I suspect my low fan speed resistor is finished. My symptoms are when the ac is on it sounds to me like the high speed fan comes on for about 5 seconds every 30 seconds or so. If I get under the car the p/s pump fan is running constantly. Does all this sound about right? Thinking my best option is a new resistor from rock auto.

Matt

 

That's definitely a dead low speed resistor. What build date is your MINI, Matt? You can either read the entire thread or the summary in page 32 here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...lution-32.html

Please note that resistor fix for early 1st gens w/ the 2-plug fan harness should be resistor surgery posted on the link in post#778 of page 32

 

She's a Jan of 2003 r53. I'm thinking I might bypass the resistor cause it will take like 3 weeks to get a resistor Here from the states. Don't want over heating in that time. Things we put up with for the love of minis!

 

You have the 2 plug fan harness? If so, this is what I did:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...r-surgery.html

Please note that for these early builds, the PS fan only comes on w/ the high speed fan, endangering the pump when High never gets called anymore once you get your low speed back. Dealer can rewire or you can line it up w/ your low speed fan supply.
I did it differently. I've a relayed & fused manual toggle switch for both the PS fan & the sticking Hi speed rad fan relay. In cases when rad fan remains on when engine is off, I simply switch off the toggle. No need to open the bonnet, unplug harness or tap that relay.

If you happen to have the 1 plug harness, you won't have to extract your fan & jump the resistor internally. It will be an external splice job, 90% easier for newer models + their PS fan comes on w/ the low speed.

 

It appears I have a interesting combination then, I appear to have 2 plugs going to the rad fan but my power steering fan is running permanently when the ac is on. I'll pull off my bumper tomorrow and bypass the resistor. What's the chance ill do damage to my ac with out the low speed fan working. Does the high coming on for 5 seconds do enough the compensate?

Thanks for all the advice

 

Once you turn your A/C on w/o the low speed fan, refrigerant pressure rises rapidly. Upon reaching 18bar, high speed turns on together w/ your Ps fan.
Running the A/C w/o low is subjecting your compressor to high pressure constantly. That's not good. Unfortunately, due to space constraint, our MINIs couldn't fit twin rad fans. All this time, when you weren't running w/ A/C, you never had any fan on. You were subjecting your engine to higher temps coz high speed only comes @ 112C w/o A/C. Way beyond water boiling point.

Once you bypass your resistor, you'll get a more efficient, colder A/C; fan on even w/o A/C once coolant reaches 105C; but, you might not have your PS fan on anymore since high will seldom be called. This is why I wired the PS fan w/ a manual switch. I could turn it on & off anytime.