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2007 Mini Cooper 1.6 Brake Vacuum Leaking

5309 Views 28 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  mike1967
Hello

I suspect the brake vacuum pump of my mini is leaking (bottom of pump); not leaking badly but enough to see drops on the ground.
I have re-built the pump with new sealants, however it is still leaking.
I have ordered a new pump to replace the faulty one (if indeed it is faulty) however it will take 2 weeks to arrive.

Is it safe to continue driving withe a leaking brake vacuum pump? The brakes are working fine and there are no unusual sounds.
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little heads up if using sealant on those pumps to the head there is a tiny oil feed hole in the inside lip have seen many times people block that up and this causes the pump to run dry and jam up and take the timing chain out
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Hello

I suspect the brake vacuum pump of my mini is leaking (bottom of pump); not leaking badly but enough to see drops on the ground.
I have re-built the pump with new sealants, however it is still leaking.
I have ordered a new pump to replace the faulty one (if indeed it is faulty) however it will take 2 weeks to arrive.

Is it safe to continue driving withe a leaking brake vacuum pump? The brakes are working fine and there are no unusual sounds.
hi are you sure its not leaking from oil filter housing, i made the mistake of thinking it was my vacuum pump leaking when in fact it was oil filter housing. either way its a pain
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hi are you sure its not leaking from oil filter housing, i made the mistake of thinking it was my vacuum pump leaking when in fact it was oil filter housing. either way its a pain
Hello Paul - Thanks for the pointer, I've just come back from carrying out another inspection. I managed to squeeze my head under the car and took a couple of pictures, although still struggling to tell where the leak could be. Do these pics make any sense to you as to whether the leak could be from the vac pump or somewhere else?

Two London garages quoted me £550 - £600 to replace the vac pump which just seems really high. My knowledge around vehicle mechanics is quite limited and I worry that if I take it to a garage for a leak diagnosis they'll quote me super high prices, especially if it's not obvious where the leak is coming from.

