11 replies to this topic

[mozybrown]

Hi everybody im a new to this .. but here we go my daughter recently bought herself a mini cooper 1997 which has been suffering with overheating when running slowly learning to drive .. the cooling fan was seized so ive replaced that but to no avail it still wont cut in when hot ..
ive tried shorting the the temp sensor connector but still no go can anybody help[ please ive got a diagnostic machine and was thinking i could just plug in and see what sensors were active etc but i cant find a diagnostic port on the car..

any hel;p would be great as at present we leave the heating on when shes learning to try and add some cooling that way..

[L400RAS]

Its under the dash - to the right of the switch panel. I would suggest replacing the temperature sensor, and perhaps buying hte wiring harness from minispares (about £30). The harness was not long enough from rover, and fractures form in the wires, thus breaking them internally - look ok from the outside.

Sensor. (out of stock though - reference only)
Harness. - read the description

HTH
Ryan

[L400RAS]

Had another thought (that should be checked first) -

the fuse?
If the fan had seized, and tried to turn on, perhaps it blew the fuse. So now it has a new fan fitted, the fuse should be checked - could also be the reason you cannot short the fan to test it.

From the manual it should be fuse B9, 15amp in the fuse box in the cabin - near the drivers right knee.

(by the way, i have all the MPi manuals in pdf format if you want them, pm me your email address)

Let us know how you get on !

Ryan

Edited by L400RAS, 13 March 2010 - 06:22 PM.

[mozybrown]

well that is great.. thanks for all your help i will check the fuse first thing and report back.. ive downloaded the manual from this sit ealready and was busy thumbing through it ..T o be honest i had minis when i was young and have tried to stop her buying one but now ive worked on the little sod im beginning to get the bug again ..

i dont suppose you guys know anything about the suspension aswell as her one seems to sit to low and is a bugger on the speed humps that are local council has plonked all over my area..

thanks again for the help regard mark

[mozybrown]

Hi Ryan thanks for the imformation.. Just to let you know if you ever need to replace your collant fan , rather than pay the 100 plus you can buy one fron ebay for £45 and a universal fitting kit for a fiver but i didnt use the fitting kit i opted to just use the motor and impellor and build back into the original housing as the motor dimensions were exactly the same.. so it cost me 45 pounds in total and a little labour time ,, and off coarse a few swearing fits due to seized bolts etc.. cheers mark

[L400RAS]

i dont suppose you guys know anything about the suspension aswell as her one seems to sit to low and is a bugger on the speed humps

Is the side affected the drivers side? If so, its probably natural wear of the cones having 1 person in the car for a lot of the time. This could however be knuckle cup failure, but if not significant difference I would not worry about this.
Ryan

[bmcecosse]

A 97 car will be needing new rubber cones and very possibly new dampers by now! The cones will lift the car back to the correct ride height - and give some suppleness to the suspension movement!

[mozybrown]

Hi thanks for the imformation regarding the suspension cones.. One thing though would it in your opinion be worth rep[lacing with the hi low system mini sport have and do the cones at the same time and also sorry to keep on ,do i require any specialist tools to do the job .. as im/ she is worried that it will be off the road for ages ,, But as ive just come back from a driving session with her i wouldnt mind that at all .. im rapidly going grey and my finger nails are none existant.

still cracking little car when i drive it!

[mozybrown]

Ryan you were right the fuse had blown and the car is all good now just got back from a lesson with her my god i think i might pay someone else to do it im to old for that sort of stress/fear..

thanks again mate ..

[L400RAS]

Ryan you were right the fuse had blown and the car is all good now just got back from a lesson with her my god i think i might pay someone else to do it im to old for that sort of stress/fear..
thanks again mate ..

Lol, we all had to learn... Glad the fuse was the problem.

Regarding the cones question, i myself have a 2000 Xreg car, done 30k miles that was slightly sagging. I probably should have replaced cones, but i ended up just fitting hi los and adjustable dampers. Cones will be on the list this year i rekon, just a bit expensive! PS - NEVER buy cheap copy cones - buy the dunlop / moultons - the cheap ones are known to collapse after 200miles.

Ryan

[Teapot]

she is worried that it will be off the road for ages ,, But as ive just come back from a driving session with her i wouldnt mind that at all .. im rapidly going grey and my finger nails are none existant.

just got back from a lesson with her my god i think i might pay someone else to do it im to old for that sort of stress/fear..

Glad to hear she's driving it as a mini should be driven
You realise you can't just fix it once ... it's an everlasting job?

[L400RAS]

Forgot to mention, special tools to fit hi los;

1.5/16" socket for subframe bolts
spring compressor (metric thread only)
Whatever size spanners for the hi lo adjusting nuts (various size nuts come with differing hi lo manufacturers - minisport adjuster rides = 1 inch by the way)
If you do the cones, then you will need the top arms out - requiring a ball joint splitter - get the scissor type not the fork.
Various sockets (imperials) and knuckle bars etc, plus torqure wrench. Haynes manual?

Ryan

Edited by L400RAS, 14 March 2010 - 04:45 PM.