8 replies to this topic

[AllyWilson]

Model: Mini City
Year: 1989
The mini has all of a sudden began to overheat very quickly. I checked the thermostat and it was gone, so having removed it (will be replacing it tomorrow), the mini still overheats. It overheats from sitting stationary as well. I have a feeling it is something to do with the pump? As its only the area around the radiator that is overheating from what i can tell.

I have checked the oil level, water level, spark plugs and they are all in good order.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as i've just got the mini and don't want it ruined from something silly haha.

Thanks guys, Ally.

[bmcecosse]

First check should be the temperature gauge! I had this problem with another car - worked away at it all day couldn't stop it overheating. Next morning - stone cold engine -switched on without starting the engine and the temp gauge went straight to HOT......... So - is the engine really overheating - ie has it boiled up on you ? Is the fan belt ok - you don't mention but you have checked other things so I assume it's fine. It's not unknown for the impeller on the pump to rot away - so may be worth checking. The most obvious thing though has to be - blown head gasket, if all else checks out ok.........

[AllyWilson]

First check should be the temperature gauge! I had this problem with another car - worked away at it all day couldn't stop it overheating. Next morning - stone cold engine -switched on without starting the engine and the temp gauge went straight to HOT......... So - is the engine really overheating - ie has it boiled up on you ? Is the fan belt ok - you don't mention but you have checked other things so I assume it's fine. It's not unknown for the impeller on the pump to rot away - so may be worth checking. The most obvious thing though has to be - blown head gasket, if all else checks out ok.........

Yea the temperature gauge appears to be working, as the radiator is scolding hot when it goes near red. The engine is also overheating quite considerably, it seems there may be something thats not cooling them down. The impeller is pretty new as well, and i'll check for that last, hopefully it's not something too serious.

Is there much it can be?

[bmcecosse]

Head gasket as stated - blocked up radiator - try reverse flushing it with a hose pipe (quick - before it gets banned!!!) cracked head/cracked block - but these are quite unlikely. Did this just suddenly happen - ie it's been fine up to now, and the suddenly began to overheat ?

[AllyWilson]

Head gasket as stated - blocked up radiator - try reverse flushing it with a hose pipe (quick - before it gets banned!!!) cracked head/cracked block - but these are quite unlikely. Did this just suddenly happen - ie it's been fine up to now, and the suddenly began to overheat ?

Yea it's just started today. It was running perfectly yesterday and today this has just popped up.
Had a look inside the radiator earlier and the water is a nice shade of orange but, wouldnt think that would be abnormal.
It's quite a strange one, it seems like something to do with the radiator, as its what is scolding hot when the temperature gauge goes red.
Any ideas lol?

[skaterava]

If you've checked the water level, oil level, and head gasket, as ecosse has stated, flush out your cooling system, and check your water pump.

What rad is it, out of interest?

[AllyWilson]

If you've checked the water level, oil level, and head gasket, as ecosse has stated, flush out your cooling system, and check your water pump.

What rad is it, out of interest?

Righto i'll flush it all out and check it tomorrow, heres hoping that does something.
and i'm new to the scene but by rad i'm thinking you mean cc haha. It's a 1274GT engine?

[The_Mistro]

rad is short for radiator

[AllyWilson]

rad is short for radiator

Haha, ah that makes sense. I'm not sure, i'll have to check, i would probably say its just the standard one