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hi it looks likely its either leaking from oil housing gasket or other option is turbo oil feed pipe, it looks from the leak pattern and oil travel it is one of these. replacing the vac pump is a 10 minute job, dont know how much the part costs but they are taking the mick at £500.
as said previously either way its a pain of a job
i would say is oil filter housing most likely,, if it were a cooper s i would add turbo related leak maybe,, going by your pics its a non turbo engine n12 16b , thise vac pumps are not much money and take a hour to change out so £500 to replace is theft ,
genuine new one link below
new seal kit below
oil filter seals kits for housing
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this might help you with a better evaluation of that pump.
this might help you with a better evaluation of that pump.
fairly simple its maybe got a oil leak, simple is clean off area and run car watch for black stuff called engine oil to leak out from around the pump,,, or where pump bolts to side of head,, at this point a person with some common sense would then buy a pump or buy a seal kit ,, as pump is non repair item even if was not worth the risk when it it will take out the timing chain,
little heads up if using sealant on those pumps to the head there is a tiny oil feed hole in the inside lip have seen many times people block that up and this causes the pump to run dry and jam up and take the timing chain out
Wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it does more damage than that. To make light of something so serious. When it's time to for someone to pay a bill.
Wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it does more damage than that. To make light of something so serious. When it's time to for someone to pay a bill.
i'm done with your BS ignore button for you from now on cant listen to your ill informed BS any longer all kinds of stupid on ,many levels,,
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i'm done with your BS ignore button for you from now on cant listen to your ill informed BS any longer all kinds of stupid on ,many levels,,
I done with you I own a mini cooper and to have so mechanic insult me about what I know works to make my car run. Someone who bought A Mini Cooper Brand New.
Some one who comes on here and finds this thing person that pumps out bad elongated never getting to any type of point. There was not one thing you have helped me with sense my first thread everything you say is wrong. Turn the timing chain stretch the bolts. Sounds like your to conformed to where you live then have any type of language that is universal.
Then there is your fetish or whatever it is where you need to respond to others making comments on some one else thread who has a problem. Trying to promote and drive a wedge between anyone looking for a simple car fix and people wanting to help them.
Even if the person starting a thread finds your answer to be the best or not does not matter to me. I can make a comment.
And for you to feel like the thread starter is here not wanting answer or knowing whats better for them is a insult to them even if you do have the right answer.
What where are you gonna go with that. So you just have problems with anyone making a comment to help people?
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I done with you I own a mini cooper and to have so mechanic insult me about what I know works to make my car run. Someone who bought A Mini Cooper Brand New.
Some one who comes on here and finds this thing person that pumps out bad elongated never getting to any type of point. There was not one thing you have helped me with sense my first thread everything you say is wrong. Turn the timing chain stretch the bolts. Sounds like your to conformed to where you live then have any type of language that is universal.
Then there is your fetish or whatever it is where you need to respond to others making comments on some one else thread who has a problem. Trying to promote and drive a wedge between anyone looking for a simple car fix and people wanting to help them.
Even if the person starting a thread finds your answer to be the best or not does not matter to me. I can make a comment.
And for you to feel like the thread starter is here not wanting answer or knowing whats better for them is a insult to them even if you do have the right answer.
What where are you gonna go with that. So you just have problems with anyone making a comment to help people?
remember when you stated on here that you had fitted a timing chain without the needed locking tools,, i pointed out it cant be done correctly like that, a fact, other times when you have told people to replace stuff that dont need replacing that makes sense now as you have a fetish with making people waste their money or maybe you sign up to the every blind dog finds a bone approach ie replace everything regardless of going through a guided process with a open mind ,,, ie as all trained techs learn early on within a 4 year course,, your deluded to think on these cars you can diagnose for sure over a internet connection any fault ,, also deluded to think that just because other cars had a same running faults it will be the same on the car someone is asking help with,, so yes i do give a start point of checking to help other find the issue i dont tell them to replace everything before checking everything before UNLIKE YOUR SELF THAT KEEPS TELLING PEOPLE TO REPLACE EVERYTHING,, even diagnostics tools you tell people to waste money on systems that dont give the info needed to even stand a chance to repair a fault,,, once again ill informed you are on all levels,,, others have told you or asked you to stop doing what you do as its not helpful,,, i pity the people who know nothing about cars that you answer to and tell them to replace it all and might get it working again,
as for me answering posts and always wanting to be the only one with as you put it no solution to a problem, wonder how others feel about that and maybe I should now sit back and watch you bullshit your way a long , really done with this now
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I done with you I own a mini cooper and to have so mechanic insult me about what I know works to make my car run. Someone who bought A Mini Cooper Brand New.
Some one who comes on here and finds this thing person that pumps out bad elongated never getting to any type of point. There was not one thing you have helped me with sense my first thread everything you say is wrong. Turn the timing chain stretch the bolts. Sounds like your to conformed to where you live then have any type of language that is universal.
Then there is your fetish or whatever it is where you need to respond to others making comments on some one else thread who has a problem. Trying to promote and drive a wedge between anyone looking for a simple car fix and people wanting to help them.
Even if the person starting a thread finds your answer to be the best or not does not matter to me. I can make a comment.
And for you to feel like the thread starter is here not wanting answer or knowing whats better for them is a insult to them even if you do have the right answer.
What where are you gonna go with that. So you just have problems with anyone making a comment to help people?
completely agree with mike here, get a life ya absolute weirdo, your shite is not needed here or anywhere for that matter.
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I've seen and read that the vacuum pump are easy replacement on these cars so £500 seem expensive even when you take into account genuine OE is used.


Never had a total vacuum pump failure on mine but did read and see some videos that it can cause engine damage if seized up.
I've seen and read that the vacuum pump are easy replacement on these cars so £500 seem expensive even when you take into account genuine OE is used.


