Mty, I see on MM you want to do your rod change seal.

• put the car on ramps or jack stnds high enough to lay under & swing a hammer.
• put the car in R
• The rod change has 2 rods on it. the upper is bolted to the diff. Unbolt it.
• locate the coupler on the lower rod change mechanism - it has 2 roll pins through it.
• spray the crap out of it with PBBlaster or similar penetrant.
• get a 5/16 (I think) punch -not a pointed end punch, not a flattened nail, not a srewdiver shaft, a real honest to God punch - then punch the front pin upwards and out the coupler.
• put the shift mechanism out of the way.
• clean the selector shaft going into the trans - don't want to ruin the new seals.
• get an oil seal pick and remove the old seal
• insert the new seals per directions
• assembly is the reverse of disassembly

 

AWESOME!! Thank you so much. I was REALLY hoping I could do it from underneath the car. lol. Guess I should have started a new thread over here. haha.... actually... I'm going to start a thread and see if anyone has anything else to say. Mind if I quote your post in the new thread?

But seriously... thanks. I was afraid that yet another one of my threads over there was going to die in the sea of OT posts.

 

I finally got time to take the starter out of the car. It's the older version.





I'll probably take it apart and see what's going on inside. I think the gears look fine.

Minimad, I think you mentioned something about an upgraded starter that works great. Any ideas on where to get one of those?

Mike

 

Here's some close ups of the starter.

My terminology might not be correct so please bare that in mind when reading. Does anyone have an exploded image of the starter so I know what I'm talking about?

I couldn't get the screws loose on the back of the starter to open it up but I inspected the gear that hits the flywheel and the (i think it's the) inertia starter. It was siezed and I was able to break it loose with a screw driver. When I turn the inertia starter back towards the body of the starter is does rewind back but I don't know if it's going back fast enough or all the way really. It definitely doesn't snap back.

Also, the the four parts that sit in the four notches on the outside of the inertia starter don't seem to be sitting in there correctly as compared to some of the pictures I've seen.

 

If the Bendix was stuck and you broke it loose you might be good to go for a while per the info I previously sent you. I'd follow those instructions and clean everything and inspect for wear...getting all the crud out may buy some time.


MiniMania has everything you're asking for - and I'm sure available from many other places.

From the pictures I'd suspect the Bendix gear and MM has that for $50 ... the instructions I sent you should be enuf to replace it - but it does require a special tool....SO .. MM has the modified new-car starter with much more umph for $250, or an OEM rebuilt for half that....or as I said b4 you could take it to a local automotive elecrtic shop and ask about a rebuild (mine got fixed that way) ....

When my times comes it will be a J a P replacement tho.....

 

what's this J a P replacement you speak of?

 

OMG ....

the replacement starter comes from vehicles of oriental design

but the 'nasty word' filter on this site's engine catches the common euphemism for this nationality and "zaps it"

These replacement starters come from Toyotas I suppose .....

 

I took the starter to my mechanic. He's going to rebuild it for me and I'll pick it up Friday.

Yay!

 

Ta Da

maybe we should have pointed out that this starter type is not unusual or unique to the Mini so rebuilding is not a problem other than the possible parts issue.....i.e. getting a Bendix from MM

 

He's got a Bendix on an another otherwise useless starter. I also called it a Bendix and he laughed and said he hadn't heard that word in a long time.



I think he called it a starter drive.

 

The bendix is just a pinion gear. It's the starter drive gear to most mechanics that wok on them. But if he DIDN'T know what a Bendix was... I'd go to another guy. I mean... It's not even my line of work and I know what it is. So at least your guy knew what it was. haha

Glad everything is getting fixed. Are there going to be any get togethers with you mini guys in St. Louis any time next month? I'll be in town (I live in O'fallon IL) and once I rebuild the top end I'll be looking fo things to do. lol

 

Got my starter back today. The part in the picture below that looks askew in the notch was completely busted up.

Anyway, rebuilt and replaced starter drive, $45.

Installing this afternoon.

 

Installed the starter. The car started right up. After that, I shut it off and put all my tools away and prepared for a nice ride. Well, after some time I went back to the car, turned the key and 'CLICK'. Turned the key again, 'CLICK'. That's it, just a click.

I checked that all the solenoid wires were still connected and checked the battery. Everything seems fine but still, just 'CLICK' when I turn the key.

Tomorrow I'm going to remove the starter and replace it again, clean all the connections to the solenoid and reseat the cables on the battery.

Any other thoughts?

 

First I'd try using a jumper cable to test the starter - assuming you are SURE the battery is charged. Connect one end to the hot side of the sol' or to the hot side of the battery, and then touch the connection at the starter. If the starter spins then you have an electric problem. Possibly to burned the sol' during earlier testing.

If the starter doesn't spin I'd then pull it and see if the rebuild got messed up. Perhps the Bendix didn't get put on correctly. Let's HOPE nothing broke and fell off in the flywheel housing....

You could also try rocking the car with it in gear ... possible the BENDIX engaged and is hung on the flywheel - remote but I've had it happen and rocking MIGHT pop it loose. If this works I'd pull the starter and apply some grease to the Bendix parts

 

Already rocked the car. Nothing.

A couple quick questions

1. Do I just use a jumper cable to test the starter? ie put the red cable from one side on the hot side of the sol and then the other red cable to the electrical connection of the starter?

2. The hot side of the sol is the back, right. The other side is connected to the starter so that's a stupid question, I guess.

 

Do I just use a jumper cable to test the starter?

yes - just connect the plus of the battery to the starter's connection, by passing the sol' to see if it spins. Be sure you are in neutral and the brake on - even blocking the wheels wouldn't hurt.

 

Took off the starter. Cleaned all the surfaces where starter touches the case around the flywheel and the electric connection and put the starter back.

Starts up everytime! Yay!

I just got back from riding around for about 45 minutes. It's 95 degrees here and I'm baked!!!

 

Congrats. Glad to hear it. I'll have mine out and running around the greater St. Louis area on Monday and Tuesday.

 

Where in Stl? I'm off Monday and would love to run around if it's not so hot. I'm downtown.

 

I'm actually in O'fallon IL. About 10 minutes from downtown. Not sure when I'll be getting in town on Monday, but I assume it will be some time around 6 pm. So I might not be tooling around downtown on Monday. Although, if I do get my rod change seal done I'll be taking it downtown on Wednesday night for the game against SF.

Where do you live downtown? I'm not TOO familiar with all of the areas more east, but my brother used to live in the lofts next to the stadium. I'm familiar with the landing and the area up to the Savvis Center.. excuse me... "Scott Trade Center". lol

 

I live across the street from America's Center. About 2 blocks from the TWA dome, I mean the Edward Jones Dome. 9th and Wash Ave.

 

Oh. Cool. so you really ARE downtown. haha. I used to work at the old Bush Stadium, so I know that area pretty well. Well, like I said, I'll be downtown Wednesday around 7:00 for the Cards game. I usually park at the garage closest to the stadium in the VIP area down on the first floor. I like the fact that they have a LOT of security cameras there. :D But if I'm in the city any other times I'll post something up.

Are there any actual meets or anything downtown or in the general area this month? I'll be going to the race track a few times to run my truck, and to just hang out and watch my friend stunt ride, so if the community shows up there, I'll probably take the mini.