Help a newbie

[annie]

Hi
Im wondering whether anyone would know about a problem that i seem to have with my mini Automatic,
The car appears to drive ok but as i get to any traffic lights and have to stop and wait the engine seems to die and cuts out i can usualy get it to start again but it doesnt appear to want to go anywhere(its sluggish) when i do finaly manage to get it to pick up speed it appears that the wheels judder as it goes into gear, could it be the gearbox or a poorly engine?????

[TONYELF]

Welcome to the forum Annie. Hope you enjoy.
Your Automatic sounds as if it probably needs a service? Sluggish sounds like the mixture is way out or the contact points need re-setting/renewing or plugs fouling up? Mavis (Dean and Kayes automatic) goes like stink and so should yours.:)

[Gr4H4m]

deano-matic is the expert on everything auto.... :D hello and welcome

[Deano]

Hello & welcome to the forum :) Auto`s Rule:cool:

1st I would get the Fueling Mixture & Ignition checked Mine run like that when i first had it due to an air leak on the inlet manifold.

Auto`s also need a good amount of 20w50 oil in them to change gear smooth.

Check these 1st to avoid jumping into expensive auto repair`s.

Hope this Helps cheers Deano

[annie]

Thankyou for your welcome!:)

We did have the 20w50 oil but we changed it to the 10w30 , we did notice a change straight away as it seemed to drive better and faster but now we have the problem of the noise as it changes gear , i can only explain the noise as a jolt as it changes into gear whether the sluggishness and the noise are related i dont know, i have asked some garages today for there advice and some say its the gearbox but one auto garage said it may not be the gearbox but a poorly run engine

[Gr4H4m]

mini A-series engines were designed to run on 20W50. The more modern oils are too thin and cause issues with leaking, oil pressure and gearbox trouble. The oil is shared with the gearbox so it needs to be of the correct grade.

As Deano says get some 20W50 and a new filter and change the oil. Then new points, condenser, and mixture settings should make a massive improvement, and not to expensive. Halfords do 20W50 which is comma oil, also available from CES in Chester as Comma, which is a bit cheaper. Halfords about £12. all in all about £20 - £25
You could also change the cap, rotor arm, spark plugs, air filter and give the car a new set of leads... and you have a full set of service items :D

Haynes manual will give you the how to if you don't have one you can pick them up from Ebay for a few quid.

[annie]

So there is still some hope it may not be the gearbox:confused:

The type of oil is confusing as we managed to get hold of the owners Rover handbook that you get when you buy the car, down the scrapper and on the back it tells you what the correct oil is for an Automatic which is 10w/30 or a 10w/40.

Do you think the oil that we have in there now might be the reason for this jolting noise(sounds a bit like the wheels are skidding on the road) it does sound pretty terminal.
But yes i will try to have the oil changed as soon as possible and then go from there

Fingers crossed:(

[TONYELF]

Whats the mileage? Don't forget the gear box and the engine share the same oil sump,consequently the oil gets really thrashed.

[annie]

around 82627 miles and its a Rover mini 1989 Automatic

[Deano]

So there is still some hope it may not be the gearbox:confused:

The type of oil is confusing as we managed to get hold of the owners Rover handbook that you get when you buy the car, down the scrapper and on the back it tells you what the correct oil is for an Automatic which is 10w/30 or a 10w/40.

Do you think the oil that we have in there now might be the reason for this jolting noise(sounds a bit like the wheels are skidding on the road) it does sound pretty terminal.
But yes i will try to have the oil changed as soon as possible and then go from there

Fingers crossed:(

Got me Thinking now ive allways put 20w50 in mine but will check it out

[Steve]

Mini oil should be 20/50 for all engines and gearboxs.

[annie]

Will give it a try today and will update to let you know if theres any change,its going to be the fourth oil change the car has had in the year!

[annie]

Oh also what type of oil would be best synthetic or mineral?

[Steve]

mineral

[annie]

Changed the oil and sorted the points but we still have the jolting as it changes into second gear its looking like we may have to take the car to a Auto garage to have it looked at.

[Deano]

Are the engine mounts ok ? i fitted a Ultimate engine steady on mine made aworld of difference:)

[Gr4H4m]

Can you put your hand on the rocker cover and move the engine backwards and forwards??? if so change the engine steady rubbers the easiest one is attached to the head on the left hand side (If looking at the engine)

Also get someone to sit in the car and turn the wheel from lock to lock fairly quikly whilst you watch the engine to see if it moves then the engine mounts need changing:)

[Gr4H4m]

ooppps Deano beat me to it

[TONYELF]

Can you put your hand on the rocker cover and move the engine backwards and forwards??? if so change the engine steady rubbers the easiest one is attached to the head on the left hand side (If looking at the engine)

Also get someone to sit in the car and turn the wheel from lock to lock fairly quikly whilst you watch the engine to see if it moves then the engine mounts need changing:)

I've just renewed the rear mounting rubbers on the front subframe to stop the engine going from side to side when turning the steering wheel (whilst stationary of course!) engine solid again now.

