May appear to be a silly question but without a battery in the car how do I know what Earth my car is running?

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But he's thriving and striving and hugging the turns.

Sometimes there's a sticker in the boot which says "negative to earth" or whatever. I thought most Minis were negatively earthed.

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Jonathan
http://photobucket.com/albums/y64/FatMaserati/

mine has a sticker in the boot

maybe look to see what wires go to te body

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1152cc turbo A-series now with 125.7hp at the wheels !

AUSSIE Turbo mini forum >> http://boostmini.justboard.net/

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First, does the car have a generator or an alternator?

If it has an alternator it will be negative earth.

If it has a generator it could be either, so you have to look at a few things.
The wires on the coil are a clue but they can be wrong. The wire that runs from the coil to the dizzy is the earth and the coil should have a = or a -.

The battery leads are another clue, if you look at a battery you will see that the posts are different sizes. So the battery leads may fit better one way than the other. (unless they have been undone too far)

I suspect you don't have anything in your care that cares anymore.

Go with the GTi scheme which I'm assuming would be negative earth.

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"Life is not like a box of chocolates... it's more like a jar of jalapenos. Whatever you do today, may burn your arse tomorrow."

get a sample of your "Earth" and send it to the C.S.I.R.O and ask them identify it for you ( VTIC)


but seriously try having a look at one of the Manuals that Anton has kindly made available to download

that should be able to give you a referance point

failing that try ringing your friendly neihborhood sparky and ask their advice on how to figure it out
Good luck

when it comes time to connect the Battery do it when all is quiet so that you can hear if anything is shorting and be quick to ripp the lead of even if you are the teensieist bit unsure a couple of extra seconds checking will save a whole lot of time rewiring the car

Cheers
Gadget

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If you connect it the wrong way around, you'll see a spark if you lightly tap the second clamp to the second terminal. If it's the right way around, you'll see no spark, smell no burning-plastic fumes, and no smoke coming from underneath your bonnet.

The good thing about Minis is that they have no on-board computer to fry if you connect the battery around the wrong way. They take a little longer to heat up and melt. You may lose fuses though.

It would work, but its dangerous. DON'T DO IT! Find out the real way. Ask people.

My bet would be negative to earth anyway, but make sure. I am not responsible for the melting of your mini.

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Jonathan
http://photobucket.com/albums/y64/FatMaserati/

LOL! Let's just say I've had a bad experience with jamming a battery in around the wrong way.

Rewiring the front end is a bitch.

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Jonathan
http://photobucket.com/albums/y64/FatMaserati/