Thanks for recording all of these spi videos. I’m a recent spi owner and a novice (but enthusiastic) mechanic. These videos are so helpful. Can’t thank you enough for sharing. I’m loving learning about this with my kids as we restore my spi 😊
Thanks, you sound a lot like me, best way to learn is by getting your hands dirty. Im glad the videos are helping others out there, enjoy the memories with the kids, they grow up quickly
Thank you so much for sharing this overview on the SPI system. A friend brought his SPI equipped mini over to my shop and it stalls when stopping at a traffic light or similar. I had never seen the SPI before and your video really gave me the type of initial overview information that I had been looking for. Based on what I learned from your video I’ll start with checking and most likely replacing the 4 vacuum lines.
Really helpful video. Owned my spi for a year and had the injection system off and didn't have a clue what I was doing, so thanks for the detailed explanation.
Brilliant assistance. The mud has cleared... No experts on this in my part of New Zealand. Now, to find a replacement ceramic heater unit....the cause of poor mixture.. Thanks for your efforts.
As a fellow SPI owner i found this really informative. Thanks DB! As you know I've gotten some spares but I'll keep acquiring those hard to find or expensive bits. I find it sad when people ditch the SPI as when they are right they are rapid and mine starts first time every time thus far
Thank you for documenting your adventures with Ed. I recently purchased a '94 Mayfair here in Japan, and have been experiencing the engine stuttering at lower revs or even stalling at lights. This is my first foray into mechanics, so I have been a little lost reading the Haynes manual. Your videos are exactly what I needed to illustrate the processes and help give the courage to tackle these jobs myself. Looking forward to more of your videos!
I'm glad the vids help people, thanks for your comment. The Haynes manual is a great book and a must have but there is nothing that beats seeing it and then doing it yourself, its the best way to learn and these cars are the best to learn on. I hope your spi treats you well
Fantastic video thank you very much for uploading it, very informative. I have a Monte Carlo (14 years now) and I'm in the process of replacing Vacuum pipes so this has been really helpful
@@DBMiniDIY very true DB but like you say there's not a lot of videos on them and its good to see you covering this. The Spi/ Mpi's do drive well but its when the electronics go wrong they can be costly. Ed will be a well sorted car once you've done all the work on him I'll need to have a wee shot of him when he's fully operational 😁
Just realised how far behind I am with your videos ahahahah, got a lot of catch up to do! Still not started my mini but hope with the better weather can get the garage properly water tight and sorted and get a start.
Hi DB Mini DIY. At the 22 minute mark you were pushing back a little bar to show how it opens flap in the throttle body. How do I adjust the bar to keep the engine from cutting out when idling. (it is practically touching the rocker cover) You can probably tell I'm a novice, hope my question makes sense. Thank you
This is set up by adjusting the throttle cable. There are two nuts that tighten at the front once the cable is in place. It is set up when a tab to the rear, called the lost motion link, is in the middle of either side, hard to explain without seeing it but if you have a haynes manual there is a diagram in it, look at this and then look at the injection unit itself and it should become clearer, once this is set up correctly the stepper motor will then control the idle speed, hope this helps
Very interesting video DB, thanks a lot I think to have check everythings on my injection, 1996 SPI, but I still have a problem with pollution. The technichal control is refused. Everything is working Can you help me perhaps ? Thanks
The red vacuum pipe that would normally connect to the original filter box gets plugged and sat aside. The k and n kit should come with a blanking screw/bolt
What is the ease of taking this system and adapting it onto another engine ? May be a other A series engine on a classic car. I want to find a system for an old Landrover. I initially looked at the Merc 190 as it was single point injection, any other ideas ? It would need to be tunable.
The spi is not tunable, its quite limited to its ecu and set up, there are other aftermarket injection systems but they are rudiculously expensive. The carb, or mpi models are more tunable. Ive never seen it used on anpther engine, although rover had a few versions and different engine sizes
I'm a spi owner & currently I'm stripping the car to a bear shell. I'm not a mechanic & I'm interested to know how to remove this part from the manifold? Do you have a video showing step by step? Thanks in advance ☺
I am currently trying to restore my spi mini. My mechanic plugged the red vacuum hose with some sort of a screw. also he did not connect the wiring of the sensor of the airbox. can you tell me the possible problems that this may cause?
