hey folks, hope someone can give me a quick easy answer to this one, started my poor wee car yesterday to turn it round and put it over the pit while I put brake regulating valve back on. go to start it again and no go.Thought surely not a flat battery, but appeared to be so put it on charge.Go to start today and still no go, turning real slow and then click click - but that ain't the weird bit!The weird bit is the choke cable under the bonnet was hellishly hot. so hot it was beginning to melt the hose next to it. WTF!I am totally confused.
gedo1,
Mar 6, 6:21pm
You should check the earthing between the battery and the body of the car and also between the engine and the body of the car.It could be that the choke cable is acting as the earth in this case but there is insufficient ability to carry the current to start the engine.Give it a check!
clark20,
Mar 6, 6:21pm
Bad earth from motor to body, check the battery leads and the engine to body
gilco2,
Mar 6, 6:22pm
Check the earth cables, sounds like not earthing properly so earthing through choke cable
jmma,
Mar 6, 6:23pm
Yes loose or dirty earth connection, check both cables as suggested above, if tight, remove and clean surfaces
ladyjet1,
Mar 6, 6:24pm
cheers I'll check that!Us dumb girls that try to restore cars. shheesh
digger80,
Mar 6, 6:48pm
common fault that,just make sure choke cable is still free and working ok,good luck
socram,
Mar 6, 6:51pm
Agree wth above.Bad earth. For once, I really don't think there wil be any dissenters!
jono2912,
Mar 6, 7:05pm
You should be proud of yourself. You're one of the few who would.
ladyjet1,
Mar 6, 7:22pm
lol, I thought I was onto it!Earth lead from battery in boot looked a bit dodgy, so have been next door in the dark knicking one off a wreck over there!Only to find still no go, I have run out of light to check body to engine, although I'm sure that will be ok, just had another yucky thought. the car has been in a crash, and the exhaust was bend sideways a bit under car. bent it back while under it today and I'm guessing it might have cooked the lead under there. will have to have a look tomorrow. the battery is a good one, and it started fine when I put it over the pit, bent the exhaust back into place and now no go. mmmm.Never swear so much as when I'm working on the wee bitch!
ladyjet1,
Mar 6, 7:25pm
thank you, I am really proud of all the work I've done on it, hate getting stuck on something!Be on the road again soon :-)
mbikeman1,
Mar 6, 8:16pm
ive had that before.ive got the push button on the solenoid so when under the bonnet when i would push it there would be sparks flying etc.if you want to check before you start just put jumper leads onto the thing from the front of the car.ie earth to the block and positive to the solenoid and try it.if that works then bad earth will be the problem although as we all have said it will be
attitudedesignz,
Mar 7, 8:24am
I've had that happen to me before. There should be a flat looking earth strap going from clutch housing to front subframe (bottom left as you look at engine).
If battery and cables in boot are attached correctly the only reason for the choke cable (sometimes the accelerator cable may do it) to heat up is the fact it's the only earth to the engine.
In short, check earth strap in engine bay.
**waits for smac to show up** lol.
robbo36,
Mar 7, 8:39am
Aren't the old mini's + earthed!Check polarity of the battery connections; ie; which one is earthed to the body. Hey, where is bigfatmat when you need him, as he can confirm! Also, recall an incident on a mini years ago where the choke cable was rubbing on the wiring loom, either under the dash or in the engine bay, which shorted the loom.
socram,
Mar 7, 2:35pm
Yes!OP hasn't stated whether it is + or - earth but in this instance, I don't think that would be causing the problem.Presumably Minis changed to negative earth when they fitted alternators but many owners converted them to negative earth.
ladyjet1,
Mar 8, 11:05am
SORTED! Yay! and was what I least expected!Was sure it had something to do with me bending that exhaust back away from the power source cable, considering it ran fine putting it over pit and then died!I started at the back (battery) checked and cleaned all terminals, and same with earth point in boot.It was in fact the earth from clutch housing to body, gave everything a cleanup and way the wee brat went! Thanks heaps for everyone's advise!
Bloody good that someone bothers to post the result. Makes one sex look stupid doesn't it!
attitudedesignz,
Mar 8, 3:53pm
Well done.
Knew it would be, been there done that.
ladyjet1,
Mar 8, 7:24pm
LOL! Which one, the one that likes to make out she can do anything without a bloke!HAHA! I like to think so, but have lost a weeny bit of confidence with continuing my Mini project - great that you lot are there to help me out with some advise when I need it! CHEERS!
socram,
Mar 8, 7:36pm
Asking for and getting advice is the very reason the motoring message board is so popular.Totally agree,
Great when someone posts the result.Now back to the 1962 Midget saga.
smac,
Mar 8, 7:42pm
Oh crap, missed this one.
Check the earth strap from clutch housing to inner guard, guaranteed to be that one.
ladyjet1,
Mar 8, 7:43pm
Thanks ;-)
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