HELP!! Puffs of steam coming from engine

[rebeccaprice]

Noticed that puffs of steam keep coming from my engine... not much and my car isnt overheating as the temp guage isnt moving and the fans arent coming on...
i have noticed that the heating has been blowing cold, then goes bk warm... checked the water and thats all ok...
any help would be really appricated as i dont want to be driving it still if i am going to cause more damage.
thanks

[marque]

Hi ya

What's year and model is your car.

It could be something as simple as dragons breath if it's a cooper S, that's where the water/rain goes in to the intercooler thought the scoop and engine boils it off so you get puffs of steam out of the scoop. It Can be quite alarming if you have never seen it before.

I would say don't fully trust the temp gauge they are only there as a jesture there not that accurate
As for the fans not cutting in there is a know problem with the stage 1 fan system so just be carefull.

If you let use know what model we will be able to help you out abit more :-)

[rebeccaprice]

Hi its a mini one, 53 plate.
My heating isnt working now.... sometimes comes on when doing high speed. And this morning there was a knocking noise coming from the engine for a few seconds, sounded abit like a cd when its skipping... and my engine is rattling... (god!!!)
I took it to my garage to check the water (as the release cable to the bonnest has broken) he got in and everything seemed to be ok (water levels etc) im going to take it back in this weekend though and get him to have a proper look.
Any help would be grately appriciated
thanks

[rebeccaprice]

just been out in the car for 20 minutes, got home and the fans came on.... :S think i need to get it into the garage asap

[iain cooper]

could be an airlock in the system and just needing bled.

you need to get your bonnet cable fixed so that you can check what's actually happening.

Iain

[marque]

Hi ya

Right mini one cool :-) umm as above bonnet release is a must ASAP
If your heater is hot and cold you may have an air lock in the system mini's are known for there cooling problems caused buy airlocks it needs to be bled properly or the problem will never go away.
If your fan have been coming on i would get your thermostate checked and also your water pump.
If the water pump or thermostate are not working correctly water will not pass around the cooling system properly causing over heating and poor heating in the car

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...79&hg=41&fg=35

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...99&hg=11&fg=35

[rebeccaprice]

Thanks everyone. Had my mini in the garage over the weekend and the bonnet cable is fixed, and my cars been checked for leaks etc... the radiator has been bled and filled back etc. Was running ok until today, heatings stopped working again and it started to over heat... im taking it back to the garage this afternoon :-/

[rebeccaprice]

I need a new radiator, i have been quoted 180 + VAT, does this sound about right?? thanks

[marque]

Hi

There around the £170 + vat mark from bmw parts dept, then you have fitting plus antifreeze ect For origanal part
You can get pataren parts as low as £70 if no lower depending on if you A/C or not

1.4/ 1.6 2001- 2006 **NO AIR CON**

So I would think if that £180 + vat will be for a pattern part a couple of hours work sounds close
Why are thy changing the rad is it leaking
Just be carefull that there not changing bits for the sake of it, anyway it harder from here as I we can see the physically see the car

[mab01uk]

Early Mini radiators usually fail at the bottom corners, often hard to spot the leaks but later replacement rads are supposed to be improved.

[marque]

Handy thread for bleeding the system if you need it

http://www.mini2.com/forum/maintenan...screw-plz.html

[harvey94]

Quote: Originally Posted by marque (original)

Handy thread for bleeding the system if you need it

http://www.mini2.com/forum/maintenan...screw-plz.html

Very helpful post indeed! thanks for the link and thanks to mab01uk for taking the time to help! Just had my thermostat changed and didn't want to take it back to the garage just to keep bleeding it! i have heard these can be a pain in the a** to bleed! Will now just keep an eye on it myself!

Thanks guys!

[marque]

Quote: Originally Posted by harvey94 (original)

Very helpful post indeed! thanks for the link and thanks to mab01uk for taking the time to help! Just had my thermostat changed and didn't want to take it back to the garage just to keep bleeding it! i have heard these can be a pain in the a** to bleed! Will now just keep an eye on it myself!

Thanks guys!

Hi ya

Yes mate mab is a top guy fountain of usefull information and knows his stuff