Looks like I'm in the garage all weekend.

Discussion in 'MINI' started by MelloCooper, Jun 28, 2016.

  1. MelloCooper

    MelloCooper New Member

    Jun 18, 2016
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    #1 MelloCooper, Jun 28, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2016
    Dropped my kidss off at daycare this morning when I left my battery light came on and I lost power steering. Checked my belt it looks ok not loose or falling apart. My battery is still reading 12v. From what I've read several ppl have had this same issue and it turned out to be the altanator. Correct me if I'm wrong. Mini wants $1100 just to change the alt.
    So for now I have a new alt, serp belt, tensioner stop, belt tool, and a crank positioning sensor seal on the way to my door. Is there anything else I should be looking to replace while I'm in there.

    I knew the day would come that I would need to put the car into front end service mode and it looks like it's here. Any tips for a first timer taking the front off? I have watched ModMinis video a few times and it just looks time consuming.

    Thanks in advance and wish me luck.
     
  2. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    What year and is it an S or cooper?
     
  3. Rawhyde

    Rawhyde Active Member

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    How is your air conditioner working? A buddy with an 04 was having air conditioner problems (thought he had a slipping clutch), but his alternator light came on whenever he tried to run the A/C. As it turns out, his harmonic balance had failed and the outer ring was slipping on the hub. Surprisingly enough, it was not throwing belts. Make a radial chalk mark on the balancer from the hub to the outer ring, go for a short drive and see if they still line up.

    Regarding "service mode", it's not nearly as hard to do as it sounds. Get it up to a comfortable working height, remove the front wheels and go to work. The bumper cover will be off in just a minute or two. The aluminum bumper comes off very easily. There are about 4 of the plastic clips with the phillips screw in each fender liner, pull the crash tubes (a rubber hammer is your friend), get some bolts to screw in the holes the bumper bolts came out of (M6 x 4", I think), and gently slide the front bulkhead forward on the bolts. The aluminum bumper has one bolt and the rest are nuts on each side. It's really easy.

    Better yet, remove both fender liners before you start. You have to take off the passenger side to get access to the belt. You can clean them up and use 303 Protectant on them. Takes maybe 5 minutes to pull one off. Once you're safely lifted up, you'll probably be in service mode in 45 minutes or less.

    If you were close by, I'd invite you over and we could knock that out in a hurry.

    Rawhyde

    PS Don't tighten the crash tube bolts until the aluminum bumper is reinstalled
     
  4. MelloCooper

    MelloCooper New Member

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    Msc02 it's 2004 S.
    Rawhyde thanks for the tips. The a/c is working fine. Chalked lined the HB and after a short drive it is lined up still. I would have never thought to check it that way. This is why I ask you guy's before jumping in. Lucklly I'm on vacation till the 7th so I have plenty of time to get this and a lot of engine bay cleaning done b4 I need the car again.
     
  5. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    Well sense you have to do all that work you might as well put a 15% pulley and ATI crank pulley on it. I don't know if it has been said already but get a new belt tensioner
     
  6. Savvy

    Savvy Well-Known Member
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    ^that. And to the OP... You'll come to learn we're good at spending other people's money.
     
  7. MelloCooper

    MelloCooper New Member

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    I wish I could drop a pulley in but cash is short atm. That's coming after I get all my suspension upgraded.
     
  8. CHKMINI

    CHKMINI Club Coordinator
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    Check the jump stud connection in the black plastic box on the left side of the firewall. They are known to come loose and/or corrode and give the exact symptoms of a bad alternator.
     
  9. MelloCooper

    MelloCooper New Member

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    That was one of the first things I checked. I was hoping it was something that easy but I'm not that lucky.
     
  10. MelloCooper

    MelloCooper New Member

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    Well everything went good on the alternator replacement. Had no troubles during the whole repair. Spent the last three days scrubing under the bonnet with a tooth brush, plastic scraper and diluted simple green spray. Topped it of with some 303. I think it made a huge difference and now I have a clean engine all the way around. Should make any future leaks easier to spot. Here's afew pics
     

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  11. MelloCooper

    MelloCooper New Member

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    Dirty
     

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  12. MelloCooper

    MelloCooper New Member

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    Clean
     

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  13. Rawhyde

    Rawhyde Active Member

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    Great job! Looks like you have a lot of weekend left!

    Now, I gotta go into work and tie in some additional electrical panels in a data center without...

    1. shutting down any servers, or
    B. getting myself or anyone else hurt
     
  14. MelloCooper

    MelloCooper New Member

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    Working Live is always fun. Be safe. Thanks
     
  15. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    Looks great!
     
  16. 00Mini

    00Mini Well-Known Member

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    Nice job !!
     

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