Got an issue in one of my Aus clubman GTs.

The car starts, idles, runs, drives perfectly 99% of the time... But every now and then it has a huge miss and then picks itself up again. It's like it looses all power (gults you in ya seat), rev counter drops to zero, and then literally a second later it is back to normal?!

My guess is electrical but I'm a bit lost as to why/where the problem lies.. And because it's not doing it all the time it makes it harder to fix.

About the car, genuine clubman GT, 1972. Only real modification is it has been fitted with electronic iginition.. So not the points etc! The wiring has been messed with by every man and his dog over the last 40 years, but as I say most of the time it is fine... In saying that I think it is getting more frequent now - so needs fixed.

Anybody had the same issue? Any help appreciated.

This is not one of my restored GTs.. So I am unfamiliar with what has been replaced/changed etc apart from the electronic ignition.

I went through this last year on a Mini run. Check for loose or frayed wires on the coil connectors. Spade lugs there come loose and cause this. Give em a clean and squeeze.

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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.

Yeah I checked the coil wires on side of road.. Nothing loose... But might have to pull them off and clean them up. Certainly no harm in trying.. Cheers

Mine was similar to drmini, I had a loose (unsoldered wire) connection to the coil in one instance and a loose spade connector the second time.

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I think (fingers crossed) I have solved the problem. Cleaned up the coil wires aswell as the starter solenoid. Sprayed them with contact oil and I was away laughing ... So I thought. Up and down the road many times with no miss. Put the car into the garage and went to start it again and all it down was went click (didn't wind over)... It has done this before once or twice too, but 2nd attempt always makes it go... However this time it just kept clicking. So I took off the lead from the starter motor to solenoid and touch it against other side of solenoid and she wound over no problems.. So new that it was in the solenoid. Which while I had the starter lead off it did look pretty corroded on the thread. I was going to clean it up and try my luck - but I had a brand new solenoid in the draw so chucked that on. Flicked the key, away she went and no misses and starts everytime so far. So fingers crossed all my issues were related to dodgy/dirty solenoid. Typical example of British electronics 40 years down the track... It was the real inconsistency that was tricking me! Thanks for help guys

Old Lucas solenoid is probably just worn out. The copper contacts inside arc (due to switching big DC current) and eventually wear away.

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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.

But why would a dodgy solenoid cause the car to miss once running

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I had a similar miss last week, where the tacho would die for a second or two then come good. Tried cleaning the lugs and tightening the spades (even replaced two of), but to no avail. Ended putting ring terminals on and bolting them straight onto the coil. Ran it today to work and not a miss even with the heat of Brisbane. So maybe worth considering if it happens again.

Another time years ago when I first had this problem, I found the PO of my car had wired the ignition through the 35A fuse instead of upstream of it. And, the fuseholder was dirty..!

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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.