7 replies to this topic

[masslaw]

My three previous Minis were fairly simple: one or two carbs, fairly simple wiring, manuals galore.  38 years after my last Mini 1000,  I now have a '96 Rover Mini Cooper, Spi and a very steep learning curve ahead of me.  The most ominous  is the ECU.  I see threads here about resetting it, having it go to memory to reset itself, not working at all or badly.  How or where can I pickup some rudimentary information about these.? I worry that the local MINI dealer will not know how to deal with any problems I may have with it.  So far, all is running very well, just anticipating.  It's still a Mini after all.

[hunterg30]

look in the forums for 

Injection Mini Specific - SPi/MPi

 this will give you the info, most problems with the spi is due to the elbows on the vacuum lines cracking

[Bobbins]

As an aside to just learning about your SPi Mini, I'd recommend getting hold of a copy of Dave Walker's "Engine Management" (published by Haynes), it explains in simple terms what the ecu black magic boxes actually do and they're nothing like as complex as you might imagine. All injection systems are fundamentally the same although unfortunately the Mini SPi setup is a slightly more complex design, the MPi is much simpler.

Once you get your head round fuel and ignition maps and the various sensors needed to feed information to the ecu, you'll wonder why anyone would want to use anything so complex as a carburettor!

Stu.

[MatthewsDad]

There's plenty of great information here on the forum. Took me a while to get a few problems sorted when I first got my spi (mainly down to poor maintenance previously) but over the last few years everything's been completely reliable. The issue is less the ECU itself and more the accuracy of the information it gets from the few sensors and vacuum hoses it relies on. Poor maintenance = dud information.

[brivinci]

I seriously doubt your local MINI dealer will even touch one of these. Find a Mini specialist OR start reading. There a wonderful pinned topic on this forum that gives you a great bit of info on the basics...and what typically goes wrong. The ECU on these is very good, but basic in the means of what you can do with/to it. Get yourself a Rover Mini specific scanner or download (search this forum for info) one and run it on a PC. 

 

These can give you some headaches when they are are acting up but when they aren't, they are wonderful. Nearly all of my problems on my 94 were mechanical based. Its has NEVER left me stranded due to anything ECU-wise. 

[masslaw]

Where, on an SPI, does the scanner plug in?

[Wiggy]

Under the bonnet. On the bulkhead. Around the brake servo / relay module area. It may be tucked away. The white 3 pin connector with a black cover on it. The green one is for the alarm.

MPi is under the dash, left of the steering wheel.

[minidizzy]

Be aware that standardised diagnostic equipment (OBD) does not work on a mini. You will need something like an ACR4 (or ACR2) code reader with Rover pod 3 or later and a specific harness.