My 1986 Mini Mayfair!
Discussion
Hi all,
I passed my test on 15th March and have been wanting a Mini for a very long time.
After picking it up yesterday and getting my insurance today, I was ready for the road.
Started off just driving up and down getting used to the car [finding it REALLY difficult at low speeds (cluth control) after learning in a 10 plate Corsa], and then took it out on the roads with my father for my first drive. After 5 minutes the car seemed to lagg heavily, so I pulled over and it turns out the breaks have siezed up? Quick phonecall so we could get some tools and it turns out there was too much pressure in the brake limiter valve (common fault?), which my dad let off.
One other fault is that it keeps slipping out of 4th? Is this another common fault? (and is it repairable!)
So far it's sitting outside broken down, which seems to be pretty normal.
The photo above is during it's first breakdown.
Thanks for reading.
George.
I passed my test on 15th March and have been wanting a Mini for a very long time.
After picking it up yesterday and getting my insurance today, I was ready for the road.
Started off just driving up and down getting used to the car [finding it REALLY difficult at low speeds (cluth control) after learning in a 10 plate Corsa], and then took it out on the roads with my father for my first drive. After 5 minutes the car seemed to lagg heavily, so I pulled over and it turns out the breaks have siezed up? Quick phonecall so we could get some tools and it turns out there was too much pressure in the brake limiter valve (common fault?), which my dad let off.
One other fault is that it keeps slipping out of 4th? Is this another common fault? (and is it repairable!)
So far it's sitting outside broken down, which seems to be pretty normal.
The photo above is during it's first breakdown.
Thanks for reading.
George.
Edited by GBarber on Friday 9th November 16:40
Well done, nice to see a young person getting a proper car instead of the standard shopping trollies!
Good luck, you'll soon learn to fix it yourself after the breakdowns, my Dad used to come and rescue me in my 1000 just the same - I learn't quickly as the novelty soon wore off for him!
Good luck, you'll soon learn to fix it yourself after the breakdowns, my Dad used to come and rescue me in my 1000 just the same - I learn't quickly as the novelty soon wore off for him!
ive never ever heard of the pressure valve allowing pressure to build up like this - i think you have another problem - you hadnt left the handbrake on had you?
the box jumping out of 4th isnt good news, it could be worn bushes, allowing the engine to move back and forth, but this would be noticable as you drove up the gears.
its more likly to be a box fault, but this is odd as fourth is normally the last gear that starts with problems like this, normally is 2nd that starts with the bulking and jumping out of gear
is the car very 'whiney' as your driving it, and does the speedo needle judder all over the place?
when it comes out of gear does it just 'fall' out, or is the gear lever 'spat' out?
the box jumping out of 4th isnt good news, it could be worn bushes, allowing the engine to move back and forth, but this would be noticable as you drove up the gears.
its more likly to be a box fault, but this is odd as fourth is normally the last gear that starts with problems like this, normally is 2nd that starts with the bulking and jumping out of gear
is the car very 'whiney' as your driving it, and does the speedo needle judder all over the place?
when it comes out of gear does it just 'fall' out, or is the gear lever 'spat' out?
Been driving Minis for 45 years. Still have three a 1340 racer in red, a blue 998 Mayfair pretty standard (apart from a Cooper flowed head) and a Cooper Convertible I am fitting a 1800 K series MG drive train complete into.
Fact is everything on the Mini is cheap to buy and easy to fit BUT the quality is very variable. These cars are full of life and fun but NOT reliable in the modern car reliability sense.
Gearbox dropping out could be several reasons. The gear mechanism is affected by engine movement which is always a problem in Minis but it is more likely to be wear and tear. It would be worthwhile to check carefully both the gear linkage and engine mounts.
Engine rock remained a problem with Minis all through the 50 odd years of production. I have fitted at least ten different engine mounting solutions over the years but like water pumps in Hillman Imps, these are an Achilles heel in the Mini. Buy the best you can and try an additional steady bar on the Thermostat Housing. This does work but vibration transfer can be a problem.
Good luck with you Mini ownership.
If you have as much pure cheap fun out of any other car PLEASE let us know what it is and I will buy one.
Fact is everything on the Mini is cheap to buy and easy to fit BUT the quality is very variable. These cars are full of life and fun but NOT reliable in the modern car reliability sense.
Gearbox dropping out could be several reasons. The gear mechanism is affected by engine movement which is always a problem in Minis but it is more likely to be wear and tear. It would be worthwhile to check carefully both the gear linkage and engine mounts.
Engine rock remained a problem with Minis all through the 50 odd years of production. I have fitted at least ten different engine mounting solutions over the years but like water pumps in Hillman Imps, these are an Achilles heel in the Mini. Buy the best you can and try an additional steady bar on the Thermostat Housing. This does work but vibration transfer can be a problem.
Good luck with you Mini ownership.
If you have as much pure cheap fun out of any other car PLEASE let us know what it is and I will buy one.
