Running Issues

[scotty71]

Hi,

was wondering if anyone had experienced their mini just cutting out whilst driving along - no bang or extreme mechanical failure, just engine cutting out. When trying to restart the car it just clicks and does not turn over. Tried to jump start it, bump start it, checked the fuses and earth straps. Am going to replace the negative earth from the battery tomorrow but don't think that will cure it.

If anyone has any ideas, would appreciate it.

[Tangent Police]

Battery earth strap for pretty much sure.

[scotty71]

Thanks for the post - will try it tomorrow.

[cambiker71]

Check the alternator, if it's not charging then the battery will be used to power everything including the ignition until it goes completely flat, the engine will then cut out as if you've switched the ignition off as there is no power to it.
Hope this helps.

[Tangent Police]

Interesting point.

I assumed that after a while it would have started again/intermittent fault.

I have recently had this problem with my Renault van.

Just cuts out and then after 3 minutes, goes again. Had it happen at a very busy roundabout as well

Alternator is a very real culprit if it's discharging the battery

[scotty71]

Changed the battery earth strap and tried jump starting it with leads but no luck. Going to see if there is an alternator problem.

[Pitstopralph]

You'd think, if it were the alternater the car would run attached to a slave battery!

What year is it? If it's injected I'd be looking at the big managment relay!

Edited by Pitstopralph on Saturday 15th May 23:33

[scotty71]

the car is based on a 1983 Mini Mayfair but is now running a 1275 Metro engine, really stumped as to what is wrong. Thought the battery might be really flat and was going to charge it to see if it would make any difference.

[cambiker71]

Pitstopralph said:

You'd think, if it were the alternater the car would run attached to a slave battery!

What year is it? If it's injected I'd be looking at the big managment relay!

Edited by Pitstopralph on Saturday 15th May 23:33

Often if the battery is really flat then a slave battery will not give enough power to turn the engine over as the flat battery will attempt to charge itself from the slave, jump starting from a running car will help as the alternator will charge the flat battery, if left connected and running for a couple of minutes it usually will then give enough to start even the flattest of batteries, then once it is running, check the charge rate on the car being jumped is between 13 and 14.5v

[scotty71]

Still no joy with this problem. Someone suggested that the engine has seized.

[DanGT]

Remove the starter motor and see if it turns over on it's own. If that ok put the car in gear and try to push (removing the spark plugs can make this easyer) and see if the engine will move. Also look at the end of the starte motor gear, no teath missing and moving free. Is your starter solinode ok. This is up to you but I test this by putting a scrow driver across the turminals (try this at you own risk). Good luke!

[cambiker71]

scotty71 said:

Still no joy with this problem. Someone suggested that the engine has seized.

Have you tried a replacement battery to see if the engine will turn on on the starter? Not the existing one that's been charged either, a different one entirely.
A worn out battery will show fully charged on most of these modern chargers with small gauges the worst have a series of LED lights rather than a gauge?