49 replies to this topic

[minimininut]

Owned minis for eight years, three breakdowns.

In my 1983 City:

Once I overheated, on a hot day, after some steep hills (no temperature gauge in that mini, so the water boiled and exploded out the radiator , a guy with a mini appeared, as if by magic, and we tried to top up and get her going but no joy, so got towed to a garage, blockage in the system).

Once with a dodgy wire from the coil, AA fixed at the side of the road.

In my 1988 City:

Gearbox went.


I don't think much could have been done to prevent these, I try pretty hard to keep my mini well serviced and I do think that helps, but you can't always predict that something is gonna break.

Edit: actually, I s'pose installing a temperature gauge might have helped with the first one, if I'd have stopped before the water boiled I guess I could have let her cool down and gently nursed her home, but not guaranteed.

Edited by minimininut, 03 November 2010 - 07:58 AM.

[Big_Adam]

All the times I've broken down, I still managed to get home.

1) Bad wiring to coil would kill my car, wait 2 mins and it would work again.
2) Crap in the carb, broke down a grand total of 5time and had to do 20miles to get home. Still got home fine.
3) Wheel almost fell off. Yeah not a brake down but couldn't carry on till I sorted it.

[northy]

Fuel issues, ignition issues x6 last summer, eventually got an electronic dizzy from the metro a-series.
Exhaust fallen off abouuut 7 times?
Overheating and consquent radiator popping due to radiator cap pressure release sticking.
Once the fan completely disentegrated and sent shards of plastic everywhere, ruining the radiator. Literally no idea how.
Battery box fell out ruining the new bigger battery that had probably caused the battery box to fall out.
Flat battery about 30 odd times.

All in one Earth Year.

[northy]

OH!
Missed my personal fave.
The people that had it before clearly didn't torque the hub nuts and also didn't put a castle nut on. So no split pin.
So as i approached the crest of a hill, that nut came loose, meaning i had no driver to the wheels (all the power was spinning out on one disconnected driveshaft), no breaks (because the discs were'nt secured in the upright position).
Handbrakeeeeeee
Truely terrifying.

[frog998]

Spray from the road last year soaking the dizzy cap and leads causing me to stall half way round a rounadabout. Luckily someone oppositee saw sat on the roundabout and came and offered his support. A phillps screwdriver and a dose of WD40 and i was back up and running again so not really a breakdown as such.

[maggies_minder]

i brokedown with a faulty ignition switch, that was one for the RAC, its the only time ive brokedown in 18months,

that doesnt include problems i have before i get into the car for a journey and it has to be left and sorted later.

[Nick Warwick]

carb kept over flowing and cutting out going round corners this happened a good 20 times till new parts came to rebuilt it.

points closing up many many times and damp dizzy

distributor had something break inside causing it not to spin inside, couldn't get home so i had to be recovered.

popping all the way back home from L2B back to sheffield due to dizzy cap being shot inside

so mainly distributor problems

[miniman retford]

Only ever had one breakdown & that was four years ago in my previous mini, front wheel bearing went on the m42 on the way back from Gaydon, Got recovered home so saved on fuel

[Juju]

Had Matilda for 4 years. Broke down 4 times.

Fuel Pump died.
Overheating - Coolant fountain. Aux fan shorted out.
Overheating - Coolant fountain. Bottom radiator hose not reattached properly....
Overheating - Coolant fountain. Oil lake. Head gasket.

All on the commute.

[Ferretboy221]

Common causes of mini breakdown?

- wrath of god
- sods law
- lack of routine maintainence

Ive had.

- coil fried
- points several time until i changed them for britpart.
- alternator belt unravel
- various problems with connectors near or on my old crusty fusebox.

[Pooky]

I've broken down erm twice in my Mini (8 years of ownership), once was a poor connection in my dodgy 'imobiliser' switch wiring and the second was I lost power to my coil pack on my Megajolt, again due to a poor connection!

My Mrs has broken down twice in hers once was a flat battery (we left the lights on :doh:) and another was due to the condenser on her Ducellier dizzy. Swapped that for Aldon electric and never looked back!

All electrical problems...

[ministar]

I notice two common themes running through this thread -

1. Exhausts falling off.
2. Electrical problems.


Remedy -
1. Fit exhaust better,
2. Hope god is having a good day!

[feybrand]

lots
it was a learning curve when we first got the car
mostly dizzy related pionts and damp cured by fitting electronic dizzy and an engine cover
also had a brand new carb overflow due to no fuel filter and crud in the tank cured by cleaning out the tank and fitting a filter
but the main cause early on was the missus over choking it the cure stop women driving and make them stay at home and bake

[thesidewalk]

the alternator went on my 95 side walk at 2 am last thursday morning it was in a petrol station and I love my mini too much to leave her by herself, so i just called my girlfriend who I just dropped off at home if she wanted to spend a night in a mini and she accepted.

she now wants a mini, might give her my mayfair

[benb12]

Head gasket went - changed head gasket at the side of the road
The amount of wheel bearings I've had fall apart is ridiculous
Water in dizzy cap (naturally)
Overheated millions of times
Snapped 4 valve springs (in one go)
Burnt out exhaust valve
Points closing up
Exhaust has fallen off countless times

Probably loads more.. most of them were bad luck.