5 replies to this topic

[LukeMoss]

I have a 1992 mini Cooper 1.3i and I'm having a few problems at the minute. Its only firing on pistons 3 and 4 but not on 1 and 2, I've checked the leads, spark plugs, etc but nothing seems to be wrong so I have no idea what is wrong with it? Has anyone had anything like this happen to them and if they did have you or anyone know how to solve the problem, any help would be great thanks

[tpotterror]

I have a 1992 mini Cooper 1.3i and I'm having a few problems at the minute. Its only firing on pistons 3 and 4 but not on 1 and 2, I've checked the leads, spark plugs, etc but nothing seems to be wrong so I have no idea what is wrong with it? Has anyone had anything like this happen to them and if they did have you or anyone know how to solve the problem, any help would be great thanks

check the plug to the injector for 1 and 2, mine broke took ages to find out what was wrong

[orcadian]

We need a bit more info really - did the fault develop or was it with a newly acquired car?

If the car IS a 92 then it is SPI and doesn't have separate injectors for pairs of cylinders, so you need to look elsewhere than a broken connector plug. When you say you checked the leads and plugs - was that visual or an electrical test? My own way forward would be to put your two firing plugs in the non-firing cylinders (and vice-versa) and see if the problem stays where it is or moves with the plugs. It is not unknown for plugs to work on test with a plug lead outside the cylinder, but not work under pressure.
Has anyone swapped two leads over? (Firing order 1342 anticlockwise, number one nearest thermostat housing)
Have you checked compressions?
Did this fault suddenly appear on BOTH pots together or one at a time?
As it is SPI(unless someone has fitted an MPI engine - not impossible but highly unlikely) then the distributor cap needs checking and also check for a slightly bent dizzy shaft causing two lobes to open the points and two not opening. If the gap has closed a bit then this can cause 2 pots to go off.

Let us know what you find

[LukeMoss]

Sorry about the massive delay in replying been rather busy with the mini amongst other things, it was a newly acquired car :/ everything had been a visual test apart from the HT leads which I replaced at the time, I did try swapping the leads in order 1342 but it didn't make any difference in the slightest, I couldn't find anything wrong with the dizzy or anything so I decided to strip it down seen as I had it stripped I thought I would replace the head gasket amongst other frayed electrical wiring broken connectors I readjusted the valve clearances etc and then started it up and it WORKED I must say I was glad after a long time not knowing I've done something right which is always nice to know

Thanks for all your help you helped me eliminate potential problems,the help is much appreciated.

[orcadian]

Hello again,
Good to hear that it's back on 4 pots - was the gasket burnt between the non firing cylinders or did something else fix it?

[LukeMoss]

That is what's the strange thing the gasket wasn't burnt at all :/ it may of just needed a couple of wires mending, tappets readjusting shame I don't know what the actual problem was