7 replies to this topic

[Unmutual]

Hey folks, looking for a suggestion or two... The spi engine in my mini has a rattle, but it’s not constant. It’s not noticeable at idle, but does appear sometimes around the 2500rpm mark. If I then press the accelerator harder, the rattle stops until I lift off and cruise. If I stop accelerating altogether, the noise stops... The car doesn’t seem to be down on power... Any ideas?

[Wiggy]

Check your valve clearances.

It's a tic-a-tac-a-tic-a-tac-a noise if they're loose.

Edited by Wiggy, 18 May 2019 - 09:23 PM.

[dan1zo]

It could be something simple. Mine did something similar and it turned out that the bonnet prop was rattling once the engine hit a certain frequency.

Just put  bit of rubber around it.

Something to check if it sounds like metal on metal.

[brivinci]

Honestly, I’ve come to the realization that all classic minis “have a rattle”. It can come anywhere. Engine bay, interior, you name it. Currently, mine drivers door rattles at idle, as does my drivers headrest. I have different rattles when the car gets “on song”. Try as I might, some I’ve simply boiled down to par for the course and have noticed that if you drive With the windows down, you can tolerate a hell of a lot more...and this is coming from someone who is hell bent on making his mini cram from average. I’d, one of the few that doesn’t leave a mark every time it parks up and can sit in traffic without spontaneously combusting. There are battles you will always have to fight in a mini...and some
You will have to give into slightly. That said, you might completely overcome this, just don’t hold your poor mini to it if you don’t :-/

[Twincam]

I've had the bonnet prop and exhaust clamp (didnt rattle all of the time) come loose before also. Start it up with the bonnet open and see if it makes the noise at 2.5k (once warm).

 

I believe some also had heat shields fitted (maybe just the MPI?) so might be that (if its got one)?

[hungdynasty]

You sure the rattle comes from the engine? I had rattle a year ago and it was the catalytic converter after my JDM coil failed and gasoline went straight to the cat and damaged it.

[Alpenflitzer]

Without knowing exactly how the rattle sound there is only one thing to check details in the engine bay. I started out to control major bolts and nuts  such as donuts in front where maybe the shims are missing, Engine steadies rubbers and metal tubes inside the rubbers, radiator, horn, relais and so on.

I had a terrible time to find it,

 

If you can hear it when the engine idles you shoul find it listening to the engine with an open bonnet.

Edited by Alpenflitzer, 29 May 2019 - 05:12 PM.

[brivinci]

Does it happen only at certain RPMs? If so, will it make it parked up with the car revving to that RPM? Get a length of tube and hold it to your ear and start poking around in the engine bay. Really helps isolate noises.