[annie]

We had the engine steady rubbers replaced not long ago but the engine mounts also seem ok
My partner did replace one teardrop steady mount today as it had perished other than that everything seems ok apart from the gear noise
It changes gear as normal but as it goes into second gear it makes a screech sound but changes into third and fourth as normal without any noise at all:confused:

Any advice would be appreciated,
thankyou for your help by the way!

[TONYELF]

It's four speed box? I thought they were only Three speed.

[Gr4H4m]

We had the engine steady rubbers replaced not long ago but the engine mounts also seem ok
My partner did replace one teardrop steady mount today as it had perished other than that everything seems ok apart from the gear noise
It changes gear as normal but as it goes into second gear it makes a screech sound but changes into third and fourth as normal without any noise at all:confused:

Any advice would be appreciated,
thankyou for your help by the way!

Some of the cars have a lower engine steady... not sure on the auto's Deano might be able to shed some light.

[annie]

It's four speed box? I thought they were only Three speed.


Yes, it appears to go into third and drive ok

[Deano]

Sometimes mine makes a strange noise when its cold something to do with the Gearbox:(

[annie]

The car was worse when hot but now its just as bad hot and cold ,i will have to get it to a garage to confirm whether it is the gearbox and if it is then its going to cost lots of money so i dont think i will bother with a garage if it is and maybe consider having a different engine put in,we know someone who could put in a new engine for £150 but then we have to find one first and thats going to cost so i dont know whether its going to be worth it :(

[Deano]

Oh Dear:( I found a great 1275 auot engine & box on ebay for £41 :eek: They are us cheap becuase no one wants them but mini specialists charge a bomb for them:(

[annie]

There still could be some hope,it might be that the second gear needs adjusting but the subframe would have to come off, how much that would cost he doesnt know as he would have to look at it first, would it be worth taking the car to this garage and letting him have a look or just put a new engine in??

[Deano]

Ive found getting the gasket kits for the auto hard to get hold of & you need a special puller to get the torquue converter off too:( im sure it would be cheaper to stick a new engine in it would only cost the price of a new engine and a days labour then:confused:

[Deano]

Would get a garage to check it out 1st tho as it may be something simple;)

[annie]

Ok will do ,thanks Deano;)
Will let you know what happens
Thanks again

[denty]

hi ive got a 1300 meto engine only done 29000 miles and good runner you can have cheap will drop str8 in

[annie]

Thanks Denty, that might be a bit far for me as im from Bristol.
It may not be the Gearbox it could be something to do with the back of the car maybe, the brakes??
I took it out yesterday for a run and it was fine , the gears changed as they should but the noise always starts after i stop at traffic lights or junctions anywhere that i have to stop basicly ,its hard to describe the noise but it does sound like its coming from the back

[Gr4H4m]

could be a cracked drum or a sticking wheel cylinder, my wheel cylinder made a bang when it was sticking...

spin the rear wheels and make sure they are true and not fouling anything
Inspect the drums for cracks or wear
check the shoes
check the condition of the wheel cylinders


put the car on axle stands when you are doing the work so its stable and have a look underneath to make sure the exhaust is still connected buy all of its hangers give it a wiggle to make sure they haven't split.

[annie]

My partner has just checked the front wheel and it sounds like the bearings have come out of the driveshaft ,do you think this could be the reason for the skidding noise???

[Gr4H4m]

If the race is damaged then you need to change them... we do have a video how to created by Mark Rally... so you can strip it off and check. Also check the CV joints whilst you are there.

Check the Haynes manual for how to dismantle the parts off of the car and our vid how to shows greasing the bearing and installing them in the hub.

http://www.miniaddicts.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=1355

also check the ball joints for wear whilst you have it all apart

http://www.miniaddicts.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=1339

let us know what you find

[annie]

:( I had a word with an Automatic car specialist today and he reckons that the clutch has gone ,so bad news

Time to have another engine put in me thinks !!