Helloooo! So I need helpppp! My spi ROVER 200 doesn’t spit out a striong stream of fuel, only a light Misting, everything else has been checked and works perfectly! However the injector doesn’t shoot enough fuel out of the spi! Fuel supply is strong but doesn’t come out of the injector! I’ve put a mini spi on ( more or less same thing ) to double check if it’s just my origional injector but it’s not….. any advice
Im not as familiar with the Rover as i am the mini but as you say most oarts are thd same or very similiar, first thought from what you said is an issue wuth the fuel system, has the fuel filter been checked? Or if you say its the delivery from the injector and you have tried a different one and it does the same have you checked the fuse/relays and wiring to the injection unit. I know in the mini the fuel relay is within the relay pack
Good one. My '88 has the single carb but I have a fuel injected Triumph Bonneville motorcycle and it has an injector for each of the two cylinders. Shares a fair bit of the sensors and vacuum lines as your SPI. Do you use any kind of sealant or silicone/di-electric type grease on the vacuum line fittings to help keep them well sealed and weather resistant? Are you planning to clean up that spi unit? Looks like an ultrasonic cleaner could do a great job on it.
The vacuum pipes are a tight fit as standard but i have replaced all 4 of mine with 3mm silicone vacuum hose and i really prefer them to the originals. I do plan on restoring the spare unit with new pipes and core plugs at some point, its on my very long to do list
@@DBMiniDIY Well sadly I am out of the game these days - I used to make centre binnacle looms for folks and I even did a full custom loom for a pickup, but that was all years ago! :D
Hello On my mini, when I switch on the ignition the electric fuel pump does not start, if I plug it directly into the battery it works So I would like to know where the problem comes from? Thanks in advance for the advice
Also have you tried to reset the inertia cut off switch, button at the tiolpright of the engine bay, hitting a large pot hole or similiar can trigger this meaning it would need reset
Have you driven the car much, sometimes the ecu needs time to adjust to the new setup, failing that do you have a diagnostic lead and app to checling reading
Hi there! Highly informative video, thank you for sharing. I am having issues with an SPi which is driving me up the wall. Idle is way too high, and the catalyst glows red hot within 5 minutes. I have replaced lambda sensor already, to no avail. This issue came forth when a nasty pothole tripped the fuel cut-off switch. Since then, it has been playing up like so, and I am all out of ideas. Valve adjustment is within spec, plugs are good, exhaust downpipe has been replaced along with lambda sensor on the manifold, cylinder compression pressure is within spec, cylinder leak test came out fine... It all happened since the day it tripped that switch. Any ideas of what could cause this? Many thanks in advance for any insight whatsoever. Kindest regards, Geoffrey.
Sounds like the pothole may have caused damage to something else, wiring, sensors.... Do you have a diagnostic tool or app to check for errors and to check the readings. This will give an idea of what each sensor is reading
@@DBMiniDIY Thank you for your swift reply. The only diagnostic tool is in between my ears, and as a professional mechanic it usually works quite well. I am focused on classic cars however, this SPi I am working on is somewhat 'recent' compared to most other vehicles I usually do. I have read about a MEMS diagnostic app, which has wide acclaim. I am having an impossibly hard time sourcing cables to wire the thing to my phone, so I have to work without, it seems. I have checked all electrical and vacuum connections, all seems to be in place. I am really running on fumes with this one... I suppose I'll just send it off to some electronics guru around here... Many thanks again!
@@gmcevoy yes its somewhere between classic carbs and modern injection, plus half the time you are dealing with previous owners attempts to fix/modify it. Othef than vacuum pipes the common source of over fuelling and a high idle is a faulty coolant sensor. Also is the cat good? I've known issues with non OEM cats, good luck
@@DBMiniDIY Thank you so much for your input, it is highly appreciated. I took a look at the cat which did have a puncture, possibly elated to the pot-hole incident. I patched it up in a pinch with Gun-Gum to make it air-tight again, as I thought the extra air being drawn in might cause it to overheat. That wasn't it apparently. It isn't clogged either. I thought the coolant sensor might be at fault, but what are the odds it starts playing up at specifically the moment of tripping the fuel pump switch? It is not easy to reach, either. I do have accurate workshop data at hand, but so far haven't gone so far as to pull it out to take a reading. The diagnostic tool you mentioned would of course reveal real-time readings... Is there only one type of coolant sensor, or are there various ones depending on market distribution? If there is only one, I might just as well replace it. Thanks again, it is refreshing to have an external point of view.
