I own a 51-plate Mini Cooper (manual g'box) which has been costing me an arm-and-a-leg to maintain over the past 12 months. I now have another fault.
At the weekend, I returned home from a day out and discovered the power steering had failed. The next day when I came to use the car, it started working again but on reaching my destination, when I removed my keys and locked the car, there was a faint whine from the engine. In a rush I ignored this. On returning to the car, I was unable to unlock it, the alarm went off and the RAC were called. They diagnosed the fault as a failed battery and recommended I fit a new one.
I replaced the battery yesterday but the noise is still there. With the keys removed, when the steering wheel was moved, the usual power steering whine was active. A local repair shop have stated I need to replace the power steering pump. They quoted me £480.
Having spent a lot of money on the car recently, I am reluctant to pay this. Can anyone comment if this is definitely a failed power steering pump and if one can be sourced fitted at a more reasonable price?
Ideally, I want to fix the fault as cheaply as possible and sell before something else fails. Alternatively, would it be more cost effective to sell the car to a trader for spare parts?
By the sounds of it you do have a common problem ( power steering pump )
I would say shop around but as mab01uk has commented on here before , repairs are costly in and around london .
Can i just point out that although you have had problems with the car you will in fact more than likely hand over a very good car to someone else as you have done most of the repair work! Just worth a thought.
Your battery was probably fine but the ps pump fault caused it to stay running after removing the key and hence a flat battery is the result, worse it could have overheated and caught fire, you should really have disconnected the battery while parked unattended to be on safe side.
You will need a new ps pump more details here: Power Steering Pump replacement - Forums
Things tend to go wrong all at the same time, one after the other, when a car gets to a certain age, hopefully it will settle down again after this one, at least youve still got another arm and a leg to use.
Cooper357 you know you will either have a repair expense or a new car expense. The repair expense you can be a little flexible but with a new car note you better be on time with your payment or they come and take the car. If your car is paid for keep it.
"If it isn't broken don't fix it. If it breaks it's time to upgrade!"
If you can get it to mini tech in southend Essex I think he charges 380 to replace the pump or 320 to do it with a reconditioned one. They are the figures he quoted to my mate last week who's had the same issues
harvey94 - I was thinking just the same. I took it to another garage in East London earlier on recommendation by a mate but as helpful as they were, they were more expensive than my previous quote. One of the guys there suggested selling the car at an auction but I don't have any experience of this and whether it would be a good idea.
mab01uk - I had disconnected the -ve terminal but on having the car checked again today, the PAS has now failed again. Whilst this makes driving hard work at low speeds, it is less hassle than having to disconnect the battery each time I park the car. The car is currently parked and no noises. Is there a fuse that can be removed to shutdown the PAS?
The Nun - It would be nice to think this would be the last fault but I'm not convinced after the past year.
Macguyvic - I see where you are coming from but I'm not flushed with cash at the moment. I'd prefer to buy a new car but can't afford to do so at the moment.
Ryanjdover - Cheers! Will give them a call.
In the past 12 months I have spent around £2300 fixing things (new clutch, re-con gearbox, new rear discs/pads, boot release replacement, new suspension bushes/tie rods. I also fitted a new exhaust at the end of 2010.
It seems to be one thing after another so I want to sell for the best price possible. Just need to figure out if better to pay for a cheap fix and try and sell on with the faults (driver's side airbag has also failed).
mab01uk - I had disconnected the -ve terminal but on having the car checked again today, the PAS has now failed again. Whilst this makes driving hard work at low speeds, it is less hassle than having to disconnect the battery each time I park the car. The car is currently parked and no noises. Is there a fuse that can be removed to shutdown the PAS?
In the engine bay by the near side (left hand side of the car facing forwards) strut tower FL4 it should be a 100amp fuse.
(The high current fuses FL1-FL5 are underneath (on the bottom) of the Engine Compartment Fuse panel. You need to undo the two bolts that hold the fuse box in place and turn it over you will see them). http://www.mini2.com/forum/maintenance-mini-care/133675-fuses-relays-earth-points.html#post3785210
With all the work you have done, the next owner is likely to have a nice reliable car! Remember clutch, discs, brake pads and suspension bushes are all wear and tear items which may need doing on the next car you buy........unless it is quite new or low mileage.
I think you will do better to do the minimal repair to sell it. You probably wouldn't be happy with a salvage or parts car price.
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