16 replies to this topic

[Kawh1]

Can anyone help me with the following questions as being a novice Mini owner is still a bit of a learning curve

Cooling Fan - I drove my 96 Rover Mini Cooper (Japanese market model) over to my workshop yesterday which is approx 18km from my home. The weather was fine and the outside temp was 27 degrees C when after 10-12 mins or so, the electric radiator cooling fan came on - the temp gauge on the dash was showing 1/2 way. Is this normal for a Mini as I would have thought the cooling fan would have come on if the temp gauge was on high? The radiator thermostat, radiator sensor and engine temp sensor are all new.

 

[Quinlan minor]

In my 15 years of MPi experience, the temperature gauge doesn't move much above the 'Normal' mark.

The only times I've seen it head for the 'Red' has been when thermostats have stuck closed.

As long as the fan comes on for a while and then switches off (unless the ambient temps are vey high and you're stuck in traffic), then it's doing what it's designed to do.

IIRC, the signal from the sensor goes to the MEMS, the MEMS then generates the signal which goes to the temperature gauge.

[Kawh1]

Thanks for the info - It was a very hot day (27 degrees C) so I wasn't surprised to hear the fan on, however I would have though the water temp gauge would have been above normal mid way when the fan turned on?

 

Is it normal for the fan to come after 10-12 min's driving on a hot day?

 

My Mini has a side radiator Japanese market model so I assume its a SPi model and not a MPi model?

 

Also, what does MEMS mean?

 

 

[roblightbody]

Can anyone help me with the following questions as being a novice Mini owner is still a bit of a learning curve

Cooling Fan - I drove my 96 Rover Mini Cooper (Japanese market model) over to my workshop yesterday which is approx 18km from my home. The weather was fine and the outside temp was 27 degrees C when after 10-12 mins or so, the electric radiator cooling fan came on - the temp gauge on the dash was showing 1/2 way. Is this normal for a Mini as I would have thought the cooling fan would have come on if the temp gauge was on high? The radiator thermostat, radiator sensor and engine temp sensor are all new.

 

Did the fan turn off again?   Were you in traffic or moving slowly?

 

If so, I think you're fine.

 

In 1995, I had a brand new Sprite 1.3i (lucky me) and on the way home from the dealership, got stuck in traffic and I remember the fan clicking on, then clicking off again, and I was thinking "ooh fancy!" because my previous 998 Mini didn't have an electric fan at all.  Didn't happen all that often mind, here in Scotland it doesn't often get warm enough!

[Quinlan minor]

Thanks for the info - It was a very hot day (27 degrees C) so I wasn't surprised to hear the fan on, however I would have though the water temp gauge would have been above normal mid way when the fan turned on?

 

Is it normal for the fan to come after 10-12 min's driving on a hot day?

 

My Mini has a side radiator Japanese market model so I assume its a SPi model and not a MPi model?

 

Also, what does MEMS mean?

As above, the temperature gauge indication doesn't move much unless there is an abnormal situation.

A mechanical fan runs all the time an engine is running.

An electric fan coming on, and turning off after a time, is 'Normal', which is what the gauge is indicating.

10-12 minutes doesn't seem a lot, but it entirely depends on the conditions.

The Rover JDM is, largely, an MPi. The side radiator was retained, to make space for the Air Con.

They are fitted with Rover's MEMS (Modular Engine Management System).

 

[Kawh1]

Thanks for the info. The trip over to my man cave was on a hot day and I was driving at 60-70 Kph with 1-2 stops at traffic lights. The fan stayed on for 8-10 mins until I arrived at my workshop where I turned the ignition off and the fan stopped. This may be fine for a Mini, however I thought I would get some feedback on this.

