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As the topic title says I have some sort of a gremlin in my Mini!! Quite a strange problem.

The car cuts out as if it runs out of petrol. At first I thought that was the problem, but still had a half tank or so. I then thought maybe it's the petrol cap being non vented, but again not the problem.

I dropped the tank out and gave it a clean out in case there was any dirt in it and replaced the original fuel lines as they were looking a bit tatty. The fuel pump was a new SU one fitted during restoration.

The general consensus then was it must be an electrical fault, so plugs, points, condensor, rotor arm and plug leads were all changed. At first this seemed to cure the problem but after a days driving or so the problem returned and the Mini wouldn't start again. Checked compression and all perfect, sparks all strong, even changed the coil as I had an old one fitted previously.

Then as an experiment we decided to trial a different carb, so off came the 1.25" and on went a 1.5" - woo hoo - problem cured, but only for a couple of miles!!

I am totally bamboozled as to what the problem could be - anyone any ideas??

Are the dizzy bushes worn ? to check set the points and note which lobe you set the points on. Start it up and let it run for a while, now check the points again. But make sure it's on a different lobe, if there different chances are it's the bushes in the dizzy that are worn and allowing the shaft to move around.

Worn ignition switch is a common source for this type of problem.

Smiffy wrote:Are the dizzy bushes worn ? to check set the points and note which lobe you set the points on. Start it up and let it run for a while, now check the points again. But make sure it's on a different lobe, if there different chances are it's the bushes in the dizzy that are worn and allowing the shaft to move around.

I'll check this, but I should have said that I fitted a refurbished dizzy when I restored the Mini. Worth checking anyway - thanks.

Spider wrote:Worn ignition switch is a common source for this type of problem.

Thanks - will give this a check out.


Hopefully I can get to the bottom of this and get her running sweetly again.

just going back to fuel for a minute, next time it cuts out i would be removing the lid on the float chamber just to confirm it is still full of fuel.

Only take a minute or two and is worth confriming.

On the ignition switch when the ignition is switched on wiggle the key while watching the ignition light sometimes if there is a flicker on the ign light this may confirm there is a problem.

Usually when it is a ignition problem everything dies, everything that requires the ignition to be on at least.

Checked all the earthing points the bunch that screws to the r/h inner wing area and the engine earth

nick@dunsdale wrote:
next time it cuts out i would be removing the lid on the float chamber
just to confirm it is still full of fuel.

Much easier to just spray some brake cleaner down the filter intake.

If the car springs back to life (for a sek or 2) = fuel starvation.

If not = electrical problem.


Jens Christian

Cool - thanks guys. Gonna give all that advise a try tomorrow.

You say your fuel pump is new. Is it one of the solid state SU ones? If so when my pump packed up and I ordered one from Burlen they said they were on back order because they had been having problems with them failing.

check the we black wire in the braided sheath,in the distributor, had this problem before

JC T ONE wrote:

nick@dunsdale wrote:
next time it cuts out i would be removing the lid on the float chamber
just to confirm it is still full of fuel.

Much easier to just spray some brake cleaner down the filter intake.

If the car springs back to life (for a sek or 2) = fuel starvation.

If not = electrical problem.


Jens Christian

I'm glad you mentioned that, it's a method I use, mainly on lawnmower or strimmer engines, but sometimes on Minis, very effective & quick diagnosis

Did a thorough check over after I refitted the 1.25" carb - everything seems to be working ok funnily enough, but will keep an eye open over the next few days. The gremlin seems to like to give me a couple of days of no issues and then throw in a curve ball!!