11 replies to this topic

[mini mickey]

Hi there,
I love my 1986 mayfair automatic mini but family and friends are saying I need a 'more reliable car' and like to remind me about the problems I've had with it since i brought it last year. But i refuse!
I have a rattling noise coming from behind the dashboard, and i took it to my local car garage and they said its the speedo metres cable, and that it needs to be replaced. im not convinced, as it doesnt always rattle. however the rattle seems to get faster as i speed up and is not heard whilst stationary. Any ideas on what it could be?

[cooperdan]

loose wing nut for the dash,

[Pending]

The joys of owning a mini, do what most do, turn up the stereo

[mini mickey]

The joys of owning a mini, do what most do, turn up the stereo

hah yeah thats what i've resulted in doing for the time being but my friends and family aren't impressed and banging on about how i should get a newer car

[cooperdan]

The joys of owning a mini, do what most do, turn up the stereo

hah yeah thats what i've resulted in doing for the time being but my friends and family aren't impressed and banging on about how i should get a newer car

why there not driving it...you are

[mini mickey]

The joys of owning a mini, do what most do, turn up the stereo

hah yeah thats what i've resulted in doing for the time being but my friends and family aren't impressed and banging on about how i should get a newer car

why there not driving it...you are

true...but it does get rather annoying...especially when the radio signal decides to fail on me..

[coupland]

The joys of owning a mini, do what most do, turn up the stereo

hah yeah thats what i've resulted in doing for the time being but my friends and family aren't impressed and banging on about how i should get a newer car

why there not driving it...you are

true...but it does get rather annoying...especially when the radio signal decides to fail on me..

mine does exactly the same thing when im at certain speeds, but im still not swapping it for a newer car

[the-green-monkey]

It happens with most of them there are so many things it could be mine tends to be dirt or something in the heater so when i switch it on it blows around and rattles, could be that somethings fell down behind the clocks, to be hoest i wouldnt worry about it, and i really wouldnt pay attention to what they say at the garage, sounds like they want to scam you, cant really see how the speedo cable could cause a rattle that serious really as for the freinds and family just ignore them and next time your in their car complain about the lack of rattling

Edited by the-green-monkey, 11 February 2010 - 10:20 PM.

[taffy1967]

Well you could remove the speedo housing pod (please post some pictures so we can see if it's the original type).

Don't follow the Haynes manual method of tugging on the dash pod cluster (speedo/gauges housing) as you'll probably crack the inner clock housing cage or damage the securing clips.

The correct way to remove it is to either undo the screws on the engine bulkhead (not easy if the original soundproofing foam is still in place, but if you unscrew the fuse box then the foam can be pulled to the side) and then lift the whole dash assembly forwards and of course unplug everything including the speedo cable.

Or remove the drivers air filter vent (unscrew the outer ring and then twist the main vent unit anti-clockwise to release it), remove the dash liner (you'll just need to pull the door seal away slightly to free up the liner). Then try to peel back the dash liner on the left of the clock.

After that you'll just need to undo the posi-drive screws each side of the main dash casing with a small stubby screwdriver.

Either way don't try tugging it off.

Edited by taffy1967, 11 February 2010 - 10:22 PM.

[mini mickey]

Well you could remove the speedo housing pod (please post some pictures so we can see if it's the original type).

Don't follow the Haynes manual method of tugging on the dash pod cluster (speedo/gauges housing) as you'll probably crack the inner clock housing cage or damage the securing clips.

The correct way to remove it is to either undo the screws on the engine bulkhead (not easy if the original soundproofing foam is still in place, but if you unscrew the fuse box then the foam can be pulled to the side) and then lift the whole dash assembly forwards and of course unplug everything including the speedo cable.

Or remove the drivers air filter vent (unscrew the outer ring and then twist the main vent unit anti-clockwise to release it), remove the dash liner (you'll just need to pull the door seal away slightly to free up the liner). Then try to peel back the dash liner on the left of the clock.

After that you'll just need to undo the posi-drive screws each side of the main dash casing with a small stubby screwdriver.

Either way don't try tugging it off.

that sounds ridiculously complicated for an 18 year-old girl to do... so im thinking ill show this to my brother, thanks for your help

[Nick '91]

Thanks for that information, was reading my haynes the other day and though it seemed a dodgy way to remove the housing. (If no one else keeps a copy of the haynes in there bathroom im not admitting to it.)

[taffy1967]

Well you could remove the speedo housing pod (please post some pictures so we can see if it's the original type).

Don't follow the Haynes manual method of tugging on the dash pod cluster (speedo/gauges housing) as you'll probably crack the inner clock housing cage or damage the securing clips.

The correct way to remove it is to either undo the screws on the engine bulkhead (not easy if the original soundproofing foam is still in place, but if you unscrew the fuse box then the foam can be pulled to the side) and then lift the whole dash assembly forwards and of course unplug everything including the speedo cable.

Or remove the drivers air filter vent (unscrew the outer ring and then twist the main vent unit anti-clockwise to release it), remove the dash liner (you'll just need to pull the door seal away slightly to free up the liner). Then try to peel back the dash liner on the left of the clock.

After that you'll just need to undo the posi-drive screws each side of the main dash casing with a small stubby screwdriver.

Either way don't try tugging it off.

that sounds ridiculously complicated for an 18 year-old girl to do... so im thinking ill show this to my brother, thanks for your help

It's actually easier than it sounds, but I wouldn't have wanted to go fiddling with my dash clocks when I was 18 either.

But I can certainly recommend these books (I have both) if you do fancy having a go and need more inspiration than the slightly vague at time Haynes manual: -

I had this one for Xmas: -
Click Me 1

I've had this one for ages and it gave me confidence to service my Mini and do lots of other tasks too: -
Click Me 2

So don't let anyone put you off driving your Mini, because most things are easy to fix and you can do the work yourself (those books will help).

Where as with modern stuff, when they do go wrong it's usually an expensive job and usually needs to get sorted out by a garage and their diagnostic computer.

Edited by taffy1967, 11 February 2010 - 10:48 PM.