fuses are all good. check relays as well and they were alright. Still just clicks when ignition is turned.
tried a new battery since the dot on the mini one wouldnt change from the black dot even after having it charging all night, still nothing.
checked all connections and they have power and are tight. ground on pass side of engine tight too. power at starter, but just clicks. I figure the next thing to test is the starter itself.

 

Sounds like you are on the right path

 

test? pthhh.... just do the old fashioned(read: redneck) way to fix that starter. hit it with a 2x4.

Can't tell you how many times I remember my dad using that trick on an old 40s DeSoto.

Can't wait to see your results in action. (hint: post vids)

 

ive already hit it with a hammer while my brother tries to start it. needless to say, it didnt help

 

push start that hoe!!!! odd how we are having the same problems... first the bad gas, now the starter. ive had a new starter for a couple weeks now but ive lost motivation to put it in the car. spend close to 5 grand on a new motor/clutch/lsd and get it running for a week only for the starter to go out will do that to you.

 

you should really push start that thing.

i used to have a 1990 civic hatch, that i had to push start for two weeks till i had the money for a new starter. could do it on flat ground by myself, but usually just tried to park on a slight incline, everywhere.

if your driveway is sloped just sit down give a few kicks with your foot and pop the clutch right be fore you get to the bottom.

 

I would of been more upset if the starter would of died before i got the new motor started. At least i heard it run for a couple days. Even tho premium is more expensive, I would rather be driving the MINI now for the mpg vs my cargo van. Its usually around 80 to fill that up, and it gets terrible mileage.

I have another vehicle to drive and a motorcycle, so it sitting in the garage until i get the starter in is fine with me. Even tho push starting isnt that big of a deal, i would rather not. Most of my driving now consist of me going to and from work, so its just easier using my other starting vehicles.
I will probably get to installing the new starter this week, and cross my fingers that it sovles the problem, and is the end of my problems for a little while.

 

well the two starters i have ordered from the parts stores here in Lincoln haven't fit. couldn't get them past the flywheel, so Im waiting to hear back on how much one will be.

 

after all that work i wouldn't let a starter stop me from taking the first test drive. wouldn't want you to commute with it , but for the sake of everyone waiting..... push start that HOE!and make a video hahahaha

please?

 

Subscribed for updates.
The suspense is killin' me!

Good job!!!!

Jim

 

+1 for the push start. Let's see this beast!
Are you coming to MITM this August?

 

I have already driven it. The factory starter worked for about a week with the new motor. Then one morning nothing. My new starter should be on its way now, so I dont feel like taking it off the jack stands and pushing it out the garage. Especially now since its been raining all night. I have a lake in front of and in my garage too.

I really want to, i put down for work already so hopefully i am the only one that needs to leave that week.

 

video will be here shortly. i will most likely be selling off my 3 reg def gopros and buy some new HD ones.

 

new starter came in today, crossing fingers to be starting without pushing tonight

 

 

well after the install, it started once. Now it seems like i have a bad ground so I need to jack it back up and check the connections everywhere agian.

Last night after I got home from a buddies kegger.....of soda, I went and tried to start it again. This time it started up right away, but when I tried to move it out the garage today for work, it wouldnt start.

Either tonight or in the morning I am going to check all my connections starting with the battery and then going to the front.

Weather tonight is too nice to pass up riding the motorcycle, so it might have to wait.

 

make sure the ground from your engine mount to the body on the right side is good and tight. this will keep the car from starting

 

got it to start yesterday, so I took it to work with me to look at it in my free time.

re-did the connections on the starter and the ground on the motor mount. Was going to reconnect the battery when I twisted the bolt off on the neg battery cable.

So I was able to find a hose clamp to put around it and get it tight. It had seemed to be somewhat fixed becasue I didnt have any problems starting the car to move it from the maintenance hangar back to the parking lot, and then to start it later to leave work.

Then I headed to a friends place, stayed for about a half a hour. Go to leave and back to the way it was, just clicking. so i did a push start in reverse down the driveway to get back home.

This morning i went and got it back on jack stands and that is where it sits since i had to head to class. on my way home now to go look at it again.

also, am going to be calling Jan to see if he can get a new negative battery cable since MINI has it as a complete piece.
looking around its going to be a $30 bolt.

 

LMAO!!! i seriously hope you end up with 400hp too. my car is copying yours to the damn dot. my positive cable "bolt" broke in half too. I still havent done my starter though... how did you end up changing the starter? i've been lazy lately.did you take the header off and do it from the top?

 

to change my starter, I didn't remove anything except the old one. I really didnt want to remove the header. Yes im sure it would have been extremely easier with that extra room, bu I got by.
I managed to wiggle the old starter out from under the header and then lifted it up behind the valve cover. It is a tight fit, but not bad.
In order to get a socket on any bolt, I had to remove the passenger wheel. Then extensions and swivels were my friend.

As far as your positive battery boot, you will be better off getting the negative to replace it. Just take out the bolt. I think when I looked a new positive battery cable was $300.

Im going to call jan here in a couple mins to see if he can get one.

 

I've had a hose clamp on mine for seven years.

 

awesome. haha it seems to work just fine. I did a push start today and drove around with no problems.

 

Make sure the 19mm nut on your jump post is tight....

I thought of this thread yesterday as I was putting the new to me motor in my car. Got everything in to the point that I could crank it to build up some oil pressure and then start it. Reconnected the batt, hopped in, turned the key and.... nothing No click no clack no nothing.

Turns out that when I was taking the 13mm off the starter, the nut was pretty solid on the solenoid, and as I was turining it, it was turning the solenoid on the starter housing. I didn't think much of it at the time, but then when I couldn't get it to start, I went straight to that. After a quick call to a junkyard and $100 I had myself a 'new' starter

 

Love the new SIG-PIC!

I havent had manny electrical issues but, 80% of the time it is something simple. I think somewhere there is a loose ground or the battery can no longer hold a good charge. Your car did sit for quite some time.

 

i have a feeling its going to be something really simple too. I am going to be putting my new bolt in my negative battery cable tonight. The battery is new, i tested my old one and seemed bad so it was replaced. I have a feeling its a ground somewhere, or I have been doing something wrong with the wiring at the starter.

On friday, my brother and I push started it and took it for a drive. Once it started then, it ran with no problems. I even took it out for the Hot Rod Super Nationals cruise down O St in Lincoln. No problems then either.


I didnt work on it at all Saturday b/c i was working a poker run, then went out to watch the burnouts during the cruise again. before that a couple buddies went out to film some burnouts for a vid of the whole car show event.
Here is some pics from that: