MINI2

matt21 · Jun 25th, 2007, 06:21 PM

Was looking forward to le mans last week, car half packed ready everything going well. thought i would take the mini to work the day before so i could get fuel on way home.

however after half a mile from my house the car seemed hesitant in 3rd under low acceleration but i thought maybe the engine is just cold. then the warning lights all came on. no bother i thought, been here before with minis, id pulled up turn off, leave it 1min and fire the old girl up again!

but when trying to start up the car really struggled to fire into life. with foot on the accelerator it fired but revs were needed to stop it from stalling. i managed to limp it back home (needed to get other car to get to work!) with black smoke coming out of the back.

the ever efficient bmw guys came out and quickly announced it was only running on 3 cylinders and off it went on a lorry to the dealers.

after some ummin and arring they diagnosed it as a broken exhaust valve spring. what that is i do not know but do know it was a big job requiring the head having to be removed

i am a bit worried there may be lasting damage on the car. how can i tell?? when i first started it up after there was a lot of wooshing noises, im told it was the coolant coming back through.

never did get the mini to le mans

after 12 hours non stop (im not joking) arguing with mini uk i managed to get an enterprise hire vauxhall astra.... better than nothing i suppose

JAMIE1131 · Jun 25th, 2007, 08:10 PM

A broken valve spring won't have long lasting effects on the engine. Its a small thing to go wrong but a pain in the ass to fix as the head has to come off to remove and refit the valve. If its all fixed and running fine I wouldnt worry about it!

matt21 · Jun 25th, 2007, 08:18 PM

thanks

btw seen your car around earl shilton quite a few times, i work at caterpillar

oldmots · Jun 26th, 2007, 01:41 PM

I have changed many valve springs without removing the head, just pressurize the cylinder and use the special Lisle or similar tool to remove and install the springs from the top.

JAMIE1131 · Jun 26th, 2007, 08:10 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by matt21 (original)

thanks

btw seen your car around earl shilton quite a few times, i work at caterpillar

Hope it was clean and shiny and I wasn't misbehaving

I'll keep an eye out for you, I take it you know Gristie?

Gristy · Jun 26th, 2007, 08:41 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by JAMIE1131 (original)

A broken valve spring won't have long lasting effects on the engine. Its a small thing to go wrong but a pain in the ass to fix as the head has to come off to remove and refit the valve. If its all fixed and running fine I wouldnt worry about it!

Its good to see the old girl up and firing again

Quote: Originally Posted by JAMIE1131 (original)

Hope it was clean and shiny and I wasn't misbehaving

I'll keep an eye out for you, I take it you know Gristie?

I do indeed know Matt - don't see you round as much now as i have moved away from Stinckley

Jun 25th, 2007, 06:21 PM	#1
matt21 Now with S power! My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rugby/Loughborough Local Time: 03:47 AM Posts: 24,232 Offline	broken exhaust valve spring Was looking forward to le mans last week, car half packed ready everything going well. thought i would take the mini to work the day before so i could get fuel on way home. however after half a mile from my house the car seemed hesitant in 3rd under low acceleration but i thought maybe the engine is just cold. then the warning lights all came on. no bother i thought, been here before with minis, id pulled up turn off, leave it 1min and fire the old girl up again! but when trying to start up the car really struggled to fire into life. with foot on the accelerator it fired but revs were needed to stop it from stalling. i managed to limp it back home (needed to get other car to get to work!) with black smoke coming out of the back. the ever efficient bmw guys came out and quickly announced it was only running on 3 cylinders and off it went on a lorry to the dealers. after some ummin and arring they diagnosed it as a broken exhaust valve spring. what that is i do not know but do know it was a big job requiring the head having to be removed i am a bit worried there may be lasting damage on the car. how can i tell?? when i first started it up after there was a lot of wooshing noises, im told it was the coolant coming back through. never did get the mini to le mans after 12 hours non stop (im not joking) arguing with mini uk i managed to get an enterprise hire vauxhall astra.... better than nothing i suppose

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Jun 25th, 2007, 08:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
JAMIE1131 MINI2 Master My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Earl Shilton, Leics. Local Time: 03:47 AM Posts: 792 Offline	A broken valve spring won't have long lasting effects on the engine. Its a small thing to go wrong but a pain in the ass to fix as the head has to come off to remove and refit the valve. If its all fixed and running fine I wouldnt worry about it!

Jun 25th, 2007, 08:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
matt21 Now with S power! My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rugby/Loughborough Local Time: 03:47 AM Posts: 24,232 Offline	thanks btw seen your car around earl shilton quite a few times, i work at caterpillar

Jun 26th, 2007, 01:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
oldmots MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Eastern USA Local Time: 10:47 PM Posts: 261 Offline	I have changed many valve springs without removing the head, just pressurize the cylinder and use the special Lisle or similar tool to remove and install the springs from the top.

Jun 26th, 2007, 08:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
JAMIE1131 MINI2 Master My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Earl Shilton, Leics. Local Time: 03:47 AM Posts: 792 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by matt21 (original) thanks btw seen your car around earl shilton quite a few times, i work at caterpillar Hope it was clean and shiny and I wasn't misbehaving I'll keep an eye out for you, I take it you know Gristie?

Jun 26th, 2007, 08:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
Gristy AKA Alv My Classifieds Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Loughborough Local Time: 03:47 AM Posts: 1,815 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by JAMIE1131 (original) A broken valve spring won't have long lasting effects on the engine. Its a small thing to go wrong but a pain in the ass to fix as the head has to come off to remove and refit the valve. If its all fixed and running fine I wouldnt worry about it! Its good to see the old girl up and firing again Quote: Originally Posted by JAMIE1131 (original) Hope it was clean and shiny and I wasn't misbehaving I'll keep an eye out for you, I take it you know Gristie? I do indeed know Matt - don't see you round as much now as i have moved away from Stinckley

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