Hey DB.. Building my mini for a box of parts. I have a K&N air filter unit for the top of my injector unit, a nice circular one with chrome top.. There is no area for the red vacuum pipe to connect? Is that normal? There is a sensor alright but no place for the pipe? What should I do with the red vacuum in that instance? Thanks!
Hi, great videos really enjoy them. I've had issues with my mini, when igniton is turned on my fuel pump didn't prime, I removed my existing ECU along with the 5as alarm system and replaced with a known good second hand ECU and 3as alarm system, fixed the fuel pump priming concern but I believe the main wiring to be different designation for the now fitted 3as system, is this something you've come across before? Is it a simple case of changing a wire or 2 over, or possible replacement loom needed? Its just finding the relevant one I need is causing me the issue. Regards Luke.
@@DBMiniDIY thats great thankyou, so providing this info to the relevant mini parts places online they should be able to narrow it down for me, because I've noticed its asking for applicable vin number range but I unfortunately don't have this info due to it being a second hand purchase. Regards Luke
@@lukegillett1261 yes the serial number will tell you the year and what loom is required, there were quite a few different variant of ECU between 91 and 96, earlier ones had one ecu multiplug into the ecu, later ones had 2
@@DBMiniDIY thankyou mate, is there anywhere in particular you recommend for getting the loom? Both places I've tried so far can't give me the exact main loom to match the ECU and alarm system I now have, would obviously like it to be the right loom before I order it, where did you purchase your loom from? Were they ok with returns? Regards Luke.
Have a look on the NLA facebook page, they have them on their sometkmes or through Japanese importing stockists, they are no longer made or stocked in the UK, you can buy seals for them but not the full injector
Thanks for recording all of these spi videos. I’m a recent spi owner and a novice (but enthusiastic) mechanic. These videos are so helpful. Can’t thank you enough for sharing. I’m loving learning about this with my kids as we restore my spi 😊
Thanks, you sound a lot like me, best way to learn is by getting your hands dirty. Im glad the videos are helping others out there, enjoy the memories with the kids, they grow up quickly
Thank you so much for sharing this overview on the SPI system. A friend brought his SPI equipped mini over to my shop and it stalls when stopping at a traffic light or similar. I had never seen the SPI before and your video really gave me the type of initial overview information that I had been looking for. Based on what I learned from your video I’ll start with checking and most likely replacing the 4 vacuum lines.
Its always nice to know the videos are helping other mini enthusiasts out there, thanks for the comment
Soon to be SPI owner. I just want to say again how much I appreciate your videos on the SPI. Thanks!
Thanks, its always nice to hear they are helping other mini enthuiasiasts
Can’t thank you enough for this. I’ve just bought an SPi and you’ve helped me diagnose two issues and taught me much more besides
Thanks, its always nice to hear I'm helping some of the mini community out
Really helpful video. Owned my spi for a year and had the injection system off and didn't have a clue what I was doing, so thanks for the detailed explanation.
Yeah its a bit scary the first time you take it off
Brilliant assistance. The mud has cleared... No experts on this in my part of New Zealand. Now, to find a replacement ceramic heater unit....the cause of poor mixture.. Thanks for your efforts.
Thanks, I'm glad it helped, cheapest i found them was on minispares
As a fellow SPI owner i found this really informative. Thanks DB! As you know I've gotten some spares but I'll keep acquiring those hard to find or expensive bits. I find it sad when people ditch the SPI as when they are right they are rapid and mine starts first time every time thus far
Thank you for documenting your adventures with Ed. I recently purchased a '94 Mayfair here in Japan, and have been experiencing the engine stuttering at lower revs or even stalling at lights. This is my first foray into mechanics, so I have been a little lost reading the Haynes manual. Your videos are exactly what I needed to illustrate the processes and help give the courage to tackle these jobs myself. Looking forward to more of your videos!
