Engine issue (possibly fuel related)
Turbo Mini Forums

After picking up the new 1380 turbo that I was lucky enough to be given, after a small tweak with the leaky fuel pump (now working) it fired, momentarily then died. Left it for a few minutes, ran up the the pump again for a few seconds and gave it another go, fired then gave up again.

Reckon anyone could shed some light on the vague possibilities of what this might be? Fairly sure it's fuel delivery related but i'm new to the whole turbo and hif scene as the other minis are standard with HS4s.

Thanks,
Stephen.

1980 Austin Mini City - Avonbar 1380 T3 Turbo

1989 Rover Mini City E - 998

1964 Austin Mini Mk1 - 998

Have u got a fuel pressure guage? If so connect it after the pressure regulator and check the fuel pressure is correct. Check fuel's comin thru properly disconnect fuel line from carb and turn the engine over to see if any fuel is comin thru (put fuel line in empty bottle or container. If nothings coming out that end, disconnect fuel pump from line to check the pump is healthy

What pump and is it running (can you hear it?). Is it fitted the correct way round?

Was it running properly prior to this?

In the 13's at last!.. Just

The fuel is definitely passing through the pump and you can hear it, the car from what i've been told was running. It'll run it just doesn't seem to be getting the volume of fuel. I'll have a root around when i get home from work.

1980 Austin Mini City - Avonbar 1380 T3 Turbo

1989 Rover Mini City E - 998

1964 Austin Mini Mk1 - 998

What pump is it?

Yes i moved to the darkside

Instagram @jdm_brett

I'm not sure what the pump is however I've taken some pictures for you.
Update today: After being left overnight and throughout today, put the key in ran up the pump and had the engine running for about 4-5 seconds before it stopped, then tried again and it ran for about 2 seconds and it progressively got less and less until it was just turning over with no sign of life.

1980 Austin Mini City - Avonbar 1380 T3 Turbo

1989 Rover Mini City E - 998

1964 Austin Mini Mk1 - 998

Edited by stephen112 on 24th Jun, 2013.

1980 Austin Mini City - Avonbar 1380 T3 Turbo

1989 Rover Mini City E - 998

1964 Austin Mini Mk1 - 998

Are you sucking through that filter or pushing?

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

Pushing, however I'd say the problem is at the front, seen a few cases of this. Could it be overfuelling or not, what sort of symptoms could I expect for either over/under?

1980 Austin Mini City - Avonbar 1380 T3 Turbo

1989 Rover Mini City E - 998

1964 Austin Mini Mk1 - 998

The fuel pump is working, really running out of options. Took the carb off today and gave it a clean, wondering whether it could be overfueling due to the symptoms mentioned earlier. What can cause this, how can we diagnose it properly?

1980 Austin Mini City - Avonbar 1380 T3 Turbo

1989 Rover Mini City E - 998

1964 Austin Mini Mk1 - 998

check the carbs float level and check how much fuel is coming out of the fuel regulators return tail.

Have you checked the condition of the plugs? It could be the float valve sticking open and flooding the carb, common problem.

Really you need to check the pressure level.

The float valve is working correctly, we're wondering if it's an electrical issue related to the pump cutting out when the key is turned to start.
Does anyone know at what key position the pump should cut in and out and the wiring system for the fuel pump on ignition?

1980 Austin Mini City - Avonbar 1380 T3 Turbo

1989 Rover Mini City E - 998

1964 Austin Mini Mk1 - 998

Yes i moved to the darkside

Instagram @jdm_brett

Carb was taken off and everything was checked and crap cleaned out. Do you think we may have missed that issue then?
It's so odd because if you leave it over night it'll run for about 5 seconds (less if gas applied) then you leave it for 5 minutes and it'll run for progressively less and less every time you do so.

1980 Austin Mini City - Avonbar 1380 T3 Turbo

1989 Rover Mini City E - 998

1964 Austin Mini Mk1 - 998

What ignition are you using? Sounds just like fooked points etc to me.

I'll investigate when I get home, from the small amount of info I got from the previous owner I don't think there are points.

1980 Austin Mini City - Avonbar 1380 T3 Turbo

1989 Rover Mini City E - 998

1964 Austin Mini Mk1 - 998

sounds like it could be massively over fueling and wetting the plugs, and drying out overnight

an easy and fast way to check the float valve is not sticking is taking the piston / damper assembly off and turning the fuel pump on, one of 2 thigs will happen with the pump on either fuel will leak / squirt out the jet or it wont, ( you can also visually chech the hight of the jet, ( it should be a couple mm down at most)
if it doesnt i would then turn up the fuel pressure untill it does then back down untill it doesnt,
if it already does i would turn down the fuel pressure untill it doesnt anymore

its not a recommended method as you still dont know what the fuel pressure is but its often enough to get it started

Yes i moved to the darkside

Instagram @jdm_brett

Is that filter partly blocked bypass it and see if that helps. Alan

Main Build
http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=489133

Upgrade to Turbo
http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.p...tid=448367&fr=0

Made a bit of progress over the weekend, after fiddling with the fuel regulator we managed to get it started and running. It seems very temperamental, as we currently have no way of tapping into the fuel pressure to tell if we're getting the rec'd 3-4psi it's proving very difficult to actually get anywhere.
It's idling way too high and if you press your foot down it'll rev then immediately dip to <500rpm then build back up to idle again, fuel deprivation? If you adjust the reg even slightly it'll overfuel and you're back to square one again. Bit of a forwards and backwards weekend.
Had the regulator apart and nothing seems out of the ordinary however we've ordered a new diaphragm to see if the problem does lie within.

I know it was suggested to remove the dashpot assembly then bring up the fuel pressure until you can see it flowing through the carb then back it off until you can't? Well no matter how far we backed off the pressure when the pump is running there is always fuel running in, is this normal?

Thanks for all the help so far, at least we've had it running!
Stephen.

1980 Austin Mini City - Avonbar 1380 T3 Turbo

1989 Rover Mini City E - 998

1964 Austin Mini Mk1 - 998

couple of things to keep you busy;

get a longer fuel & return pipes from the carb to your regulator
& tap the fuel pressure in going to the carb making sure youve got the 3-4psi


check whether youve got the right spark plugs

then wind down the tickover with the crosshead screw on the right hand side of the carb

thats what i did when i was having issues with mine

Reading up on RTS Clutches

Hi all,
I am working with Stephen on this 1380 Tubo still having problems.
We have now set up fuel pressure, set it to 3.5 psi. It would seem the only way you can get this to run is to wind the pressure right up, nearly as far as it will go (over 6psi when i checked) and then it seems to run. It runs very fast, but for the longest we have found. It actually got upto temp and then when tweaking the lean screw, it died on us. Now cant get it going again?
We have replace the regulator membrane, changed the carb float needle valve, checked all the things you guys have mentioned above. Running out of ideas now. when it runs it seems to run nicely, but fast. (2000rpm)
Please put your thinking caps on, we just want this thing running.
Thanks

Yes, we have set the float height, 1mm down from the centre of the float. As per book.

Ok.. Fuel pressure set to 3.5psi all back together, set mixture screw to 2 turns clockwise from level. (checked needle today, its a BDD) switched on and it dies after about 5 seconds again