21 replies to this topic

[deanymini]

Looking to get my mini back on the road as a fun/toy car. Took it for it's MOT today and it failed on the following;

Two front tyres
Driver's side rear shock (protech)
Parking brake has excess travel
Exhaust emissions
Exhaust idle
Front brakes application is uneven
Battery doesn't work

I've replaced the battery (£55!), have bought two new front A539's (£92) and have ordered a new protech shock absorber (£52!). If anyone has any tips and advice on how to fix the problems then that'd be great.

I had a go at adjusting the handbrake, but the cable started to twist back to it's original position when I turned it with a spanner.

The car is a 1275 carbed '93 mini rio. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Guess-Works.com]

exhaust emissions are not a problem with a carb, just lean it off... helps to do this while attached to the sniffer

With the handbrake make sure the rear brakes are first adjusted correctly on the drum, take up any excess travel, then and only then work on the cable at the level end holding the cable with a set of mole grips and do up the nut. Sometimes it can be easier to remove the split pin and clevis pin from the bracket and adjust loose...

I've never heard of a battery not working being an mot failure.... starting failure yes...

With the front brakes, you may have a sticking piston in the calliper, but a bleed of the braking system may be all that's needed.

[deanymini]

Thanks John. Good to hear from you again. And good to hear you're still making quality gearboxes! What's the sniffer?

[Guess-Works.com]

Thanks John. Good to hear from you again. And good to hear you're still making quality gearboxes! What's the sniffer?

The thing they poke up the arse of your car when testing the emissions.

[deanymini]

Haha. Oh right

[SKIDDERWOLF]

Shouldnt shocks be replaced in pairs?

[jack1275gt]

hi
some people reccomend shocks/dampers or springs replaced in pairs, but with the costs of these things and if its just a normal road car then replacing one is ok. just keep a check on the other one regularly to see if its getting damp, ie seals leaking.
hope this helps

[Retro_10s]

You should be able to get a decent 063 battery for less than £55 at a motorfactors/europarts, maybe even halfords

[satvinder]

hand brake is easy. id say start off check the rear shoes to see if they need replacing then but not nessary some times but bladed all the brakes just to make sure the isn't any air in the system, and then once thats done check the hand brake if more than 3-4 click then just adjust the cables on the back of the drum.

front brakes could be a combination of a fw things. as said bleed the brakes then check the disc n pads to see if they need replacing and that they arnt seized, an push them back and with the pad out get some one to press the brake VERY VERY slightly just to see if the pistons move as said VERY slighly.

bout a hours work very very easy to do.

[mini 4o]

hi
Well sorry to be hard and not having a go at you, but what do you expect taking two bad looking tyres for a mot,
As an ex mot examiner I would be taking a close look at the rest of the car.

Nothing is worse then somebody bring a car for test knowing it will fail, or hoping to scrape through.

The best way to pass is to make sure all the obvious thing are fine, tyres, water in the washer bottle, wipers, hand brake, lights, seat belts, etc all the small things.

John
.

[998dave]

I've never heard of a battery not working being an mot failure.... starting failure yes...

Probably low output meaning lights don't all work at the same time...?

[deanymini]

I see where you're coming from mini 4o, but I just wanted to see what else was wrong (apart from the tyres). I knew i'd get a free re-test within 10 days so it's given me a bit of time to sort it out.

[Guess-Works.com]

I've never heard of a battery not working being an mot failure.... starting failure yes...

Probably low output meaning lights don't all work at the same time...?

But lights are tested while the engine is running, therefore the alternator is boosting the +ve level, you could have a pancaked battery at that point and everything will still work.

[mini 4o]

I see where you're coming from mini 4o, but I just wanted to see what else was wrong (apart from the tyres). I knew i'd get a free re-test within 10 days so it's given me a bit of time to sort it out.

thanks for the reply, but remember that mini's like all car's need love and attention, the mot is only a snap shot on the day
before you drive make sure the brakes, tyres and steering are feeling ok, and you have (POW) petrol, oil, and water, a lot of people just drive untill something drops off, not a good idea for other road users.

john (sounding like your dad)

[deanymini]

I have to agree John. The mini has been in 'hibernation' through Winter, so giving it lots of love and attention now for a Summer of shows and other mini related fun! Even though it's costing an arm and a leg (MOT, tax, insurance, etc) I can't wait to get it back on the roads!