Jump in your car, you could be here in a couple of hours and I'll give you some. I'll even lend you a brush!
I noticed a couple of times the temp gauge has been getting higher while waiting for my drive through coffee Checked water this morning and it needed a top up which I did Went for my drive through coffee and had to wait and noticed the gauge creeping and the fan staying on longer turned off engine while waiting in queue Re-started engine parked up turned off engine and the fan kept going which it has never done before for around 5 mins It was fine when I got home any ideas did Mini get a shock being topped up with water? Had a little race with an Audi 7 that's quick on the straight bits but R53 comes into her own on bends and roundabouts Still smiling
Thi o Have a look around the pulleys on the “nose” of the engine. If you see water in that area or on the floor underneath, then the water pump has probably failed. You’ll probably need to look from underneath as it’s all very tightly packaged under the bonnet. If you can get a hand on the water pump pulley then give it a wiggle and if there’s any play in it then, again, that’s a sign that it’s kaput. PS: make sure the engine is switched off
My partners Mini has done this since day one, doesn’t worry me as the fluids are all correct. Although to be fair I’m not sure her Clubbie has a gauge as such like my van you hope you get a warning light.
Clubbie Gen 2 has engine temp on the tacho dial. Depending on how yours (hers) is set up you might have to scroll through using the "BC" or left arm off the steering wheel. Can't help with [re 2007 or the later F models.
I had an injector come loose! Smoke, heart attack, roadside stop, impending gloom of bank account emptying, sinking feeling - all the usual. Bloody Facebook. Mini forum folks told me immediately how to sort, fixed it in a a few moments, wiped off the diesel and sprayed brake cleaner on the rest that I couldn't get to. Drove it around 30 miles and it seems OK. Off to Liverpool area today to for a longer test to see if its all good. PS I do have breakdown recovery.
I was going to check yesterday but it was blooming raining Will check coolant tank level later and check the floor
Lady Nashers previous mini caused me a bit of consternation. I had it one day as it needed an MOT, but when I got the call to say it had passed they said it was making a terrible clattering noise as if the tappets were not pumping up. I couldn’t pick it up until later in the day, but as it was Friday had already thought I was going to spend at least some of the weekend fixing it. They started it up and it was fine, sounded sweet like it always did, which really surprised them. I told them that regardless I was going to pick up some flushing Oil on my way home and try that before anything else in case it’s just a Hydraulic tappet with a bit of muck in it. Hopefully after a flush and proper Oil change it would be OK. I did however turn the Radio off and keep a better ear out as I drove home. Sure enough, a couple of miles or so up the road it started clattering away like a good-un. I took it easy to get it home, and parked it up for a couple of hours before going back to it. When restarted it was fine again, but then shortly afterwards started clattering. But, something didn’t make sense, normally a lazy tappet would be evident at start up then get better. I noticed that when not up to operating temp it would be fine, but as it got up to temp just before it started clattering there was a strange whirring noise. The Clattering was also coming from the end of the engine not the top. To cut a long story short: Very well hidden down the end of the engine is the coolant pump. The Petrol Mini of that age had a really good system where the water pump was only driven when the car was up to temperature. The pump belt was tensioned by a servo motor to start the pump turning when it got the signal it was needed – The Whirring noise. And here’s the answer. The ribbed belt for the pump had broken up in one place, so that over a couple of inches there were no ribs, and every time it went over the tensioner it made a noise. A £10 belt and about 10mins fitting time fixed it.
Back from Liverpool and the injector didn't leak a drop. That's about 120 miles now since I "nipped up" the injector. I'll keep a close eye on it for a while yet, but I may well have resolved that one. The reason I went to Liverpool is that I have come to know the MOT bloke there at a little outfit. The Mini needed a new ticket and whilst I was pretty certain it would pass, I still wanted a good inspection as opposed to an overly easy or difficult/ tyre kicking one that was looking for some work... The Mini passed with : A bulb out on the rear plate Light misting on the front shocks Service brake fluctuating on all 4 corners I figure I'll stick in a bulb at the weekend. The rest should keep as the car stops on a dime without any juddering whatsoever. I expect a set of discs would do the trick but all the pads still have 50% left. Probably replace Disks & pads together in a few more miles. Misting on the shockers may last for 5 years with low usage and again it drives without any "bouncing". Obviously if I decide to sell it for any reason, I would get it all done with a new MOT, or point out the issues & sell it off cheap. Thoughts Mini folks? How much are disks & pads inc fitting? Anyone switched their suspension lately?
I use pagid discs and pads It's been a while since I had them changed Brake pads will need doing got spares in my cupboard Not sure how much to fit as it won't be as cheap as when I had mine done You may need a brake sensor I get that from main dealer
Oh? Do the sensors break when you take them out then? I have always replaced it Think it was around £10 New pads new discs new brake fluid new sensor Piece of mind
My neighbours mini overheated on the M6, they were recovered home, I checked it for them and replaced the thermostat for them as it had failed. When was yours last serviced? When was the coolant flushed/ replaced?
It was serviced last year Don't think it had a flush or replaced coolant. I didn't ask for it either Have checked just now and there is little coolant left so I must have a leak somewhere
My money is still on the water pump. Have you also checked for holes in the radiator or perished hoses? Another way it can lose water is if the head gasket has blown or the cylinder head has warped, so the coolant is mixing with the oil and getting into the combustion chambers. Check for white smoke coming from the exhaust and under the oil cap for creamy deposits.
