mpi wont start following front end repaint
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi, I have done some paintwork to the front end of my mpi mini this week. After stripping the front end down (lights, wiper motor, bonnet, drivers door etc), the car refused to start. It turns over but wont fire up. Its back together now pretty much but refuses to start.

So I have a few things to do today. I need to re attach the switch that detects whether the bonnet is open or shut (would the car not usually start with this disconnected?).

There is petrol getting to the inlet manifold

I need to check if there is a spark at the plugs

I will be attempting to jump start the car (interior light was on for a while, don’t know if the battery may be partially drained).

If unsuccessful with the above, where do I look next?

I had problems like this when I built the engine - it was a bit tight to fire up, towed it with the ignition on, put it in gear and it started and has fun faultlessly for the last 6000 miles.

Also when I painted this car on the previous occasion the car would not start, but the wipers would run continuously with the ignition on. this resolved on its own and has not returned.

it seems this car doesnt like being messed with.

Many thanks

Have you tried the inertia cut off switch? It's on the row of relays on the bulkhead, to the right if I remember rightly....

EDIT:

Edited by TomBooth on 28th May, 2010.

no, but i will give it a try. there is no reason for this to have been triggered though.

Did you start the engine move the car only a short distance and then turn the engine off, before it got anywahre near warm? If so, it may have flooded the cylinders. Whip the plugs out and see if they are wet.

My old mpi did the same, turned out the switch had just popped out on its own accord.....

Paint on the spark plugs??????

i painted the car not an ebay special type engine nic

tom you were right. for some reason the switch had popped on mine, though there was no reason i could see for that to happen. it fired up straight away when reset. thanks again chaps for the input.

dan