1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Belt Bypass the Supercharger?

I'm betting a 2006 doesn't have anything wrong with the supercharger. What's probably wrong is the Firestone business.

 

I'm guessing bad tensioner or the crank pulley has separated. It could also be that the belt just died... after 6-7 years, that sucker may just get brittle and let go.

When my crank pulley went, I could spin it by hand when the car was in gear... the stock piece is a 2-piece dampened unit and the rubber in the middle gave way.

Just in case you haven't found these links:

How to replace the belt: Replacing the Serpentine Belt on an R53 MCS - Library

How to replace the idler pulley: Idler Pulley ("Adjusting Pulley") Replacement DIY - Library

How to replace the crank pulley: Replacing the Crank Pulley - Library

How to change the supercharger oil (not really what you are doing, but there are lots of good pics in there where you can see the supercharger and how the waterpump takes power off of the back side. If your waterpump is shot, it will take you through the waterpump replacement): Supercharger Oil Service + oil pan gasket - Library

 

Sorry that I was off in Scotland when your question was first posed... I coulda helped with the belt tensioner tool while here in Dallas or maybe helped with the first look.

Keep asking your questions here as you take the car apart. There are lots of helpful people here (and atleast 1 or 2 of 'em actually know what they are talking about! )

 

FYI: I replace my belt every 24k miles or 2 years, but I've got a smaller supercharger pulley and I can push my engine hard at times. That, and I enjoy wrenching on the MINI, so it's kinda fun for me.

I think that MINI recommends a change every 4 years / 48k miles, so you just drove 1000 miles too far!

 

Wow, good job on making your own tensioner tool and finding the problems. Who's crank pully are you going with.... OEM or aftermarket?

Ahhhhh, can I hang with your group during the zombie apocalypse?....

 

And you need to keep your eyes on WacoRun | An outing from Dallas to Waco. We have a group of MINIs from the Dallas area (50 or so every year now) that drive from Burleson (south of Fort Worth) to Waco every late Dec / early January. Usually 10-15 folks from Houston HMMS drive up via some twisty roads to meet us there for lunch, then head back via the highway. The last couple of years one or two Houston folks have driven all the way up to Burleson the night before to join the big group for the Hill Country twisties.

Next year it happens on January 5, 2013.

 

Glad everything worked out well and the Mini is back home. What a good Dad.
Thanks for all the updates on your troubleshooting and repair. I enjoyed following the thread.

 

I make frequent stops, too. ;-)

15 years here, cancer free. Congratulations!

 

Check the crank pulley. Good chance that it is failing. Common problem with 2006's around now, and that will cause it to throw the belt. Not the only thing it could be, but definitely one thing it could be.

If that's the problem, you'll be able to either turn or wobble the crank pulley by hand. To access it, you remove the passenger side front wheel and the screws and plastic expanding clips holding the wheel well liner, then remove the liner.

If it has failed, you have to pull it and replace with either a new OEM pulley (which will also fail eventually) or an aftermarket pulley like ATI or a fluid-damped one.

 

Maybe it just needs a new belt? Is it impossible for them to not skip a belt with nothing blatantly wrong? (I have not owned a first gen)

ps i dig the wheels on the Chebby

 

I've seen some mention of people using a piece of c-channel iron (like used to support pipes and wires from warehouse ceilings) as a tensioner tool... read the supercharger oil replacement article for a copy/paste that I did from someone who describes how to get around the need for that tool.

They can be purchased on-line...$79 here: MINI Cooper S Supercharger Belt Tensioner Tool by Out Motoring I don't know if dealerships carry them in-stock, for sale. I wouldn't think so, but you never know!

It's possible that the belt just gave way due to age and natural wear. That would be an ideal situation and the fix is under an hour once you have the belt and the tools handy.

If you are still reasonably close to Dallas, you are welcome to borrow mine for a week or two.

 

Here's the text that I copied/pasted from NAM, describing how to cheat your way around the need for the tool, including a link to a you-tube video.

I can't see the video from the office and I've never tried this, but someone on the internet says that it works (so take that for what it is worth... )

 

That's some good work you did there! I like the home built tensioner tool a lot!

I don't mind buying tools. Sometimes I think I do most of my wrenching to discover new tools to spend a fortune on, but something just rubs me raw about paying the asking price for a tensioner tool. Way too much money for what it is.

Congratulations on finding the problem and getting it on the way to being fixed.

 

<takes a bow> :wink:

Glad you found the problem.

Definitely a good idea to replace tensioner and idler while you're in there.

OEM crank pulley is OK... but will likely fail again at some point.

There are aftermarket pulleys that won't fail in the same way (and probably won't ever fail at all)- both rubber damped and fluid damped are available.

OEM damper - $300-$450 depending on source
ATI damper - $375-$450 depending on source
SFI fluid damper - $250-$350 depending on source

 

LOL... I just spotted your city. The next time you need special MINI tools, you might want to post over at HMMS | Houston MINI Motoring Society. I love MA, but you will find lots of friendly, LOCAL people over there who might let you borrow tools (but I love the home-made garage door opener tool!)

 

matchframe, you need to get yourself a MINI. It'll put a smile on your face every time you drive it. Besides, you need your own MINI now that you have that special drawer for MINI tools in your toolbox.

Glad everything worked out...... And you didn't need a new supercharge after all....

 

On your way to Dallas, be sure and stop at Woody's Smokehouse in Centerville for some great jerky as your reward!

 

They are on both sides of the highway at the overpass (EZ ON - EZ OFF), and it's really quite good jerky. :-D

I go for the pepper ones.

I find it interesting you aren't having your son drive the van down to Houston, and are instead having 4-5 hours of extra MINI seat time. ;-)

I got a Clubman S so I'd have room for the grand-kids.



Here's my eldest grandson in the paddocks of his first car race (and MINI rally). The booster seat's in the back (don't tell his grandmother!).

 

Happy it all worked out, and that you got some MINI driving experience.