I'm glad the vids help people, thanks for your comment. The Haynes manual is a great book and a must have but there is nothing that beats seeing it and then doing it yourself, its the best way to learn and these cars are the best to learn on. I hope your spi treats you well
Vac pipes or lose rubber hoses on the fuel bar my friend
@@Debbie687 Debbie do you tune spi models
Fantastic detail. Good for newbies and oldies with amnesia. (Not saying which one I fall under 🤣🤣). Thank you for sharing 👍🙏
😂😂 you're welcome
Fantastic video thank you very much for uploading it, very informative. I have a Monte Carlo (14 years now) and I'm in the process of replacing Vacuum pipes so this has been really helpful
Thanks for the advice.. I’m new to Mini’s and rebuilding an SPI at the moment. This was great!
Sounds good, join my fb group, its dbminidiy. And you can share photos and progress of your project if you like
Thanks for this video really good
Great explanation on it, my Spi was fantastic and never really had any problems apart from one sensor. Certainly a great get in and go mini
When they run as they should, they are great driving cars, thanks
Great explanation! Thanks!
great video. really useful to see where the parts are located and how to get to them
DB, Top video great help for SPI owners, Just too much extra wiring and more things to go wrong. Cheers Dave
Thanks Dave, wiring isn't my most favourite job i have to say, give me mechanical any day
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤Quite detailed tutorial...
Very informative thank you. I'm like you, run a 1996 spi 1275 Mayfair and a 1987 piccadilly 998 hs4 carb.
Super explanation
Good explanation DB, thanks for sharing
Thanks for the video I’m sure this will come in handy sometimes. 👍
Thank you so very much.
Great video DB and well explained. I'm sure this video will help others with an Spi
Cheers mate, i know the spi isn't your most favourite car😂
@@DBMiniDIY very true DB but like you say there's not a lot of videos on them and its good to see you covering this. The Spi/ Mpi's do drive well but its when the electronics go wrong they can be costly. Ed will be a well sorted car once you've done all the work on him I'll need to have a wee shot of him when he's fully operational 😁
Just realised how far behind I am with your videos ahahahah, got a lot of catch up to do! Still not started my mini but hope with the better weather can get the garage properly water tight and sorted and get a start.
Sounds good mate
Great video and this is a big help. M
excellent and very explanatory video, from which store can the parts be obtained?
Hi DB Mini DIY.
At the 22 minute mark you were pushing back a little bar to show how it opens flap in the throttle body. How do I adjust the bar to keep the engine from cutting out when idling. (it is practically touching the rocker cover)
You can probably tell I'm a novice, hope my question makes sense.
Thank you
This is set up by adjusting the throttle cable. There are two nuts that tighten at the front once the cable is in place. It is set up when a tab to the rear, called the lost motion link, is in the middle of either side, hard to explain without seeing it but if you have a haynes manual there is a diagram in it, look at this and then look at the injection unit itself and it should become clearer, once this is set up correctly the stepper motor will then control the idle speed, hope this helps
Very interesting video DB, thanks a lot
I think to have check everythings on my injection, 1996 SPI, but I still have a problem with pollution. The technichal control is refused. Everything is working
Can you help me perhaps ?
Thanks
Hi There. Great video. Glad I found it as very informative. Tried to get in contact but failed. Would like some advice if possible?
Thanks, i have added you to the FB group
Awesome thanks, a real help My son has a 96 Equinox SPI runs ok at the mo but this will help. have you a video on changing the vacuum hoses?
Thanks, yes I've covered it a few times in the previous vids on Ed both explained and shown
@@DBMiniDIY will have a look.
Thanks for this video.
I have had a starting problem and think it's the stepper motor.
Can it stop power getting to the coil?
The stepper controls the idle, starting issues could be a number of other issues, just need to go through all the systems to find the fault
If the SPI has been fitted with a K&N FILTER. How does this effect where the vacuum pipes go buddy?
The red vacuum pipe that would normally connect to the original filter box gets plugged and sat aside. The k and n kit should come with a blanking screw/bolt
@@DBMiniDIY cheers mate, that’s the set up I have 🙏
I have mini 1986 with this system. The system is not working and i need to buy a new one . Any website recommended.. pls help me
Awesome, just got myself a rover mini cabriolet 1996. Had it imported over to Australia! The fuel pump fuse keeps popping mind.. Any ideas?
