can't remember what one off the top of my head, it was recommended on here of the Mini Cooper Forum) this seemed to work ok. But for a long time it has always been slow to turn over, I put this down to it been a 1380 with high compression (think I got it wrong).

Anyway recently it completely died, would even turn over, just clicked so I went a bought a new starter soliniod from Mini Spares and I was hopeful that this would resolve my problem, because if you look at the mini spares description of the part it does mention slow turning over.

Now it turns over fine and even started on a couple of the very cold mornings we had recently, the part itself only casts £7-£8 so it might be well worth a try.

It seems to have resolved my problems, hope that helps