 

MPi vs SPi - I was looking on Google trying to find out which version is my Mini and there seems to be a split 50/50 that I have an MPi Mini and also that I have a SPi model. All a bit of a puzzle. The VIN number is SAXXNNAYCBD133675 but I can't seem to find anything that helps confirm which model it is

 

https://www.theminif...anese-mini-spi/

 

[Aria Aradhea]

If I'm not mistaken, the aux fan switch will turn on the fan when the coolant temperature is at 97ºC and turn off at 92ºC. The temperature range when the needle is at halfway or "N" could be anywhere between 88ºC to 100ºC.

 

Thanks for the info. The trip over to my man cave was on a hot day and I was driving at 60-70 Kph with 1-2 stops at traffic lights. The fan stayed on for 8-10 mins until I arrived at my workshop where I turned the ignition off and the fan stopped. This may be fine for a Mini, however I thought I would get some feedback on this.

 

MPi vs SPi - I was looking on Google trying to find out which version is my Mini and there seems to be a split 50/50 that I have an MPi Mini and also that I have a SPi model. All a bit of a puzzle. The VIN number is SAXXNNAYCBD133675 but I can't seem to find anything that helps confirm which model it is

 

https://www.theminif...anese-mini-spi/

 

If you have a coil pack and no distributor then your Mini will be the MPi. Well, it's using the MPi block but I believe still retain the single point injector.

[hungdynasty]

Coolant temperature on gauge tested by a Japanese owner on his JDM SPI, for your reference

 water temp.jpg   25.91K   4 downloads

[viz139]

The MPi block didn't appear untill '97 so so your car should be standard SPi.

The temperature gauge is feed from a sensor in the inlet manifold and the fan is operated from a switch in the bottom of the rad  so different temperatures. Normal for the fan to cut in and out on a very hot day. 

[Kawh1]

Thanks for the info. The photo of the temp gauge with the various temp readings in also handy. I would assume if you are driving a classic mini around Hong Kong or Singapore that the electric cooling fan would be turning on and off all the time with the hot humid temp's that you can get?

[Steve220]

The MPi block didn't appear untill '97 so so your car should be standard SPi.
The temperature gauge is feed from a sensor in the inlet manifold and the fan is operated from a switch in the bottom of the rad so different temperatures. Normal for the fan to cut in and out on a very hot day.

Not quite true. Mpi blocks were 96 onwards.

[hungdynasty]

Thanks for the info. The photo of the temp gauge with the various temp readings in also handy. I would assume if you are driving a classic mini around Hong Kong or Singapore that the electric cooling fan would be turning on and off all the time with the hot humid temp's that you can get?

In winter in Hong Kong the electric fan rarely switch on while driving, may be sometimes in traffic. In summer yes the fan would switch on regularly while driving especially going uphill, and always on in traffic.

[Kawh1]

Great, thanks for the info

[viz139]

 

The MPi block didn't appear untill '97 so so your car should be standard SPi.
The temperature gauge is feed from a sensor in the inlet manifold and the fan is operated from a switch in the bottom of the rad so different temperatures. Normal for the fan to cut in and out on a very hot day.

Not quite true. Mpi blocks were 96 onwards.

 

I stand corrected. MPi introduced in UK in August '96, I've never noticed an MPi on a '96 plate in Ireland .

I just looked up the Japan MPi electric diagram and the fan is still controlled by a separate switch and not the ECU.

https://www.theminif...agrams-redrawn/

First set of diagrams 1999. Diagram 39.3.

Edited by viz139, 01 March 2024 - 10:55 AM.

[Kawh1]

Hello - I did some checks today on my Mini and it must be a SPi model as it has a distributor (see photo), the radiator is on the right hand side and the oil filter is also located on the right hand side of the engine when looking at the front of the car (see photo)

 

I checked the radiator level and topped it up with 300mls of coolant after the hot running event the other weekend and started the engine and left it idling for 12-15mins. The cooling fan did not start, however when I switched the engine off the RH side front guard was really hot to touch at approx 44-45 degrees C when I measured the surface temp of the front wheel guard with a heat gun temp measuring device - Is this type of surface temp normal for a Mini? 

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