todays's job - and a question

[JPSmit]

half an update: Took the battery back to Costco today and with no fuss was refunded 40% of the price of the battery. Not bad after 5 years. For once I also didn't have the problem after the warranty expired. In fact had this happened a month or so later it would have been only 30% - so hurray! Today got away from me but, hopefully can install in the next day or so.

 

[longbridgehealey]

Great, hopefully this will solve the problem

 

[JPSmit]

Annnddd we have contact! Although a little cool today I managed to get a couple hours in the garage. Put in the new battery and a shot of starter fluid and off she went. Got her around the block and she was backfiring and sputtering and not happy at all. Brought it home, pulled the plugs and all sooted up. (they have probably 10 miles on the.) cleaned them up - it ran pretty good for a block, but, just in case I nursed it to the gas station and topped up the tank with fresh (non ethanol) gas - no difference. Got home and sure enough sooted up again. Cleaned them, and then leaned up the SU three flats. Started instantly ran smoothly and when I got home the plugs were nice and clean. Needless to say I am delighted but just a little perplexed. In my experience cars don't jump out of tune and I had to use a wrench on the nut so it wasn't loose enough to vibrate out of tune. The only theory I have is that somehow the choke cable was binding and that when I thought the choke was off it wasn't and leaning out the carb then compensated for the choke. I did fiddle with the choke and it seems smooth enough, but, we shall see. In the meantime it runs and I am happy. To my imagination it doesn't have quite the pickup as it did before but that could be me and it could be fine tuning.

 

[LarryK]

I bought diagnostic equipment and manuals for the MINIs and Rover when the MINI dealer couldn't figure how to reset new DSC module and a Land Rover diagnostics and manuals since I have more years of experience than their techs. Don't like the extra time, but I know it is right. Learn the new systems working at a Jag shop and have all the manuals to 1995.

 

[Madflyer]

Glad I could help,

I went through Interstate battery's that way when the date was up so was the battery. I talked to a Corvette guy as Fiberglass cars have there own DC volt Amp problems. As he did not drive his car daily he went to Dry Cell. Mine is over eight years old and now the price won out. The reason I went with Interstate was they are green like my car Dumb

 

[LarryK]

Interstate is a good battery, I just bought a new on for my MINI, and is labeled DieHard and is black.