6 replies to this topic

[Jennings]

Model: 1991 Rover Mini Cooper 1275 SU

Hi

Just got this car and the temperature gauge doesn't work. The fuel gauge works fine, & I've tried grounding the spade that fits to the switch on the engine block but the temp gauge won't move. I've had the (original standard) instrument panel out and can't find any loose connections.

The only thing I can think to do now is to take a wire direct from the back of the instrument panel and ground that to see if the gauge moves then, but I'm not sure which coloured wire is the temp one. Is this the best way forward? If so, which wire should I run from?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Edited by Jennings, 21 October 2009 - 02:56 PM.

[taffy1967]

Join the club as the temp gauge on my 1990 Mainstream Mini Cooper hasn't worked in some 8 years either.

I got it running lovely after replacing the sender unit, then when my coil packed in it sent the temp gauge haywire and it hasn't worked since.

Mine also doesn't work even when trying to short it out on the engine block and as it's a Nippon Seiki instrument (as opposed to the original and best Smiths Instruments of old) there is no replaceable voltage regulator plugged into the back. I believe the regulating or stabilising is done electronically within the gauge.

So I'm told a replacement gauge is required?

Unless someone has any proof that it can be repaired?

[GTIAlex06]

Il join the club aswell. My 1989 Mini City Temp Gauge doesnt work. Tryed to get it fixed but i gave up a while back.

[taffy1967]

The only other issue I know of is if your windscreen wipers no longer park by themselves, then it's because the wiper motor park-switch has failed.

When those fail they can cause a short circuit and as they run on the same circuit as the gauges, they can upset the gauges or keep blowing the main fuse.

I've had that problem in the past too, but it was the rev counter that got affected on my Mini and we had to isolate it (by removing the spade terminal off the fuse box) so the main fuse wouldn't keep blowing.

Replacing the wiper motor park-switch solved that problem and my rev counter works fine again (after I reconnected the spade terminal).

So if your wipers aren't parking, then you could try replacing the park switch. But from my own experience I doubt that is the problem in your case (although I could be wrong).

Edited by taffy1967, 21 October 2009 - 03:06 PM.

[taffy1967]

Il join the club aswell. My 1989 Mini City Temp Gauge doesnt work. Tryed to get it fixed but i gave up a while back.

Another Nippon Seiki instruments nightmare I'm afraid.

[Jennings]

Thanks for the replies. The wipers are parking fine (had to use them a lot today! )
I drove it 300 miles back from Liverpool the other day and it didn't overheat or lose any water so I don't think there's any overheating problem - but I'm sure you can imagine it wasn't the most relaxing drive home I've had in a new car!

[Jennings]

Would it be straightforward/practical to buy a Smiths or maybe Lucas remote one (taking from the wire that feeds the existing SickNip one)?