Check all the wiring and then to make sure thete are no leaks onto the fuse box, that where id start
@@DBMiniDIY thanks mate I'll get into it! Great video as well!!
What is the ease of taking this system and adapting it onto another engine ? May be a other A series engine on a classic car. I want to find a system for an old Landrover. I initially looked at the Merc 190 as it was single point injection, any other ideas ? It would need to be tunable.
The spi is not tunable, its quite limited to its ecu and set up, there are other aftermarket injection systems but they are rudiculously expensive. The carb, or mpi models are more tunable. Ive never seen it used on anpther engine, although rover had a few versions and different engine sizes
I'm a spi owner & currently I'm stripping the car to a bear shell. I'm not a mechanic & I'm interested to know how to remove this part from the manifold? Do you have a video showing step by step? Thanks in advance ☺
No need, I've found your video it's very informative 👍🏻.
@@velmathemini you beat me to it😂. Good luck with the stripdown👍
I'll probably be checking more of your videos as I progress. Your instructions are easy to follow 👍🏻. Thanks for posting.
I am currently trying to restore my spi mini. My mechanic plugged the red vacuum hose with some sort of a screw. also he did not connect the wiring of the sensor of the airbox. can you tell me the possible problems that this may cause?
Does it have a k and n air filter fitted, this is what they would do when adding that to replace the standard airbox
Bonjour je recherche un single point pour ma mini open british spi
Pouvez vous m aider svp
Helloooo! So I need helpppp! My spi ROVER 200 doesn’t spit out a striong stream of fuel, only a light Misting, everything else has been checked and works perfectly! However the injector doesn’t shoot enough fuel out of the spi! Fuel supply is strong but doesn’t come out of the injector! I’ve put a mini spi on ( more or less same thing ) to double check if it’s just my origional injector but it’s not….. any advice
Im not as familiar with the Rover as i am the mini but as you say most oarts are thd same or very similiar, first thought from what you said is an issue wuth the fuel system, has the fuel filter been checked? Or if you say its the delivery from the injector and you have tried a different one and it does the same have you checked the fuse/relays and wiring to the injection unit. I know in the mini the fuel relay is within the relay pack
Good one. My '88 has the single carb but I have a fuel injected Triumph Bonneville motorcycle and it has an injector for each of the two cylinders. Shares a fair bit of the sensors and vacuum lines as your SPI.
Do you use any kind of sealant or silicone/di-electric type grease on the vacuum line fittings to help keep them well sealed and weather resistant? Are you planning to clean up that spi unit? Looks like an ultrasonic cleaner could do a great job on it.
The vacuum pipes are a tight fit as standard but i have replaced all 4 of mine with 3mm silicone vacuum hose and i really prefer them to the originals. I do plan on restoring the spare unit with new pipes and core plugs at some point, its on my very long to do list
Nice video! Surely it must be possible to re-create the functionality of that SPI relay unit using standard relays at a reasonable price??
I've not seen it attempted and I've not opened it up yet but maybe something to look into
@@DBMiniDIY Well sadly I am out of the game these days - I used to make centre binnacle looms for folks and I even did a full custom loom for a pickup, but that was all years ago! :D
Hello On my mini, when I switch on the ignition the electric fuel pump does not start, if I plug it directly into the battery it works So I would like to know where the problem comes from? Thanks in advance for the advice
A fuse, the relay pack or a broken wire
Also have you tried to reset the inertia cut off switch, button at the tiolpright of the engine bay, hitting a large pot hole or similiar can trigger this meaning it would need reset
Hi! Having issues with a very high idle on a spi mini cooper after a rebuild. Any ideas on what to check?
Have you driven the car much, sometimes the ecu needs time to adjust to the new setup, failing that do you have a diagnostic lead and app to checling reading
@@DBMiniDIY Ill have a look tonight
Hi there! Highly informative video, thank you for sharing. I am having issues with an SPi which is driving me up the wall. Idle is way too high, and the catalyst glows red hot within 5 minutes. I have replaced lambda sensor already, to no avail. This issue came forth when a nasty pothole tripped the fuel cut-off switch. Since then, it has been playing up like so, and I am all out of ideas. Valve adjustment is within spec, plugs are good, exhaust downpipe has been replaced along with lambda sensor on the manifold, cylinder compression pressure is within spec, cylinder leak test came out fine... It all happened since the day it tripped that switch. Any ideas of what could cause this? Many thanks in advance for any insight whatsoever. Kindest regards, Geoffrey.