Thanks PGM, enthusiam helps! Especially considering my Dad wanted me to get a Fiesta, which seemed like a good idea after it breaking down!
Guru - The handbrake was definately off and relieving the pressure from the brake limiter valve did sort the problem, so it looks like a new one of them will be fitted soon. As for 4th gear, the engine steady bushes are pretty @&"!ed and it looks like more of them will be bought too! Hopefully this will sort out the problem, but it appears to be fine going up through the gears, the needle sits fine and it seems to just "fall" out of place. The whole engine etc is going to be removed and sorted (hopefully) next weekend anyway which will be a lot of expense and frustration!
Steffan - Your history and garage sounds amazing! As said above, the engine mount bushes are ruined, which will be sorted, and the engine etc will be removed and sorted. I'll speak to my Dad about the extra steady bar on the thermo housing if it is an ongoing problem!
Thank you all for the help guys, much appreciated.
Guru - The handbrake was definately off and relieving the pressure from the brake limiter valve did sort the problem, so it looks like a new one of them will be fitted soon. As for 4th gear, the engine steady bushes are pretty @&"!ed and it looks like more of them will be bought too! Hopefully this will sort out the problem, but it appears to be fine going up through the gears, the needle sits fine and it seems to just "fall" out of place. The whole engine etc is going to be removed and sorted (hopefully) next weekend anyway which will be a lot of expense and frustration!
Steffan - Your history and garage sounds amazing! As said above, the engine mount bushes are ruined, which will be sorted, and the engine etc will be removed and sorted. I'll speak to my Dad about the extra steady bar on the thermo housing if it is an ongoing problem!
Thank you all for the help guys, much appreciated.
Jon Brown said:
Nice mini, I used to have the same interior I rather hastily put in a skip oh well.
Thanks Jon. The interior in the photo looks alot better than it does in the car! New door cards and a cleaning of the roof need doing, and a tidyup in the dash wouldn't go a miss either. Don't really blame you for putting it in a skip!Hairspray said:
Lovely looking Mini 
I'm looking to buy one soon, but my teeny tiny budget won't get me much 
Cheers, good luck with finding one I'm looking to buy one soon, but my teeny tiny budget won't get me much 
Plans: Replaced nearly everything that has been taken off the engine [more details of what to come hopefully tonight], as the inside is fine (pistons, valves etc). Paint the engine red with a chrome rocker cover on top to make it look good. Clean up the engine bay, sort electronics etc to make that look good too!
Minispares/Minisport are going to love me..
Edited by GBarber on Tuesday 5th April 18:15
Look's good
Welcome to mini ownership with regard's to breakdown's before I crashed mine I only had one minor breakdown in 8 months and 6,000 miles of motoring they are not that bad if you look after them. Did seem to take several year's to start in the very cold month's but it always did and every drive brought a smile to my face. Cant wait to get mine back ready for the summer they really is nothing quite like them to drive one of the most fun thing's on 4 wheel's imo you made the right choice choosing this over a fiesta.
Join the local mini club btw they can be a great source of help and get joined on theminiforums as well
Welcome to mini ownership with regard's to breakdown's before I crashed mine I only had one minor breakdown in 8 months and 6,000 miles of motoring they are not that bad if you look after them. Did seem to take several year's to start in the very cold month's but it always did and every drive brought a smile to my face. Cant wait to get mine back ready for the summer they really is nothing quite like them to drive one of the most fun thing's on 4 wheel's imo you made the right choice choosing this over a fiesta.
Join the local mini club btw they can be a great source of help and get joined on theminiforums as well
Just remembered this thread while browsing through.
So far I've had 2 breakdowns. First of all my passenger side lower suspension arm come loose and eventually the nut popped off. Left with my wheel basically hanging off just as I was about to pull onto a roundabout. Got it jacked up and used a pair of mole-grips to hold everything in place while I nursed her back home!
Second problem was pulling out of a friends drive, exhaust got caught on a lip and sheared the bottom of my manifold off. A couple of wire coat hangers later and she was back home. Just got a new one (for me) from a scrappy, cleaned it up and put it on by myself using the knowledge I got from my dad whilst rebulding it! Very happy.
However them two minor problems hasnt put me off Mini ownership and love driving it around and to and from work everyday!
So far I've had 2 breakdowns. First of all my passenger side lower suspension arm come loose and eventually the nut popped off. Left with my wheel basically hanging off just as I was about to pull onto a roundabout. Got it jacked up and used a pair of mole-grips to hold everything in place while I nursed her back home!
Second problem was pulling out of a friends drive, exhaust got caught on a lip and sheared the bottom of my manifold off. A couple of wire coat hangers later and she was back home. Just got a new one (for me) from a scrappy, cleaned it up and put it on by myself using the knowledge I got from my dad whilst rebulding it! Very happy.
However them two minor problems hasnt put me off Mini ownership and love driving it around and to and from work everyday!
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