25 replies to this topic

[robminibcy]

id replace ht leads, new dizzy cap and rotor arm and if its not already convert to electric ignition. And maybe fit a weather shield. My mini doesnt have a weather shield and has never had an issue with wet weather and has even forded floods more modern cars in front of me turned back on!

Edited by robminibcy, 24 August 2015 - 12:39 AM.

[CityEPete]

I wish I had a pound for every thread that involved a mini having trouble in the wet that didn't have a splash guard fitted!


Fit the cover and an electronic ignition kit, I've never needed to cover my engine in sealants and gunk.

[peter-b]

It wouldn't matter whether you have electronic ignition or not. You can have lightning bolts coming out of the coil but if it doesn't get to plugs then its useless. It's one of my pet hates, people that say that mini's are no good in the rain. If as Spider said, you have good leads and plugs, clean cap and rotor in good condition, it'll almost run under water. I've had a dozen Mimi's over many years and only once have I had one stop in the rain and it was because of burnt coil. Throw the rubber glove to the sh**house as it just adds to the problem, check and clean the ignition cap, leads etc and a light spray of silicon spray, don't drown it. Then while you're out test driving it, knock off one of those corflute realestate signs and make up a shield as in the picture. It'll help stop the dirt and crud getting on your nice clean ignition. Oh and it'll give the bludging real estate bloke something to do.

[Mini Manannán]

When you put some decent leads get some decent plug caps such as these: http://www.gsparkplu...-pro5m-red.html  These caps are the best in my opinion, I have been using them for 20+years, they are the only caps I will consider.

[cal844]

I took my car through a ford last year, i have a factory electronic dizzy, with no cover of any sort, drove out the other side and home without issues

[whistler]

The Mini is not basically bad in the wet. In fact think of all the rallies the cars have done in streaming wet weather, through deep fords and on flooded lanes.

The best way to seal it is to buy a tube or can of silicone grease. I use the grease they use to grease the control cables on light aircraft as it is totally non-conductive.

Liberally plaster it all over the dizzy cap, the coil connections and the plug leads. Then spray with aerosol ignition sealer and allow it to dry. It will then not fail in the wettest of weather.

I agree, but don't forget we always had a sumpguard fitted and often front facing mudflaps for fords. Sumpguards are good for aquaplaning through fords. If you take a look at my mini of the 60's you'll see a small square alloy plate screwed to the inside of the front panel. Just underneath the plate you'll see the oil cooler. This was my effort to combat drowning, which worked in conjunction with the rubber glove with cut fingers over the dizzy (fingers taped around the HT leads.

 

Just remembered a product we used to spray on the electrics back then. It was called Damp Start. Still available by the look of it.

http://www.eurocarpa...74481&0&cc5_858

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Edited by whistler, 23 August 2015 - 06:51 PM.

[peter-b]

heres an example of good waterproofing.

 

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[KernowCooper]

All classic car owners fit plugs,points but don't give the leads a second thought, you should see the difference on old v new on a scope

[finch661]

Mine was terrible in the rain too - had several break downs and that is with  electronic ignitghion

 

get a tin of this http://www.amazon.co...t/dp/B003IPNBP0 damp start - spray on the leads, dizzy coil, - creates a water tight seal

 

hence how i could do this

 

Edited by finch661, 24 August 2015 - 07:12 AM.

[pusb]

The rain thing really seems to vary from Mini to Mini!

 

I've never had a problem with the rain, even before I converted to electronic ignition. When I bought mine it come with a weather shield fitted, however I found this just made it run a bit warm on hot days. Now I just leave it off all the time, and its still fine in the rain.

[Cooperman]

I've never fitted the factory fit weather shield and have never had a problem.

Good leads & plugs and silicone grease followed by ignition sealer spray works 100%.