23 replies to this topic

[Underdose]

Hi 

 

My 99 JDM Mini Cooper has the same engine layout as yours, as far as I know the differences in UK and JDM Mini SPI is that from bout 96 or when BMW were taking over they brought out the MPI Mini with a front radiator, for the Japanese market and to fit Air Con they brought out the JDM SPI Mini, which had inline fuses, MPI Engine block, Distributor less ignition, coil pack same as MPI and 2 radiator fans ( 1 electric ).

 

Fluf

 

Hi Fluf, thanks for that. Do you know if the ECU is specific to these Jap models? Or would it be a normal MPI or SPI one? Thanks

[Squipper]

Hi

 

I think its a Cooper SPI ECU, but as said before try Face Book JDM Classic Mini Owners Club and pose the question?  Best of luck.

 

Fluf

Edited by Squipper, 29 February 2020 - 08:45 PM.

[Wazzah]

Sounds to me that your car is still running rich because of vacuum leaks. Try checking the vac pipes that run from the throttle body to the low and high speed breather circuits. They come out of the throttle body and plumb into the steel pipe that runs across the back of the rocker cover. There is also a vac circuit that runs through the purge valve to the charcoal cannister which is hidden under the front wing. A breather pipe from the fuel tank connects into the charcoal cannister and has a rubber hose to steel pipe connection below the purge valve. This connection doesn't have much overlap from the factory and can drop off over a hard bump or pot hole. I found all these problems when chasing the same issues on my 98 JDM. Regards Waz

[xrocketengineer]

Also check the pipe from the back of the manifold to the fuel trap and then to the ECU per:

 

http://www.theminifo...oint-injection/

 

The rubber elbows connecting to the manifold had turn into chewing gum on mine and blocked the flow.

 

 Yes, your ECU is unique to the Japanese model.  Info on ECU's and related hardware:

 

https://www.minispar...C.aspx?2~20~189

 

Mine is a 94 with the distributor and coil. When I received it, It had a very high idle speed. I found a vacuum leak on the red pipe which I fixed. Then the car would barely idle. That is when I found the other pipes going to the fuel trap and ECU where shot too. That fixed the idle problems but more issues would eventually show up with the ECU.....     

Edited by xrocketengineer, 01 March 2020 - 01:00 AM.

[Squipper]

Hi 

 

Rocket

 

Thanks for some great info, 

 

Fluf

[Pops_Guild]

 

From your photos yours has the MPI coil pack and MPI alternator. Mine is also 97 but uses more of the SPI parts

 

Your fan looks like its on backwards.... it should have the vanes with concave side outer most

 

 

Ta! But it's not :) My plastic fan has a helpful note on it that has "this side closest to the engine, stupid!" which I put on it after initially fitting it the wrong way...it also has a factory stamp on it with a more polite note :)

[Underdose]

Thanks for all the info, advice, links and resources guys. The most genuinely helpful and pleasant Internet forum experience I've had. Long live the mini owner. 

I've learnt plenty, have new vac pipes on route and plenty of other service parts, so although it isn't yet cured all the advice on this forum has taught me what everything under the bonnet is, what mine does or doesn't have and what the problems likely are. It's been a lot of fiddling around the engine bay going "Ohhhhh, I saw that on miniforum, that makes sense". 

 

Plenty of nights on here well spent I reckon. Now for a full rebuild...  

 

Thanks! 

[AP2020]

 

 

From your photos yours has the MPI coil pack and MPI alternator. Mine is also 97 but uses more of the SPI parts

 

Your fan looks like its on backwards.... it should have the vanes with concave side outer most

 

 

Ta! But it's not :) My plastic fan has a helpful note on it that has "this side closest to the engine, stupid!" which I put on it after initially fitting it the wrong way...it also has a factory stamp on it with a more polite note :)

 

 

Not as stupid as you may think... if it is a Mini fan then that would be great, but if it is off any of the rear wheel drive engines then its the other way around, ie air comes in the front and is "pumped" rearwards...  even with a lovely label it can still be wrong, although Iam sure in your case you have it mastered :)

[Squipper]

Hi

 

Once you have changed your Vac hoses, before you start your Mini dis connect your battery and leave it an hour or so, then re connect.  A few people know and have experience that the Mini ECU resets when the battery is dis connected (sort of starts learning from zero) over a few drives you will then feel the car driving better and better till the ECU has found best running.

 

Fluf