I need to take my cooper in to have the thermostat or expansion tank looked at due to my coolant is always empty, there must be a leak somewhere. Can anyone recommend a shop in the Sacramento area that is reliable and not to expensive?

 

Be sure to check on top of the transmission as the thermostats tend to get hairline cracks and pool up on top of them. The expansion tank isn't necessarily a problem area like it is on the first gen MINI's, but be sure to check out the lines going to the tank and the cap. When a coolant expansion tank ages it becomes brittle and develops hairline cracks. Look for cracks or any signs of leaks. Check the water pump area as well. Coolant leaking down the right side of the engine could be the water pump. Coolant leaking down the left side of the engine can be from the thermostat, coolant hoses or from the oil filter stand / housing, auxiliary coolant pump or reservoir. Coolant leaking down the radiator could be from the radiator or a radiator hose. There is a good site HERE that can help you find a local Indy MINI repair shop near you. Do a quick Google search for the ones you find for reviews. Good luck and let me know if you need any further assistance.

 

Thanks pelican. About how much would you estimate the repair costing.

 

You're welcome. It all depends on what exactly is leaking on your MINI. The shop will need to determine the source of the leak before they can accurately quote you a cost for the repair. Could be a couple of hundred (thermostats are about $150 plus a couple hours of labor) or more depending on if it's one or more leaking areas. If you are DIY savvy and feel that you can tackle the job(s) yourself, we have articles that can assist you, which essentially saves you in paying for labor. Shops can vary on pricing as well as it also is determined by their hourly shop rate and parts pricing. First thing is to figure out what is leaking and then go from there. I am here to help if you have any questions.