Hi all, have been on the forum for years but never posted, but now I have a problem you may be able to help me with.

When driving uphill, the car seems to be starving for fuel. I mean it drives great the rest of the time, but when going up hills, it just dies, running just enought to splutter to the top of the hill.

I run it on BP Ultimate, and have had several tanks of fuel through it with the same problem, so have ruled out bad fuel. Someone has suggested the dashpots on the carbs?

Would appreciate any starting point.

Thanks
Dave

Could also be a blocked Fuel Filter

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

Does it break down under acceleration on the flats as well?

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

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

Fuel Pump.

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Yeah, +1...

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

Thanks for the replies guys.

It runs perfect on the flats, accelerates fine. Problem only occurs when travelling uphills.

Due to my limited mechanical knowledge, can someone point me in the right direction to locate the fuel pump. Is it located in the fuel tank?

Thanks again
Dave

Fuel Pumps are nomaly in 1 of two palces. Mechanical pump is on the back of the Block on the Radiator side down under the Carb. Electric is nomaly on the rear subframe on the passenger side. Fuel filter is normal just before the carb or some where near the Fuel pump

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

what happens if you drive on the flat, and hold your left foot on the brake?

What type of carb/carbies are on the vehicle?
What type of fuel pump is on the car mechanical (found at the back of the block on the passenger side just above the gearbox or electric fuel pump generally found under the left hand fuel tank bolted to the subframe under the vehicle).
If it was a fuel pump it would starve of fuel when a high demand (eg. 100% throttle open) for more fuel is required even on a flat surface.
If it has SU carb/s i think it may have an air leak between the carb/s and manifold, manifold and head or the floats are rising and shutting off fuel delivery through the needle/s and seat/s.
Or if it has twin su's one of the carbs is leaning out because they are not balanced and the other one is taking over just keeping the car running.
May also pay to check out the dissy (cap, rotor, points and timing) . . . as the problem occurs when the vehicle is under "load".
hope this helps

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDMkVq1jRGU

Thanks for the feedback, I will take her for a drive this weekend and try it under load on the flats.

Thanks
Dave

Are the carbs off a mini or another car, ie are your floats at the right angle, I imagine if you pulled them off a jag or whatever, which would already be at the wrong angle, taking on a hill would only make the situation worse.

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So... I'm Seifer

where in Perth are you?

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1965 Riley Elf
1974 Ex Army Moke
1997 Rover Cooper
2002 JCW Cooper
2003 JCW Cooper S

Just a suggestion from left field.

Some time ago on a Tour we had a car that would gradually lean out and stop, usually when attempting to cruise at 100Kmh.

After sitting for a while it would start and run perfectly, drive OK for a couple of km then repeat the performance. This was on an Alpine Tour so understandably the owner was at his wit's end with a trip up Mt Hotham looming.

I had the bright thought that maybe the tank breather was blocked causing a partial vacuum to form in the tanks. We removed the the fuel cap seal as a test of the theory and the car took off up the hill like a hairy goat.

Subsequent investigation found a dodgy breather hose as suspected.

The extra throttle setting needed to pull up a hill might cause this if the breather is only partially blocked.

If the car runs fine the rest of the time, it might be worth a look.

As to where the breather is situated in a Cooper S, never having owned one, I don't know, but it can't be too hard to find. Somewhere up the back of the car I reckon!

Have you recently replaced the fuel caps with ones that don't have a breather hole perhaps?

Worth a try anyway as it's an easy fix if it proves to be the case.

Cheers, Pottsy

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Smile Up at The Trucks!

There is a tiny pipe on top of each tank, the hole in it is only 1.5mm or so.
Just pull the 2 plastic hoses up through the boot floor and blow into them to test.
I had the RH breather block after I cleaned the tank and rust converted it inside, for 2 weeks the tank just stayed full.. until I woke up to it.

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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.

Thanks again for all the suggestions. I will try and get busy on it over Easter.

I am based up in the hills in Lesmurdie.

Cheers
Dave