55 replies to this topic

[Alex_B]

 

I would be looking into the entire wiring loom and checking what works and doesnt while I am at it if I were you, (not as scary as it sounds).
The hazards not working could be something simple like the relay/ flasher unit being duff (very common) or just some wonky wiring, but as that and the battery/charging system are suspect there may be other issues and I think rust and wiring are the two main things you want perfect on a mini, as they cause the most issues.

But dont despair, theres a huge amount of knowledge on here along with people willing to help :) 

 

 

I wouldn't - flasher will be down to low voltage.

 

If the wiring all looks nice and tidy and not butchered around like some of the horror stories we see, then I'd leave well alone unless you have experience dealing with automotive wiring.

 

Fine if you know what you are doing then there can be know harm in pulling apart and cleaning all terminations and earths.

 

Not necessarily down to low voltage, from personal experience the flasher units used are appalling quality, I have gone through about 3 or 4 in the last year and a half. As far as I can see there are no ill effects from swapping units to diagnose where the fault may lay. 

[KernowCooper]

The flasher units is a bit of a lottery with quality, but also ensure the flashers have a good clean earth, bullets behind the grill and then the common earth point on the r/h inner wing brace.

[cal844]

I would be looking into the entire wiring loom and checking what works and doesnt while I am at it if I were you, (not as scary as it sounds).
The hazards not working could be something simple like the relay/ flasher unit being duff (very common) or just some wonky wiring, but as that and the battery/charging system are suspect there may be other issues and I think rust and wiring are the two main things you want perfect on a mini, as they cause the most issues.
But dont despair, theres a huge amount of knowledge on here along with people willing to help :)

 
 
I wouldn't - flasher will be down to low voltage.
 
If the wiring all looks nice and tidy and not butchered around like some of the horror stories we see, then I'd leave well alone unless you have experience dealing with automotive wiring.
 
Fine if you know what you are doing then there can be know harm in pulling apart and cleaning all terminations and earths.

Not necessarily down to low voltage, from personal experience the flasher units used are appalling quality, I have gone through about 3 or 4 in the last year and a half. As far as I can see there are no ill effects from swapping units to diagnose where the fault may lay.

I always make sure i have a few 3 pin relays... The only thing that is aditionally required is an earth!

[Mrstars11]

Alternator is definately working.

Took austin out today for his longest journey, and he hit 45/50 down the dual carriageway and was a charm.
The volt meter in the car was showing between 13/15 volts as I was giving him some power and easing back to around 13v ticking over.
So that was re assuring.

Still no hazzard switch, but I noticed today that not only is it hazards it's also fog lights that have stopped working. So I am going to do some extensive research online and in my Haynes manual. See if I can work that out.

I've also noticed i have what appears to be oil spray coming out the exhaust when the car is revved. Again something for me to look into. The mrs was really pleased with herself that she spotted that by walking behind my car in white jeans that were "her favourite summer jeans" obviously.

But all in all im happy with how he drove today. Just enough poke in him for a 998cc im guessing my stage 1 kit helps out there. I was worried i should have gone for a 1275 but im happy with what I have. :)

Also had my first, wow look at that car yell and point today.
That felt good.

All in all. A happy sunny day.

And a massive thanks to everyone in this thread thats helped, advised, and steered me in direction of answers.
It's really appreciated. And hopefully I'll get to meet a few people at mini meets.

Dom.

[Alex_B]

It will probably be condensation mixed with soot coming out the exhaust, if your engine fuel mix is a bit rich it will be producing more of this. (mine produces a lot as its quite rich, and my mrs was equally pleased when bump starting me a while back and the exhaust spat a load of that soot and water onto her jeans  )

[CityEPete]

You definitley need to check out the 3 fuses behind the airbox if its the same as mine then, one is for the hazards and interior light, one is for the fog light and the remaining one is the feed to the radio. Is the interior light working as its on the same fuse as the hazards?

[Mrstars11]

Thanks for all the assistance people.
Again it's all solid info for me to get stuck in to.

Interior lights are under the dash, they still work. But they're not the standard ones, been an addition id say, so could still be fuses. Will confirm or deny that today.

For anyone following my thread and helping me with my probable as simple as it gets questions. Managed to take a photo of austin that will upload. So here he is the troublesome little bugger.

 image.jpg   56.87K   19 downloads

[KernowCooper]

Nice looking Mini, any more info just shout

[Mrstars11]

So after trying to sort my hazzards and fog lights with a fuse change.
Using the Haynes book. I'm confused.
Either the books wrong. Or my wiring it wrong.
Here's what I'm working with.
All the fuses are giving out a reading. Indicating they are all working.
Still no hazzards. Or fogs. But I could be testing them wrong.  image.jpg   54.32K   16 downloads

[CityEPete]

Mate, I will say it again, there is another 3 fuses behind the airbox to the right of the fusebox in your picture, one of the three is for the hazards!

Does your interior light work? The haynes diagrams are hit and miss because of the constant slight changes.

[CityEPete]

There is some bodgery and dirty contacts in that fusebox too, also the cables can snap inside the plastic sleeve, it tests as voltage at the fuse carrier but nothing actually exits up the wire.

[Lincsminbin]

Appologies if I am teaching you to suck eggs, but...

 

If you are measuring continuity / resistance with your meter, make sure that you remove the fuses first, otherwise you may well end up getting a false reading from the rest of the circuit.

[Mrstars11]

There isn't another fuse box? :s

[petehuws]

Nope they're your only fuses.  The ones in that box & the ones behind your airfilter (3 inline as mentioned before), corroded fuse boxes lead to no end of problems, I had similar issues when I fist got my mini, ohming out the fuses all checked fine but the crusty fuse box was the culprit, replaced that then all problems instantly gone.

[Mrstars11]

There's no fuses behind my air filter. That I can see. The only fuses i have are the ones in my picture.