Does anybody else have a mini with no control box/voltage regulator?

I have just replaced the loom in my mini with a uk one but when I connect the battery terminals the motor starts, even without a key in the ignition! okay, I'm guessing that is not good.....

I pulled the white/red wire from the solenoid - ok now it doesn't crank the starter motor so I went looking at the ignition switch and rechecked the wiring diagram. It all looks wired up right but I don't seem to have a control box or voltage regulator.....

I remember when I pulled the old wiring out there was a big tangled mess of brown wires all soldered and twisted together that were just wrapped in electrical tape in the engine bay. I thought it was dodgy at the time but now i wonder if they were supposed to be going to the missing control box. the car still ran so I thought it was just more evidence of the PO's dodgyness.

So, do I just take most of the brown wires off the solenoid a la the old wiring, or should I try source and put the voltage regulator in there?

Since 1972 or so, every Mini had had no voltage regulator. it is built into all the lternators now.
The tangled wiring you have is obviously where they have done a `regulatorectomy' to convert (from generator) to fit a current alternator.

With these there is a thick brown wire (or 2) from the solenoid's battery terminal to the alternator, and a thin brown/yellow wire from the alternator to the ignition light in the speedo. That is it...

_________________
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.

Regulatorectomy.... Love it!


So my eager starting wiring problem is probably due to something else. Unless anyone has any ideas i guess i might have to concede defeat and call the auto electricians.

There's obviously a mismatch somewhere. The solenoid COM wire (i.e. the wire you momentarily send power through to trip the solenoid) is obviously connected to an always-on power source or it is shorting on one enough to switch the solenoid over which in turn sends power to the starter motor.

You were right Tom,


I searched through the forum and found a post '72 wiring diagram and made the necessary alterations and I think I may have sorted it. I'm just waiting fir the battery to recharge.