MINI2

ace_dude · Feb 24th, 2008, 05:36 PM

Hi all,

I just got my used 2004 Cooper this morning and already there is a problem with it.

It started overheating almost immeadiatly, the temperature gauge has been going in to the red and the engine fan stays on for a bit after the engine has been switched off. Should I just top up with coolant or sould I go to an approved service department? And the heating is not working properly, it isn't really blowing hot air, more like cold then a little hot then cold again etc, is this to do with the coolant aswell? Also there is an intermitant noise coming from the engine, sounds a bit like rumbling / clicking. Any advice on what I should do?

And it was only mot'd by the dealer 2 days ago!

Thanks in advance.

ScottyBoy · Feb 24th, 2008, 05:52 PM

You have an air lock, on the coolant pipes there is a few bleed nipples you need to open 1 at a time till the air stops coming out and then tighten the nipple and topup the coolant as needed.

Scott

ace_dude · Feb 24th, 2008, 05:55 PM

Hi Scott,

I' ve posted this in the wrong forum - my Cooper is an 04. Does your advice still apply?
If admin sees this can they move it to the correct section please?

Thanks

ScottyBoy · Feb 24th, 2008, 05:58 PM

This is in the correct part of the forum dont worry

Yes it still applys but as i have an MCS im not sure were your bleed nipples are but that advice still applys.

ace_dude · Feb 24th, 2008, 06:07 PM

OK thanks I will check it out - I guess that is what is causing the heating to not work properly then.

ScottyBoy · Feb 24th, 2008, 06:08 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by ace_dude (original)

OK thanks I will check it out - I guess that is what is causing the heating to not work properly then.

Yes thats it, i had this problem before with my car but the garage sorted it as they had it for 10 weeks and i was a little annoyed that i had to take it back.

merv · Feb 24th, 2008, 06:21 PM

Might be worth having a pressure test done to check there isn't a small leak in the system particularly if you have needed to top up the reservoir of late

ace_dude · Feb 24th, 2008, 06:38 PM

Does anyone know exactly where the bleed nipples will be on my MC? I'll need to look under the bonnet in the morning as its too dark (and cold and wet) now.

merv · Feb 24th, 2008, 08:00 PM

From memory the high level one is on the left on the outlet from the top of the radiator (it is a black plastic cross headed screw) and the lower is on the right on the hose as it enters the radiator at the bottom - both are pretty easy to find

bob_fat · Mar 14th, 2008, 08:23 AM

Please help!!

I've got exactly the same problem with my Girlfriends car.

However, I think I may just have bled the wrong things..

Can anyone help me, as she has just set off for work.

her car has bene overheating for the past few days, blowing hot air then cold.

There is a white/clear reservoir at the middle at the back of the engine with a "not you're windscreen washer" symbol on it. This has been empty. Is this where the coolant would go, if not what is this for?

Does anybody have an engine diagrame that explains all the bits?

Also.. and this is modt important.

To the right of the radiatior there are two pipes, with caps on the end.. each cap has a pressure releaser, just like you would find on a tire..

I bled them, lots of air came out.

Have I just messed up big time? I can see that from the above posts, it would seem that someone suggested it was the black screw plugs on the big fat pipe to the left of the radiator.

A quick response would be great, as I will need to phone mini asap to get it checked out, if I've done something really bad.

wincakes · Mar 14th, 2008, 08:48 AM

Yes, that resevoir you've described near the rear of the engine in the middle sounds like the coolant resevoir...there's a maximum and minimum level on it. It needs to be filled up!! Can't help you on the bleeding part I'm afraid! Good luck!

bob_fat · Mar 14th, 2008, 10:14 AM

ok, it would seem i have let air out of the wrong pipes.

what pipes have i bled air out of? these are two pipes to the right of the radiator, each has a pin to release the air.

oldmots · Mar 14th, 2008, 02:52 PM

This may be a first, or at least the first time anyone admitted it, but you have just discharged your air conditioning system! In your case, I would hustle to a dealer and get it squared away before you blow your headgasket in an overheat. I suggest having it towed there. These engines air lock easily in refills. If this happens, the engine will overheat quickly, often blowing the headgasket. There are three bleed taps on the MC standard, one on the large radiator hose at the top, one on the heater hose near the battery and one on the small metal coolant pipe near the thermostat housing. When bleeding, the taps should be open, the pressure cap off , the ignition on and the heater on "full". Look in these archives, I have posted this procedure more than once in detail.

Feb 24th, 2008, 05:36 PM	#1
ace_dude MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Local Time: 07:01 AM Posts: 8 Offline	Help - coolant level, heating etc? Hi all, I just got my used 2004 Cooper this morning and already there is a problem with it. It started overheating almost immeadiatly, the temperature gauge has been going in to the red and the engine fan stays on for a bit after the engine has been switched off. Should I just top up with coolant or sould I go to an approved service department? And the heating is not working properly, it isn't really blowing hot air, more like cold then a little hot then cold again etc, is this to do with the coolant aswell? Also there is an intermitant noise coming from the engine, sounds a bit like rumbling / clicking. Any advice on what I should do? And it was only mot'd by the dealer 2 days ago! Thanks in advance.

