Question
What coil is on ithave you chnaged it? if its a resistor Coil you will need a resistor..
I had the same problem a year ago and no one could work it out $6 resistor and $50 labour later

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

Gafmo,

It was a new coil when I first got the car home months ago. If it needed a resistor
wouldn't it have required one from the begining or could it work for a while then go haywire?

Is there any way of by-passing the ignition switch to see if it's dodgy?

push start? .

Shard

3 cheers for 'sports850'

It was the ignition switch!

I actually have to hold the key in the ignition position, if I let go it springs back to the off position. When it was suggested earlier I only held it against the ignition position
as I thought it would grind the starter motor if I went further.

Now, can it be fixed or do I replace it?

Thank's , I'll leave quietly now before my head swells .....
As for the ignition , it's easier to get another ignition barrel and replace it than to fix the existing one . Either remove the barrel/steering lock from the steering column (very sharp centrepunch , hit the two "blind" bolts around till they come off , swearing the whole time) or just replace the steering column with the ignition intact . Easier on a mini than to do it on a modern car since your ignition key is different from your door key .

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Thanks heaps

Here's one for the records,

I pulled out the ignition assembly to see how to remove the ignition barrel.
I noticed that at the bottom of the assembly a plastic cap thingy which all
the wires are attached to, it was loose and came apart without trying.
Inside there were 2 ball bearings and 2 springs floating around.
I put them back where they were meant to go pushed the plastic cap
thingy back on and pressed down the metal tabs that keep it in place.
The ignition is now good as new (well almost).

Conclusion:
These ball bearings keep the ignition in the appropriate spots when you
turn the key and if that cap gets loose the balls and springs can
fall away.

Something to to check if your mini starts but stops straight away