Hey all,

Just wondering if anyone out there has developed a way of getting a mini to start easily on a cold morning.

My 998 takes ages to start when cold. It's great when it's a warm day - perhaps 2-3 cranks to get it going. Bu when it's cold, it's terrible!

Yeah, I know, it's an old car, it will never be the same as a modern one etc. but just wondering if anyone has any ideas. I think the starter gets more use in one winter than most starters would for their entire life.

I've also noticed that it doesn't like to start with the choke out, either partially or fully. To start cold I usually need to take the choke out perhaps 1/3, crank it while pumping the accelerator, and once it starts up pull the choke out to bring it to idle speed. A little strange...

Hmmm......I'd be having a very good long look at the ignition system and do a compression test.

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Did a compression test just last week :)

The car runs great otherwise - I took it in to get tuned last week at Willsons Automotive, the mini specialists here in tassie. They commented on how good the condition of the motor was.

Having said that, though, they did say something about further tuning the dizzy. I'll be in there some time to pick up some parts, but I suppose that could be something to look at.

It's a '78 clubby, and there's no vac advance. Is this unusual? The advance opening is used for a valve-saver bottle.

Pull the choke out.

My car starts first go every morning. It is a worn out 1100 that has never been touched since it left the factory 44 years ago. I am running a Pulsar distributor and a Gemini starter and they do help but it used to start well with the Lucas distributor and starter.

The main thing is to tune the car properly and keep it maintained.

I knew someone would say that...

I'm asking now because I just got it tuned, and I hoped that would solve the problem. But no.

Being in Tassie the mornings are pretty cold, though.

The mornings here are as cold as Tassie but with a wider spread. I get a range of -7° to +45°

I would be looking at the distributor and the lack of vacuum advance.

Things to consider so you can start up first time everytime:

1) Electronic ignition to replace points, or replace old/worn points, gap properly etc
2) replace lucas starter with a gemini one
3) replace battery with a big CCA battery, as big as will fit into the box. I have a 550CCA

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

I thought it was where you holding your tongue firmly in the cheek, and twisting the key really hard in the ignition?

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

just check that the choke is actually pulling the jet down far enough - or at all

there are 2 stages to the choke linkage, the first is a fast idle, the second is the richening by pushing the jet down.

I have electronic ignition, but I haven't tried with a big battery.

As far as the choke is concerned, when it is pulled out all the way, it just won't start, it's too rich. On a normal day, about 1/2-1/3 choke usually works fine.

On cold mornings, it doesn't appreciate the choke at all. I think I usually take the choke out enough for the fast idle to start it, but any jet lowering seems to just kill it.

I lived in Tassie for 2 years and never had a problem starting mine with choke on a few cranks and away she goes. I did make it harder on myself because the choke cable had snapped, but I just jammed it open with the cap off a pen and let it warm up before removing the cap and driving off. I was starting out at 5.30 am to get to work for 6am start in winter so it was "fresh" as the locals like to say

sounds like you have a problem as others above have described.

cheers
michael

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the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

Which SU is it, if an HIF the problem may be internal.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

something's rooted - could be all sorts of things, but wilsons, or whoever tuned it should be able to work it out, they're not that complex

Yep, they mentioned something about the dizzy when I brought it there, but I picked it up late and didn't have a chance to talk to them about it. I'm picking up some parts soon, I'll talk to them later.

Well, looks like it is a genuine problem - sometimes it's hard to tell...

get BALLISTIC to pop over and have a look for you, tassie cant be that big, sure he will go for an Aspargas Targa Run.

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Aussie Leyland, Aussie Factory, Aussie Mini S.