Sounds like the pothole may have caused damage to something else, wiring, sensors.... Do you have a diagnostic tool or app to check for errors and to check the readings. This will give an idea of what each sensor is reading
@@DBMiniDIY Thank you for your swift reply. The only diagnostic tool is in between my ears, and as a professional mechanic it usually works quite well. I am focused on classic cars however, this SPi I am working on is somewhat 'recent' compared to most other vehicles I usually do. I have read about a MEMS diagnostic app, which has wide acclaim. I am having an impossibly hard time sourcing cables to wire the thing to my phone, so I have to work without, it seems. I have checked all electrical and vacuum connections, all seems to be in place. I am really running on fumes with this one...
I suppose I'll just send it off to some electronics guru around here...
Many thanks again!
@@gmcevoy yes its somewhere between classic carbs and modern injection, plus half the time you are dealing with previous owners attempts to fix/modify it. Othef than vacuum pipes the common source of over fuelling and a high idle is a faulty coolant sensor. Also is the cat good? I've known issues with non OEM cats, good luck
@@DBMiniDIY Thank you so much for your input, it is highly appreciated. I took a look at the cat which did have a puncture, possibly elated to the pot-hole incident. I patched it up in a pinch with Gun-Gum to make it air-tight again, as I thought the extra air being drawn in might cause it to overheat. That wasn't it apparently. It isn't clogged either. I thought the coolant sensor might be at fault, but what are the odds it starts playing up at specifically the moment of tripping the fuel pump switch? It is not easy to reach, either. I do have accurate workshop data at hand, but so far haven't gone so far as to pull it out to take a reading. The diagnostic tool you mentioned would of course reveal real-time readings... Is there only one type of coolant sensor, or are there various ones depending on market distribution? If there is only one, I might just as well replace it. Thanks again, it is refreshing to have an external point of view.
@@gmcevoy only only type but get it from a mini dealer, not a cheap one from Ebay, they are under £20, so not expensive
Hey DB.. Building my mini for a box of parts. I have a K&N air filter unit for the top of my injector unit, a nice circular one with chrome top.. There is no area for the red vacuum pipe to connect? Is that normal? There is a sensor alright but no place for the pipe? What should I do with the red vacuum in that instance?
Thanks!
It gets blocked off at the end that would normally attach to the standard airbox, the k and n kit usually comes with a bolt to block it
Hi, great videos really enjoy them. I've had issues with my mini, when igniton is turned on my fuel pump didn't prime, I removed my existing ECU along with the 5as alarm system and replaced with a known good second hand ECU and 3as alarm system, fixed the fuel pump priming concern but I believe the main wiring to be different designation for the now fitted 3as system, is this something you've come across before? Is it a simple case of changing a wire or 2 over, or possible replacement loom needed? Its just finding the relevant one I need is causing me the issue. Regards Luke.
The ecu usually has a sticker on it telling you which model it is and from that you can match with the loom needed.
@@DBMiniDIY thats great thankyou, so providing this info to the relevant mini parts places online they should be able to narrow it down for me, because I've noticed its asking for applicable vin number range but I unfortunately don't have this info due to it being a second hand purchase. Regards Luke
@@lukegillett1261 yes the serial number will tell you the year and what loom is required, there were quite a few different variant of ECU between 91 and 96, earlier ones had one ecu multiplug into the ecu, later ones had 2
@@DBMiniDIY thankyou mate, is there anywhere in particular you recommend for getting the loom? Both places I've tried so far can't give me the exact main loom to match the ECU and alarm system I now have, would obviously like it to be the right loom before I order it, where did you purchase your loom from? Were they ok with returns? Regards Luke.
Do you know where to find an injector for the mini spi?
Have a look on the NLA facebook page, they have them on their sometkmes or through Japanese importing stockists, they are no longer made or stocked in the UK, you can buy seals for them but not the full injector
Thanks for your response, do you have a valid link please?
@@franic2804 facebook.com/ClassicMiniNLA
I have been practicing my editing ahahhaha