Never had a total vacuum pump failure on mine but did read and see some videos that it can cause engine damage if seized up.
i've seen them throw timing fault codes for exhaust camshafts from the drag for a few miles or a few months even ,, also seen them give no warning after owner removed it and lagged it with sealant and blocked the oil feed hole from the head to vac pump its on the inner edge that is pushed in to the head as such, on that car it spun the timing chain and snapped the top guide ended up head off new valves and chain kit and vac pump etc, stray sealant can do a lot of damage
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i'm done with your BS ignore button for you from now on cant listen to your ill informed BS any longer all kinds of stupid on ,many levels,,
I may have a different username now but could have written this myself and be called a liar and a robot.
I may have a different username now but could have written this myself and be called a liar and a robot.
ok stu back again ,, well it needing saying leading people down a expensive garden path of expense, ie replace everything until it fixes it way of doing stuff just plain stupid on all levels, and then have a pop at a semi guided way of working out what is really gone wrong as I give loads of ifs and maybe but never tell them what is really wrong with stuff,,, if anyone thinks these or any modern car is that easy to repair or even diagnose even when car is in front of you its just nuts,, the funny bit was telling me that I was not a trained or time served tech etc,,, guess in the states they have never heard of city an guilds ie the levels i took when was younger as part of working apprenticeship or the solid distinctions i got when passed all the modules to it, really does make me feel like switching off the laptop and avoid fools like that, i've forgotten more than he will ever learnt
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ok stu back again ,, well it needing saying leading people down a expensive garden path of expense, ie replace everything until it fixes it way of doing stuff just plain stupid on all levels, and then have a pop at a semi guided way of working out what is really gone wrong as I give loads of ifs and maybe but never tell them what is really wrong with stuff,,, if anyone thinks these or any modern car is that easy to repair or even diagnose even when car is in front of you its just nuts,, the funny bit was telling me that I was not a trained or time served tech etc,,, guess in the states they have never heard of city an guilds ie the levels i took when was younger as part of working apprenticeship or the solid distinctions i got when passed all the modules to it, really does make me feel like switching off the laptop and avoid fools like that, i've forgotten more than he will ever learnt
I think you know my feelings about the replies this guy is making but I will say no more on the subject don't want anyone to think I'm picking on them LOL
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I would like to say a huge thanks, for taking the time to comment on my post, I really do appreciate it.
Just to let you know, I have ordered a new pump for £110 . Even if the leak is not vac pump related I guess it's worth getting it replaced as a precaution given that this mini has 90k miles on the clock. I will attempt to replace myself having watched some youtube guides on this topic.

Once I replace the pump, I will take the car to be properly inspected by a mechanic if it continues leaking.

Question: This may sounds like a silly question, but is it safe to continue driving in the meantime despite the leak? I mean the car makes no unusual sounds, there's no smoke coming from anywhere, and the leak is not that bad.
I would like to say a huge thanks, for taking the time to comment on my post, I really do appreciate it.
Just to let you know, I have ordered a new pump for £110 . Even if the leak is not vac pump related I guess it's worth getting it replaced as a precaution given that this mini has 90k miles on the clock. I will attempt to replace myself having watched some youtube guides on this topic.

Once I replace the pump, I will take the car to be properly inspected by a mechanic if it continues leaking.

Question: This may sounds like a silly question, but is it safe to continue driving in the meantime despite the leak? I mean the car makes no unusual sounds, there's no smoke coming from anywhere, and the leak is not that bad.
your totally welcome for any help given form me,, those pumps do fail and when do they take the engine out have seen it many times before like said before and with mileage its like the timing chain its a must do job before it fails as when they do its expensive, not hard to replace just pull the intake pipe away and have 2 bolts 8mm on some cars and 10mm on others,, use a socket on them is a must have tools , then use a screw driver to lever it away from the head,,, when installing the new pump clean area off,, you can put a light coat of sealant on the rubber 0-ring only but not to much as have seen people use to much and block the oil feed hole further in side the pump,,,
as for driving on with a oil leak depends on how far and long ie those engines must keep oil level around the full mark all the time, as oil dont just lubricate it ,, it also cools the bearings as well so low oil level damages engines big time,
i got a oil leak on my vauxhall at present cant find time to sort it at mo been like it for 4 months I stick litre in every 2 weeks a mo its fine but never let oil get low,
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