Hello,

Have a bit of a problem and I'm hoping some of you can give me some ideas of what to look at when I work on her tomorrow (MINI 1000). Car has been running great, I ran it around all day yesterday city/highway/back roads and then stopped by a friends house for dinner. Came back out a couple of hours later and car would not start, all the electrics dead. Car has never had this issue. I at first hear a little electrical charge from the starter (sounded like squirrels) then everything dead. No lights, heater, etc. Got out the booster plugged it in and still did not seem to get any electrics. The battery is fully charged so it seems that something is disconnected and I don't know where to start. Rear battery cables seem fine but i'm not sure where exactly they run into under the bonnet.

I did the old push start and she fired instantly and ran no problem going home, lights, heater and all. Any advice on what to do is appreciated.

cheers

Amit

 

Sounds like battery cable issue. Check for corrosion either at battery end (Pos post or neg at post AND connection at frame), or at the bonnet end (pos lug on solenoid). If like my '80, the solenoid is mounted on the right inner wheel well. You should only have the pos cable running from batt to engine. The neg connection depends on the frame. Poor connection(s) at any of the above places will cause what you describe.

 

the engine block ground on mine lies along side the upper engine stabilizer on the 'left' ..( left as I lean into th engine compartment on my rhd car...or what we sailors would call starboard to eliminate confusion) Check both ends of the stabilizer once you verify that there is a grounding strap there. Ensure both bolts r tight and the connections clean.

 

Thanks guys.

I remember when i first picked up the car the engine ground was hanging on for dear life. I'll check to see if the guys at the shop secured it properly tomorrow and report back.

cheers

Amit

 

ditto on the ground issue.......check there first.......good luck......gotta love LUCAS

 

I also think it is the ground strap...check your fuses too

 

Battery terminals, ground strap, then clean connectors on starter solenoid, and finally pull the wires off the fuse box & clean the terminals there.

 

ok, i charged the booster hooked it up for 20 mins. No lights/start/etc. I should get some lights at least with the booster hooked up even if the battery is finished right? So I thought i'd try to push start it again, couldn't get it going as I didn't have someone to push. Did a push myself, quickly jump in, and pop the clutch. Tried this twice but unfortunately couldn't get the car moving quickly enough for it to work. I can tell it's going to fire again no problem. However after attempting this twice the lights came on! Tried starting it since the lights were on and it did the quick squirrel attempt and everything died again. I'm thinking that with the attempted push starts it spun the alternator just enough to push a small charge through the electrical system. So does it still sound like the battery or some crapped cable/connection? Where does the battery's main cable run to under the bonnet? Straight to the alternator or to something else first? Also I just remembered yesterday the heater would konk out on occasion when I would start. I'd shut the car off, pop the bonnet, and just push the fuses. Restart the car and heater works.

I'm going to start checking all your recommendations tomorrow.

cheers



Amit

 

This is exactly what was giving me serious buyers remorse when I first got mine. One time I'd get in it would fire right up. I could stop for gas and it might crank or not. Then I bump it or jump it, head home, shut it down and try and lo, it would fire right up.

A loose bolt on the grounding strap....sometimes the strap would lay in a way that gave enuf contact...and sometimes not....engine vibration would make it move around. Finding and tightening the bolt and all was well 4 ever more. For THAT gremlin anyway.

Later I also replaced the fuse box - easy and not expensive - and all the fuses - corroded ends - then I cut all the connectors off the wires that connected there and crimped on new ones. Another round of problems solved.

 

The battery cable connects to the starter solenoid on the right side of the engine compartment. (my clean the soleniod connections comment) Power lines then run from there to the alternator, starter and fuse box.

 

Just wanted to let you all know finally figured it out. Battery was fine so I cleaned up the connections on the battery terminal, solenoid and fuses and she started right up. The main culprit was the positive battery cable. Thanks for all the help. I love the internet, saved me a tow and another shop bill...lol

cheers

Amit