Hi,

Just want to make sure this is right.

[Case A] When engine has not started for more than a day:

1) Leave gear at N. Pull the CHOKE to the highest.
2) Wait for 25 secs.
3) Check the gauge (especially the temp)
4) Give a few revs and observe the temp gauge again.
5) If it's like close to the middle, gradually lower the the choke(to half down)
6) listen to the engine nosie.
7) If stable, push the Choke further down until it's like 3/4 down
5) Try each gear and see if the engine stalls. If not drive it.

[Case B] When warm (i.e. just used it 2-3 hours ago)
1) Start the car from N gear.
2) If cannot start it, pull the Choke a bit up
3) Continue pulling the choke up and start if not successful, Otherwise push it down/all down.
4) If successul, test all gears, Push the CHOKE gradually all down and drive.


I am asking this cus a few times, I was on the road and the engine just stalls/stopped:

1st time (Start up of the car after it's hasn't been started for a day or 2):
Started the car (with 1/2 choke) and lower it a bit to 3/4 just before driving it out. About driving it for 30 metres, I pull over to the kerb with the engine still running and push the choke all down. Engine stopped. Try to turn the switch, no reaction, no ignition, no fire-up noise from the switch. Wait 5 mins, turn again, runs again and off I go.

2nd time (Start up of the car after it's hasn't been started for a day or 2):
Similar to 2nd time except the engine stopped after I made a acute (but slow) turn. Foot wasn't at accelaerator at the time the turn was made. Again, after the car stalls, no reaction from turning the switch, so I waited for 4 mins, and drive as normal.

3rd time (Start up again after just 1 journey for the day):
Today. After I drove it back to Chastwood. Then 10 mins later, I felt like going out for a drive. Leave the Choke a very little bit up (since it doesn't start straight). This time, I was just trying to see why it's kind of stuck at 35mile/hr when I am accelerating for the past few times. So what I do, I try to give it a full throttle at about 40miles/hr and see what happens. It kind of like previous times but wait, it just give the itself a big push (but there was a time delay between the push on the pedal and the engine's response). Then not long after (about 10secs), I braked at the traffic lights. Guess what, the engine stopped running. Tried to turn the switch, not even a single noise heard. Again wait for 4-5 mins. Off I go again.

WHY IS THAT HAPPENING? Cus of incorrect starting up? or the mini actually have some problems at the engine, spark plugs, distributor, and whatnot?

Ben A.

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1964 Morris Mini 850 - G13b gti powered - classic yet practical
1968 Morris Minimatic - 1100cc - classic & breakable
Sun Certified Java Programmer v5 310-055

Ben , it might be a good idea to join the mini car club of NSW (very active club based in SYdney with a couple of sub-branches around the state) and go along to a few run's with them , it's a lot easier to help with a new car if it's in front of you rather than from a few written paragraphs . All mini's have their little quirks on startup , they aren't like a modern fuel injected car where the computer fine tunes everything on the go regardless of whether the engines cold or not . Best to just drive it more and learn how it likes to be started and driven , most people here are convinced their mini's are all but human as they all have their own personality and habits . What works with one mini may well not work for another .

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Didn't you take the car to Mini Classic? If he hasn't serviced it, get him to. He tuned my car over 6 months ago, and it now starts in summer first time without the choke, and it runs beautifully.

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One should never skimp on the zip ties.