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Car Forum / MINI / May 2004spi mini elecrical problem/fiasco!
Hi all, i've been away a while, but i'm back with a new mini and therefore new problems! My friend just picked up a bargin 1994 Cooper 1.3 Spi, but it's electrical system seems fairly botched, no problem i thought, except i'm used to my old carb model, without any of this fancy engine management stuff. As part of the deal when we got the car it was given a fresh MOT, and needed a new "relay" to pass it as not a single light worked! As soon as we got the car two of the lights had blown, so i was suspecting an electrical short somewhere... then i notice what appears to be an electrical management unit/relay something like that on top of the brake servo, a black plastic box as big as your hand roughly, this was just loosely tied on. Croydon minis had the car for some other work yesterday and tried to bolt it in it's rightfull place, the car wouldn't start! it had to be hung by a piece of string again. Then on the way back home all the other lights went including brake lights and indicators, along with the ignition power to the stereo although all the fuses seems to be ok? What does this boxed mounted on top of the servo control? is it any way related to the lights? What could be causing all the lights not to work in such a fashion? it seems strange if they're on different circuits? The people we bought it from said they just had to change a relay, but i suspect this isn't the whole truth. Any help really appreciated Thanks Tristan These are typical symptoms of a bad ground. Chances are it's attached to one of the cables connecting to the black plastic box. Trace these cable bundles and see if there is a ground attachment to the body. This is a likely suspect. It's also possible that there is a problem with the connector(s) on the black box. Either corrosion or a pin that isn't anchored in the connector case. Good luck, Kelley >Hi all, i've been away a while, but i'm back with a new mini and >therefore new problems! [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] >Thanks >Tristan Hi, I am not familiar with the 1.3Spi, but the fuse box, containing the 4 fuses is very prone to corrosion at the back. It causes just the sort of problems you are describing. Take the box off the bulkhead and have a look at the back. Keith > Hi all, i've been away a while, but i'm back with a new mini and > therefore new problems! [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > Thanks > Tristan I agree with Keith, go for the back of the fuse box, Fitzy > Hi, > I am not familiar with the 1.3Spi, but the fuse box, containing the 4 fuses [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > Thanks > > Tristan > I agree with Keith, > go for the back of the fuse box, > Fitzy > > Although it will probably be the 20 fuse type box, pull all the fuses and check for damage to terminal corrosion inside the F/box, Fitzy > > Hi, > > I am not familiar with the 1.3Spi, but the fuse box, containing the 4 [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > > > Thanks > > > Tristan The box you mention does contain four control relays. It should have two slide slots on the bottom to clip it onto the tag at the rear left of the engine bay. most of the ones I've seen have one of the slots broken off and they end up precariously held in place with cable ties. did the garage try to bolt this in place as they could have introduced a short? Don't try to modify this unit unless your prepared for a shock at the rover price for a replacement part. Have you checked your earth strap that runs between the top engine steady bolts? mine looked OK but replacing it sorted alot of odd problems I was having on my 93 SPI cooper. The other thing I checked were the connections for the live feed at the front of the starter motor these are very close to the grill and if not properly insulated can short. also on the left side of the engine bay next to the hinge there is a bundle of cables that have a tendacy to rub on the hinge and can wear through the insulation. Hope this is of help. If not please post your findings. Kevin > Hi all, i've been away a while, but i'm back with a new mini and > therefore new problems! [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > Thanks > Tristan Thanks everyone Fault was traced to a short at the back of the fusebox, although i might put a new earth strap on for good measure as i've had trouble with them in the past. All the HT Leads/Starter wiring/light wiring is in a bit of a mess at the front as well, which can go on my to do/wishfull thinking list. So the "black box" contains 4 relays you say? the thing does look a bit butchered without checking but i would have hoped croydon minis didn't try to bolt it on. It is indeed hanging off with a bit of string but it's working, and thats the important thing right??? Is there no-one else apart from rover that produce replacements? I guess not. Damn. > The box you mention does contain four control relays. It should have > two slide slots on the bottom to clip it onto the tag at the rear left [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] > > Thanks > > Tristan I always clean up the original earth, and fit a additional earth strap on the other side of the engine, Fitzy > Thanks everyone > [quoted text clipped - 68 lines] > > > Thanks > > > Tristan |
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