Hello everyone,

This is a re-post of my first post that was done in 1st Gear, some one recommended that I should re-post it here. I have a 1991 Mini Cooper. I have already had to replace the front wheel bearings and cv shaft as well as the radiator, I've had the car a whole three weeks . But, that is the reason I bought it.

Since I am writing I have a few questions. I have a pretty good grasp of automechanics as it is, but find myself in alien territory at times with my little bundle of joy. How exactly is the heater supposed to work? I know a dumb question, but I am a little confused by the blue and red arrows on the cable. At the same time, the heater never even turned on before... Then this morning I turned it on to see what it would do after having a decent radiator put in(you don't even want to know what type of condition the old one was in). And it started blowing hot air, but then it stopped and wouldnt blow any more air, that was until I started moving and then it started pushing the outside air in even though all the switches were off. I think if I flush the system, it might start working, or maybe replace the blower and heater coil.

Thanks for the help, and I will get some pics up soon.

 

The cable opens and closes an inline water valve in one of the small heater water hoses under the hood. Follow the cable and you will see it. Pull or push for hot or cold, red arrow hot, blue cold. If it was hot but not now you may have an airlock in the heater (it is low down under the dash & collects air stopping water circulating).
Remove rad cap, open heater valve ****, disconnect a heater hose under the bonnet & pour in water until heater is full, reconnect and run engine on idle without rad cap for a while to let air bubble out. Refit cap before driving!

 

Welcome

 

Hey, someone with my story! I'm new to the forums too; just got my first Mini. In the short time I've had my 1973 Mini Innocenti (it was abandonded for several years) I have driven it all of fifteen minutes - away from the shop that did a load of the initial work, and then back again a few minutes when it became apparently that 2nd gear didn't work.

So far, I have done (or rather, paid to have done) the following: Replaced the smoking 998 engine with a used Metro 1275, which ended up needing a rebuild of the transmission, rebuilt head, and new cam; replaced a roller rocker, replaced the engine mounts (because they were rusted to hell), put in new front shocks, rebuilt the back swingarms (both were stuck), installed new exhause & manifold, added new Weber carb (shiny!) rebuilt the clutch, and replaced the seats. I went a little nuts on the seats, but man, the ones it comes with? I don't know how you Mini purists deal with the whole "top of the seat reaches the middle of your back" thing. I went for some Corbeau A4's.

Oh, and I put a fun Aston gas cap on too, as well as chrome side & rear mirrors. Whee! So don't fret, you're not alone in the seemingly endless replacement of parts for your new car!

Hopefully, it comes out of the shop tomorrow (it's been there about a month) and I'll finally be able to drive the damned thing!

In the fifteen minutes I drove it, though, I did make about thirty people smile. That was way, way cool.

 

I know the feeling... I drove it home and it was fine, then over the weekend I decided to go for a good cruise and when I got there the wheels were making a horrible sound and I was smoking something good. Fortunatly, it made it home alright after stopping every few minutes or so to fill up the radiator. I then put it up on a rack where it stayed for about a week. I do all my work myself, so at least the repair cost wasn't so bad.

 

Welcome to the madness. Someone asked me the other day if I had come up with a "cost per mile driven" calculation... I politely told them to shut up. But those mile sure are fun!!!

 

I will have to say I have probably put more miles on mine than I spent working on it. I have had my share of work though. I have driven mine from Tennessee to Dublin, Ohio all over Ohio and back and to Orlando and back. I also did a drive from East Tn State line to the mississippi all on back roads of course. It will get better.

 

Just remember, its a 30+ year old car....once you sort out the maintenance that hasn't been done by PO's you'll be good to go. Like above, I rebuilt my wagon and drove it from Tampa to Dublin Oh & back first trip. I've done little since but routine maintenance.

 

there are two types of heater valves, some some reason pull to open were not available for a while. I hate the ones that pull to close because in california, it would be pulled most of the time.

 

Sorry to hear about everyones troubles with there classic minis. Guess I was just lucky. Bought it sight unseen off of e-bay. I've had it right about a year now and (Knock on wood) I have had no problems with it. It is a bone stock 1987 Mayfair edition. It has started and gotten me everywhere I have headed for. I have had other English cars before MG's and Jaguars. Much less trouble with this little 998 Mini. Hope you all get yours to be as dependable as mine has been. They are a gas to drive and people seem to really love them. I had a heavy set lady in a big ole 4x4 laugh so hard at my car at a gas station that she fell out of the truck.