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Car Forum / MINI / December 2003My '96 dint start this am !!
Now then fellow mini folk, My '96 spi dint start and I think I know why but just wanted one of you experts to confirm my fears! It all started about a fortnight ago when on a wet (very wet) journey home from work the fan belt pulled off a massive screech!! The noise has been gettign progressively worse on and off since then and yesterday it was constant at all rev levels. This morning it turned over twice and then just clicked away !! I dint have time to call RAC as I needed to get to work but whilst on the bus I was thinking that perhaps I could fix it myself. 1. Will it be enough just to get a new fan belt and jump start it ? (i dont think so) 2. If I do do what I am thinking of doing to remedy the situ ie replace dist cap, ht leads, sparks and fan belt will I need to change the battery and how hard will it be to do the points on the dist ? 3. Will a spray of wd40 sort me out with none of the above !? 4. Should I just take it to garage and tell them to do all above? ! 5. Will the computer be affected? I haven't posted here before but I have visited it quite a lot and I knwo there are some experts out there! I just need to know how to approach it Thanks Raver and P65RGA > It all started about a fortnight ago when on a wet (very wet) journey > home from work the fan belt pulled off a massive screech!! The noise > has been gettign progressively worse on and off since then and > yesterday it was constant at all rev levels. > > This morning it turned over twice and then just clicked away !! Because your fanbelt has been slipping (a lot by the sound of it) the alternator has not been putting out as much charge and your battery has run flat. Put the battery on charge and tighten the fanbelt and you should be OK. If the fanbelt continues to slip then it may need replacing as it has become polished by the pulley wheels. Shaun. Thanks a lot I will be doing that as soon as, I will probably just get the ht leads etc and a new fan belt as a preventative measure. Thanks a lot for your advice - What mini do you drive yourself? > My '96 spi dint start and I think I know why but just wanted one of > you experts to confirm my fears! > It all started about a fortnight ago when on a wet (very wet) journey > home from work the fan belt pulled off a massive screech!! Fan belts screech because they are slipping. When they are slipping, they do not transmit power... > The noise has been gettign progressively worse on and off since then > and yesterday it was constant at all rev levels. Most bad noises only get worse if you ignore them. > This morning it turned over twice and then just clicked away !! Flat battery. > I dint have time to call RAC as I needed to get to work but whilst on > the bus I was thinking that perhaps I could fix it myself. > 1. Will it be enough just to get a new fan belt and jump start it ? > (i dont think so) Depends why the fan belt was slipping. If it was just loose or got contaminated with something like WD40, then yes. If the alternator has suffered some horrible internal failure and seized, then no. Either way, you really should stick the battery on a charger for a while too. > 2. If I do do what I am thinking of doing to remedy the situ ie > replace dist cap, ht leads, sparks and fan belt will I need to change > the battery and how hard will it be to do the points on the dist ? Fix one problem at a time. The current problem has nothing to do with the distributor cap, leads or spark plugs. If you introduce a new problem when replacing them, you'll be lost, you won't know what is wrong and what is fixed. Batteries do not appreciate being run flat, but you can usually get away with it a few times. It significantly shortens the battery's life but probably hasn't killed it this time. Put it on a charger. > 3. Will a spray of wd40 sort me out with none of the above !? A spray of WD40 will do nothing whatsoever about a flat battery. WD40 on a wet distributor car will displace water. The car will then start if that was the problem (it's not). It will then attract dirt and dust and guarantee that next time it rains the water WILL stick and WILL cause problems. WD40 is very much an emergency measure for a throughly wet ignition system, and should be thoroughly cleaned off at the first opportunity. > 4. Should I just take it to garage and tell them to do all above? ! Start by replacing and adjusting the fan belt. In the short term you could get away with just tightening the fan belt, but if they've been slipping for a while, they get shiny and are never quite the same. Whilst you've got it apart, try spinning the alternator by hand, it should turn freely with no "crunchiness" and very little resistance. If it's crunchy, resists or continues to screech with a new fanbelt, then take it to a garage. > 5. Will the computer be affected? It shouldn't. It should be able to cope with a flat battery. > I haven't posted here before but I have visited it quite a lot and I > knwo there are some experts out there! Flattery will get you everywhere. > I just need to know how to approach it Diagnose. Then fix. Always in that order. Diagnose: The screeching indicates fan belt slipping, which will eventually cause flat battery. The description of how it failed to start is consistent with a flat battery. So we know this much: * Fan belt slipping * Battery flat We do not know why the fan belt was slipping, it could be: * Fan belt loose * Alternator bearings or other internals failed, jamming alternator Then fix: Either way, the fan belt has to come out, then check the alternator. If the alternator is crunchy, remove it for replacement. Replace the fan belt. Jump start the car. Leave it on a charger overnight at the next opportunity. DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR WITH NO FAN BELT FITTED. The fanbelt also drives the water pump. The water pump is vital for engine cooling. Replace the fan belt, after a week re check the tension, 96, nearly 8 years old will probably need a new battery soon if its the origional, they dont have points, spi check & clean the distributour cap & rotor, i would check & clean the leads, put new plugs in, see how you go, Steve. > Now then fellow mini folk, > [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > Raver and P65RGA Just a quick note to say thanks to you guys for the advice. p.s. I am aware that problems get worse if you ignore them ! I have just ordered a new car for work so littlehead will no longer be a daily drive come 04. MERRY XMAS
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