[Deano]

Hasnt got a clutch is he avin a laugh?:confused:

[NICK]

they have bands dont they

[TONYELF]

Well if they have, Annie's is playing a bloody awful tune at the mo!:D

[NICK]

thats what they call em clutch bands doesnt sound like thats the prob to me

[TONYELF]

Automatic minis don't have bands according to Haynes, it uses a three element fluid torque converter and are rather complicated. there are actually two clutches involved but not the type you have in the manual models. one is for forward and the other for reverse.
Good luck with yours Annie, Sounds as if you need a second opinion if you ask me or even a third? If however you decide to have it fixed which I think might be the cheapest option you should get some form of guarantee if you can. (especially if you have it done by the one who advised you your "clutch" has gone!) And you could ask if they will give one before they start?

[annie]

After having a drive in the car my chaps father said there seems to be a lot of heat coming from the front wheels and he said that he doesnt think it could be the gearbox.
So i phoned a local garage yesterday and explained the noise and he said its the clutch, the clutch slipping and its the usual thing that goes on these cars, i said (as i dont know nothing about cars)oh thats good news then so it cant be the gearbox, he said no as the clutch is inside the gearbox and it would all have to come out, repair it all at the cost of £800
I could cry as i dont know what to do or where to go:(

[TONYELF]

He is correct .The two clutches are inside the gearbox. Does sound if Dean was right, it would be cheaper to replace engine keeping costs down on labour charges. Sorry , we can't do that on the forum LOL !
Looks as if you will have to shop around for that. good luck

[annie]

I asked about this in a garage this morning ,although he doesnt do Automatics he said its the gearbox and they dont have clutches they have bands.

It seems a pity to have to change the engine as it seems to drive perfectly now apart from that noise occasionaly.

We do have a Automatic 1300 engine and thinking of putting that one in ,we have someone who would do this for us for £150quid its better than £800 but i think its a gamble as i dont know whether the new engine and gearbox that we have spare are ok

[TONYELF]

Thats great, I had forgotten you had the convertable for sale. £150 to change the engines is a VERY good price, snatch his hand off! LOL
As for the bands/clutches, I'm not arguing with that , I merely quote Haynes manual,thats all. Still, what ever ,I'm pleased you can get it sorted reasonably cheap.

[Deano]

Put the 1275 auto in then take all the bits off the 998 and bin it:( its the best way i wouldnt trust any garage to rebuild an auto mini box there`s not mant that can do a manual one & there easy:rolleyes:

A good Garage should be able to change a 998auto to a 1275auto in a day only real difference is the exhaust:)

Cheers Deano

[annie]

Put the 1275 auto in then take all the bits off the 998 and bin it:( its the best way i wouldnt trust any garage to rebuild an auto mini box there`s not mant that can do a manual one & there easy:rolleyes:

A good Garage should be able to change a 998auto to a 1275auto in a day only real difference is the exhaust:)

Cheers Deano


:) I was going to ask about my old engine whether to strip it ,sell it or bin it,I would have to take the altinater and the pump, but do you think anyone would want the engine do you think?

[KAYE (Mrs Jones)]

There are always useful bits to be salvaged off an engine :)

[NICK]

good garage i can trust d + s motors debigh road mold very good friend of mine also owns a mini

[annie]

I spoke to D+S Auto,s on the phone(located in Horfield bristol) and he was optimistic that it could be something other than the gearbox but i dont think the car would have made it that far to the garage and he probably would have found a problem with the gearbox anyway so in two weeks time if everything goes to plan and the gearbox is ok in the engine that im having put in then that will be fantastic it just means my insurance will go up a bit ,we will have to find out how much more its going to be?

[annie]

My old engine has been taken out today(yipppppeeeeee) and apparently a washer had got in somehow and damaged the gearbox:( it was also flooded with oil?
Should be finished by wednesday!

[moddinmad]

good good. bet you cnt wait

[annie]

mmm im nervous something may go wrong!!i just hope that the new engine hasnt any problems, he hasnt got it started yet he should have it running with a bit of hope by tomorrow

[TONYELF]

It's a bit quiet on this thread init? I hope this does'nt mean the engine hasn't started?
What's the latest Annie?

[annie]

It's a bit quiet on this thread init? I hope this does'nt mean the engine hasn't started?
What's the latest Annie?


He got the engine running and it goes like stink it sounds meatier too:D
we have a few teething problems but what a difference, going from a 998 to a 1275 engine!:cool:

[TONYELF]

Thats great news. Sounds promising for for me with my 850 van project,got a 1275 to go in that. (I hope it goes like s**t off a shovel !) LOL :D
Keep us informed !:)

[annie]

Thanks Tony,
Anything has got to be better than what i had, a 1275 is certainly fast enough for me !
Good luck with your project by the way!

[TONYELF]

Thanks Tony,
Anything has got to be better than what i had, a 1275 is certainly fast enough for me !
Good luck with your project by the way!

Thanks, I might need it , the cancer is worse than I thought !:eek: