Not running right
Turbo Mini Forums

My NA 998 has been running a bit off as of late. It revs (not sure how high, no tacho) and makes a shit load of noise but barely moves.
Pulled into Tesco's car park last night and it cut out and wouldn't start.
Thought it was a fueling issue so took the dashpot off and it wasn't obviously over fueling but not sure if it was under fueling.
Either way, dashpot on, the car started and ran really well.
Went to my mates.

Got up this morning and thought I'd investigate further so took the whole carb and manifold off. Float is working fine, fuel in the carb, fuel lines don't appear to be blocked there was, as far as I can tell, nothing wrong with the carb.
I adjusted my points but it still runs the same.

The only thing I can think of is that I ran my fuel tank empty the other day so could have sucked through some crud but nothing that I can see.

I've got a HIF 38 carb, LCB exhaust but the rest is just about standard.
I've got an SU off my other 998 I could try. Any thoughts?

Edited by DaveVader on 20th Nov, 2010.

Have you taken it out in the rain? Could be the ignition system is wet and not sparking well?

1275 N/A Sprite, 998 T2 Turbo Mayfair
1275 EFi Turbo

Most likely the condenser.

I have a new spare if you want to pop over.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

I've replaced the condensor about 3 weeks ago.
I mean yeah it could be faulty, have another I could try, but I'm not sure. I'll give it a bash though and let you know.

@Dan, I've got a weather shield and when I took my dizzy cap off to check my points it was all nice and dry in there.

Edited by DaveVader on 20th Nov, 2010.

Where did you get the "new" condenser from?

I've had new ones fail in no time at all.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

erm, minispares I think, or was it minisport.
Serviced my ignition before I went to Wales and was running fine all the way there and back.
Like you say, it could have failed pretty sharpish!

Yeah, it was a minispares condensor.

Edited by DaveVader on 20th Nov, 2010.

crap on the points clean these,
try another condensor, usuall the points are tinged blue if it has been braking down
change the coil to eliminate this alos

keep us informed

Will sort all that in the morning and let you know.
Points should be clean but will give em a blow out with some compressed air. They're not blue and still look relatively new.
Will change the condenser and will swap out my coil. I'll let you know.

Thought: Why, when I took the carb apart after it broke down, did it start up?
If it's something up with my ignition, taking the dashpot off my carb wouldn't have been a contributing factor to getting it started again.

Edited by DaveVader on 20th Nov, 2010.

Well, I didn't get round to doing anything today as I worked on the project instead.
Just took it out for a spin though and it starts and runs but still not quite right.

Is the screw tight on the points? Is the Cam on the points worn?

Well I broke down on the way home from work (my fault really) nursed it home. Replaced my coil just now and it's running 10x better. Still not 100% right but I think that could be either condenser (probably not unless the coil takes that with it) or just my points need setting a little better.

My old coil sounds like it's full of liquid, what the hell is this?

Edited by John on 22nd Nov, 2010.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

BTW the liquid in your coil is oil to keep it cool :)

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

Oh, really? Sounded a lot thinner than oil.
Well a new coil has solved the majority of the problems, will have a play tomorrow night with a new condenser.

you've probably cooked the old coil and boiled the oil until it has broken down into piss.

Sounds about right. When you shake it it just sounds like there is a load of water in there. The coil I replaced it with is much more solid.