7 replies to this topic

[Millso24]

Hi all,

My mini has just failed its MOT - (its a strange feeling owning a mini and waiting for the MOT test, its kind of how i imagine it is for a parent when there child has a test)

Anyway... She has failed on;
Offside front suspension joint has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (apparently not a huge problem)

She has also failed on emissions - Carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive and Hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive... i have been told that this can be a time consumining issue and obviously ill be charged labour fee's while there looking for the issue... can anyone advise me if there is anything i can do... Im definately no mechanic but am more than happy to follow instructions if someone has any advice.

Results are Carbon Monoxide (1st Max - 0.300, Actual - 0.839) and (2nd Max 0.300, Actual 0.58 and Hydrocarbon content after 1st and 2nd fast idle excessive (1st Max - 200, Actual - 983) and (2nd Max -200, Actual - 195) if anyone knows what the numbers mean!

she also has a few adviseries such as brake pad and tyre - nearside ball joint also could do with a change...

I also wanted to ask if maybe the ball joints being duff is the reason my ride is so hard... i know minis are hard but i can fell every single stone

Thanks in advance

John

[ginigwunkle]

baal joints maybe two hours a side to chnage, easy if you have the tools and a vice!

emmissions could be a few things.....catalyst, engine not warm, too warm(like today was)lambada sensor, air filter, spark plugs.

brake pads are ten mins to change.....

[Millso24]

baal joints maybe two hours a side to chnage, easy if you have the tools and a vice!

emmissions could be a few things.....catalyst, engine not warm, too warm(like today was)lambada sensor, air filter, spark plugs.

brake pads are ten mins to change.....

Cool thanks for replying so quickly!

Im pretty new to actually doing any work to my cars but buying a mini it seems a good time to start learning!
I will definately have a bash at the brake pads but will probably leave the ball joints to the garage as they have quoted £55 for each one inc parts and labour... I am mainly worried about the emissions as they have said it could take a while to find the problem - all the while im footing the bill for labour fee's - so basically im trying to find out as many things that i can do to try and correct the situation not only to save them time and me money but to learn for the future... as i imagine i will need the info again in the future

[bananaman]

for the emmisions, give it a service, new oil, air and oil filters, check the plugs and try filling the tank with shell optimax, I had to do this on my spi a few years ago as the fuel I got from tesco was so bad I'd never have passed the test.

[Millso24]

for the emmisions, give it a service, new oil, air and oil filters, check the plugs and try filling the tank with shell optimax, I had to do this on my spi a few years ago as the fuel I got from tesco was so bad I'd never have passed the test.

Just to check... and this maybe a really silly question but a 1995 Rover Mini Cooper is definately SPi... i just wanted to make a 100% sure

[ginigwunkle]

yeah its what mine used to be, 95 spi cooper.....

[Millso24]

cheers Ginigwunkle... thought id better check now before getting anymore advice!

[Millso24]

A member of my mini club has recommeded that i remove the air filter before the test and put it back on after as apparently emissions are a common problem on spi models.

Has anyone heard this before?

Edited by Millso24, 08 May 2008 - 10:48 PM.