327 replies to this topic

[DaveJH]

I'm not sure it is the alarm now, I read the owners manual and it says that if a boot/bonnet/door is open then the light won't flash to say the alarm is on for 5 seconds. I realised that that is exactly what is happening now. Also, the car worked on its own again twice today. Perhaps a dirty relay somewhere needs cleaning/replacing? Is there a relay for all this stuff?

[DaveJH]

After forcing the pump to work via my wiring in the boot, it now works on its own again. No idea why, but I'll happily leave it as it is for now. Now I can drive him again and get back to the other jobs he requires.

To do list before uni:

Find and sort exhaust leak
Finish boot lid (new order just made with minispares)

The brackets need replacing on my boot (one fell off while I was driving yesterday!). Also, I'm looking to buy a welder now and may have found a garage to keep him in while I'm at uni.

[Miniowner123]

if on a budget buy a welder made by clarke, not really any bad things to say about them and they seem to be what most people use on here when it comes to their own cars, i went for a clarke 135te and i have no complaints to report

[DaveJH]

Also, here are some pictures of recent work I've done to him.

Starting with replacing the fuel filter, bit of a fiddle as the parts I needed to replace aren't being made anymore so I modified things a bit and used a clio filter that fits the bracket and takes 8mm fuel pipe and it works nicely.



Old system (metal pipe snapped off as it was rusted onto the filter)



New system with piping and modified metal pipe



New boot back from the sprayers

[fordson]

out of interst what year clio did the filter come off ?

[Miniowner123]

think somerford mini's have started selling the pipes needed, remember you never used to be able to get them though

[DaveJH]

Not sure Fordson but I could look up the part number for you. Also, thanks for the advice on welders pinhead, I'll see if I have enough to buy one before this term at uni, if not I will wait until christmas (birthday and christmas are close so I'll have money for once!).

Also, after taking him out yesterday for some proper driving it appears the problem definitely is not sorted! He sometimes starts on his own but will cut out randomly during the journey and I'll have to jump out and switch on the pump from the boot to get him going again. Highly annoying, not great for fuel consumption (apparently) and also not too safe. Now I'm back to square one. Is there a relay for the fuel pump? Perhaps its dirty?

[DaveJH]

No improvement on the fuel pump problem yet, but he's coming off the road for a while at the end of this month as I'm going back to uni and want to get the necessary jobs done properly. I've hopefully got a garage lined up to keep him in too.

However, at the moment both the inlet and exhaust manifold are off as I decided to change the exhaust manifold gasket in a hope that it was blowing from there. There were a few complications (including me climbing snowdon at some point) and he's been that way for days. Hoping to sort it soon though.

[DaveJH]

Barney is off the road now, tax ran out yesterday and insurance was also stopped. I have just spend nearly £160 on something for him, not directly for him but it will certainly benifit him. More on that when it arrives.

Also today my replacement pipe turned up that I snapped when trying to fix the blowing gasket but I doubt I will have time to sort it now before I go back to uni next week. This will be one of very few updates over then next two-three months unfortunately!

[DaveJH]

Wow, it's been a while. I'm coming to the end of the academic year here at uni, got exams in three weeks so I'm living in the library trying to cram everything into my head. After my exams I have got myself a paid summer intership and have earmarked 90% of my two month's wages for the mini. Here are my summer plans:


- Get the mini to a garage! The tax and MOT are out and the insurance is on hold so I'll need a trailer. The jobs required are:
- Fix the rust
- Replace bent engine studs (I took off the exhaust manifold in an attempt to source the leak in the exhaust and couldn't get it back on, turns out the studs are bent!
- Rebuild engine with necessary repairs (including sorting the exhaust)
- Fix the fuel pump issues

That's going to be a fairly large bill I imagine. Once it's all been done I intend to get the car vinyl wrapped, everyone resprays - let's be a little different. Not sure on colour and finish yet, I'll worry about that when we get there.

Clearly I'd like to then start on my favourite part of a rebuild: the interior. Let's wait and see if I have any money left though.

I'll be back in 4 weeks.

[DaveJH]

Hello again (if anyone is still reading this thread!), I've got a month of my summer left, my internship has been extended and finally work is going ahead on my mini. A mobile mechanic is starting work on rebuilding my engine (not a proper rebuild, just putting it back together from when I tried to sort something and got stuck!). He says it will take him two days and he starts on Thursday. Once that is rebuilt I will get the welding sorted followed by eleectrical problem with the fuel filter and finally he'll be MOTd! The insurance is already set up. Hoping to have him back on the road for uni in October. Finally, I had a deliver on the weekend...

[DaveJH]

Big update!

My engine is rebuilt and running as smoothly as ever. Also, I have replaced the exhaust manifold and flexi downpipe so the exhaust no longer blows. Kinda miss the beefy sound it gave but I also like who nicely he sounds running now! Tomorrow a friend of a friend is coming to pick him up and sort the welding for me, hopefully he won't charge me too much! After that I need to give him a full service, see what budget I have left for upgrades and replacement parts then get him through the MOT and back onto the road. I'm so excited!

[Zeemax Adventure]

Glad to hear its getting back on the road at last. Just read through your entire thread and it seems to have been problem after problem. Totally understand about the money situation though i bought a vectra vxr 2 years ago n sold it in april. Am stil paying the bloody debt that thing ran me into, so that comes 1st, mini 2nd Cant wait to finish mine and get him on the road. Ive decided against putting the rover ecu and alarm system in mine. Think im gonna go good old Austin lol....

[DaveJH]

Yeah, after all my extravagant ideas I'm probably going to keep him as standard as I can. Today my welder came and picked up the mini, pictures were taken and I'll upload a few on here in a bit. Should be ready in a week. From there to the MOT station.

[DaveJH]

Off he goes...



And finally, me with my mini.