Mar 14th, 2008, 08:48 AM	#11 (permalink)
wincakes LOONEY!! My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: yorkshire Local Time: 07:01 AM Posts: 2,665 Offline	Yes, that resevoir you've described near the rear of the engine in the middle sounds like the coolant resevoir...there's a maximum and minimum level on it. It needs to be filled up!! Can't help you on the bleeding part I'm afraid! Good luck! ALTHOUGH SHE NEEDS A BIT OF GUIDANCE, LESLEY WILL BE MY BIATCH FOR NOW...!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
coolant/heating problems	miniinla	Faults & Fixes	4	Mar 18th, 2008 09:42 PM
coolant level going down	jksgoh	Faults & Fixes	4	Apr 13th, 2007 12:47 PM
Coolant level ?	fraujmj	Faults & Fixes	3	Jan 27th, 2006 05:51 PM
Coolant level	newminimark	Faults & Fixes	18	Oct 14th, 2003 07:55 PM
Coolant level right on min level	rainbowdreamer	Faults & Fixes	2	Aug 24th, 2003 04:06 PM

MINI2

Fuel for your MINI obsession

Got a problem with your MINI? Share it here, and maybe even find a solution

Today
Sponsors	Sponsored Links Registered members do not see Google Ads posts, they can also post messages, pictures, and classified adverts. Register your free account today and become a member of MINI2 - MINI Forum

Feb 24th, 2008, 05:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
ScottyBoy Obsessive Car Cleaner OCC My Classifieds Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Thornaby NE Local Time: 08:01 AM Posts: 2,894 Offline	You have an air lock, on the coolant pipes there is a few bleed nipples you need to open 1 at a time till the air stops coming out and then tighten the nipple and topup the coolant as needed. Scott

Feb 24th, 2008, 05:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
ace_dude MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Local Time: 07:01 AM Posts: 8 Offline	Hi Scott, I' ve posted this in the wrong forum - my Cooper is an 04. Does your advice still apply? If admin sees this can they move it to the correct section please? Thanks

Feb 24th, 2008, 05:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
ScottyBoy Obsessive Car Cleaner OCC My Classifieds Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Thornaby NE Local Time: 08:01 AM Posts: 2,894 Offline	This is in the correct part of the forum dont worry Yes it still applys but as i have an MCS im not sure were your bleed nipples are but that advice still applys.

Feb 24th, 2008, 06:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
ace_dude MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Local Time: 07:01 AM Posts: 8 Offline	OK thanks I will check it out - I guess that is what is causing the heating to not work properly then.

Feb 24th, 2008, 06:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
ScottyBoy Obsessive Car Cleaner OCC My Classifieds Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Thornaby NE Local Time: 08:01 AM Posts: 2,894 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by ace_dude (original) OK thanks I will check it out - I guess that is what is causing the heating to not work properly then. Yes thats it, i had this problem before with my car but the garage sorted it as they had it for 10 weeks and i was a little annoyed that i had to take it back.

Feb 24th, 2008, 06:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
merv nice Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cheltenham Local Time: 08:01 AM Posts: 32 Offline	Might be worth having a pressure test done to check there isn't a small leak in the system particularly if you have needed to top up the reservoir of late

Feb 24th, 2008, 06:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
ace_dude MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Local Time: 07:01 AM Posts: 8 Offline	Does anyone know exactly where the bleed nipples will be on my MC? I'll need to look under the bonnet in the morning as its too dark (and cold and wet) now.

Feb 24th, 2008, 08:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
merv nice Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cheltenham Local Time: 08:01 AM Posts: 32 Offline	From memory the high level one is on the left on the outlet from the top of the radiator (it is a black plastic cross headed screw) and the lower is on the right on the hose as it enters the radiator at the bottom - both are pretty easy to find

Mar 14th, 2008, 08:23 AM	#10 (permalink)
bob_fat MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Mar 2008 Local Time: 07:01 AM Posts: 2 Offline	Please help!! I've got exactly the same problem with my Girlfriends car. However, I think I may just have bled the wrong things.. Can anyone help me, as she has just set off for work. her car has bene overheating for the past few days, blowing hot air then cold. There is a white/clear reservoir at the middle at the back of the engine with a "not you're windscreen washer" symbol on it. This has been empty. Is this where the coolant would go, if not what is this for? Does anybody have an engine diagrame that explains all the bits? Also.. and this is modt important. To the right of the radiatior there are two pipes, with caps on the end.. each cap has a pressure releaser, just like you would find on a tire.. I bled them, lots of air came out. Have I just messed up big time? I can see that from the above posts, it would seem that someone suggested it was the black screw plugs on the big fat pipe to the left of the radiator. A quick response would be great, as I will need to phone mini asap to get it checked out, if I've done something really bad.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Mar 14th, 2008, 10:14 AM	#12 (permalink)
bob_fat MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Mar 2008 Local Time: 07:01 AM Posts: 2 Offline	ok, it would seem i have let air out of the wrong pipes. what pipes have i bled air out of? these are two pipes to the right of the radiator, each has a pin to release the air.

Mar 14th, 2008, 02:52 PM	#13 (permalink)
oldmots MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Eastern USA Local Time: 03:01 AM Posts: 261 Offline	This may be a first, or at least the first time anyone admitted it, but you have just discharged your air conditioning system! In your case, I would hustle to a dealer and get it squared away before you blow your headgasket in an overheat. I suggest having it towed there. These engines air lock easily in refills. If this happens, the engine will overheat quickly, often blowing the headgasket. There are three bleed taps on the MC standard, one on the large radiator hose at the top, one on the heater hose near the battery and one on the small metal coolant pipe near the thermostat housing. When bleeding, the taps should be open, the pressure cap off , the ignition on and the heater on "full". Look in these archives, I have posted this procedure more than once in detail.