Ok... this thing is really easy to snap a photo of if youve got 10 minutes to spare..... I took mine off without seeing how it goes it is oriented in there and now its all bent out of shape and now the starter is arching to it when I start the car and rev it up.

First off DO NOT DO THIS WHEN YOUR CAR IS HOT!!! You should only do this if you havent driven your car in a few hours and you are positive its nice and cool.

Step 1: In the back of the engine area you will see a heat shield that has two bolts holding it above the header.

Step 2: Use a 13mm socket to take those two bolts out being careful not to drop them!

Step 3: Wiggle that heat shield out of the way. If you bend this one a little bit to get it out its no big deal. Its really easy to get back into shape and onto the car.

Step 4: Look down past where you just removed the heat shield from. You should see another heat sheild there just to the right (toward the driver side) and below the header.

Step 5: Take a pic from any and every angle you can possibly shoot one from. Especially helpful are the ones from the side looking into/under the heat sheild.

If anyone has a few minutes to spare today I would really appreciate your help. Thanks!

 

but I'm about to hop in the car with the wife......

Matt

ps, I guess neither of us in on Run #8....

 

Nope... this F'in heat shield wont get into its spot and its PISSIN ME OFF

 

to take a little walk, think nice thoughts, have a cool drink, release some stress....


And then get a bigger hammer!

Matt

 

I started this last night... me and a friend had plenty of drinks and lots of cool off time. Its been about 24 hours since Ive been trying to get this damn thing on there and still very little luck. When we do get it ALMOST to the right spot, one of the tabs will bend or something and we have to pull it back out.

 

Anyone?

 

I'll try to snap a few pics later today. I should be with my MINI soon..

 

thanks

 

Just FYI, I have to meet someone for dinner, so it will be this evening between 6-7 PM central time.

 

Cool... Ive got a dinner tonight as well but I will definitely check em out when I get home. Thanks, I owe ya one!

 

alright, grabbin the camera and running outside

 

Hey what year MINI do you have? I am not seeing these two 13mm bolts. My hear shield it held on by a bracket that also holds a coolant reservoir.

 

Its an '04. Should have a little hand with an X on it... located directly above the header.

 

if you are having this much trouble, have you considered removing the header? I have mine out right now and there is almost complete access to it.
There are only the two guide holes, one above and one below the starter mount and the screw above the filter housing. I think when I had mine out I had to remove the bolt that clamps those two black pipes that are adjacent to the lower guide hole. Look up past the driver's side of the power steering pump.

...That header will only take fifteen minutes to get out.

 

The problem is that I bent the hell out of that thing trying to get it out in the first place and now I dont know how it is supposed to be shaped. We took the header off yesterday but it really didnt help us any because the thing is just too bent up. Ill definitely take a look at the bolt that clams those pipes though... they are definitely in the way

If you take a look at it, is the thing shaped like a U or is it pretty much a straight down bend?

 

It is bent like a "U" , but not completely parallel. The guides are at right angles.

 

Ok. I just took mine off and I see where you are getting hung up. The lower guide (90*bend) is getting caught between those black pipes and the wiring.

Bend that lower guide completely flat, then slide it into place from the passenger side towards the driver side. Once it is in place, bend the guide back into position. You'll have to do this from under the car. Once the lower guide is in place you can slide in the top guide and screw in the bolt at the filter housing.

Edit: you don't have to bend the guide, but it may help you get it in faster as the shield is already tweeked. Don't forget to disconnect the battery.

 

Well, Im gonna order a new one tomorrow and hope it gets here quick.... I lost one of the little grommets anyway We should be able to get it up on the rack this time and do it quickly. Thanks for the tips!

 

Sorry I didn't get the pics to ya. I went to sleep before you replied! lol Hope you get it fixed.

 

It's easier to get the starter heat shield on when you're under the car looking up. The shield likes to get hung up on the cabling that's on the bottom side. Once that cabling is out of the way, it'll literally just slide on real easy....though never force it on, the rubber bushings have to slip on at their own rate.

I've always had a bit of trouble with this shield too, but there are tougher things on the car for sure! Just make sure you SEE the shields surroundings, that will help lots.

Ryan

 

Does anyone have this pic? I am trying to figure out if the shield wraps around the hard lines or if they are left exposed? I spent way to much time on this last night and finally gave up and was hoping there would be some pictures!