Advice sought

[vintageb3]

Hi Guys…

I bought my MCSC a few months ago…but was away with work for a month of that time. Now that I have managed to spend some quality time driving that car….a few things have come to my attention.

The car is pretty clean…and I feel it has been looked after…has TLC and still has warranty on it.

Today I noticed a sound I have heard before coming from the engine. Its only noticeable when you have the drivers window down…and are driving past something that reflects the sound back to the car…like a wall…or even a safety barrier.

It happens when you are accelerating and it’s a bit difficult to describe. It had me thinking it sounded like noisy tappets…or the manifold or exhaust was blowing. Just wondered if this noise was normal?...or has anyone else noticed a similar sound. I’m going to try and listen for it again tomorrow when I’m hopefully going out for a run. Maybe be better able to describe the sound. Any comments?

Second thing is the drivers seat. I’m an old fat git….OK I’m not too light. Say I want to adjust the seat to the desired position from the pedals….I do so. I suppose like anyone else…I usually get myself comfortable after this. Then minutes later…I can feel that one side of the seat moves…and clicks into the ratchet of the floor slide. Then a while later…the other side may give a click. It feels as though the locking mechanism isn’t locking after I adjust the seat. It’s a bit freaky….cause running through my mind is “What happens if I need to slam the brakes on?”...is the seat going to fly back?...killing my pressure on the brakes.

Maybe I’m worrying about nothing here…but both things I have experienced before on a number of occasions…and they are starting to play on my mind.

Thanks in advance

mark

Edit: Moved to correct forum

[bigcoyote]

Is the sound coming from the engine / front sound like a ticking that inceases with speed? - Mine had the same sound - it took the dealer a while to fix it.

They finally replaced the flywheel with a "new" version that stopped the ticking - I also made a deal with the service manger ( since my 04 MCS had 30K miles on it ) That since he was replacing the flywheel under warranty that I would pay for the new clutch parts ( disk & pressure plate, etc.. ) if he would replace them for a greatly reduced rate -- he did.


:D

[Gismo]

All the front seats in all of mini's have done that ;) never bothered too much about it

[Crombers]

quote:Originally posted by Bonnie Scotland

All the front seats in all of mini's have done that ;) never bothered too much about it


Ditto , it's all part of the MINI ;)

[vintageb3]

quote:Originally posted by bigcoyote

Is the sound coming from the engine / front sound like a ticking that inceases with speed? - Mine had the same sound - it took the dealer a while to fix it.


They finally replaced the flywheel with a "new" version that stopped the ticking - I also made a deal with the service manger ( since my 04 MCS had 30K miles on it ) That since he was replacing the flywheel under warranty that I would pay for the new clutch parts ( disk & pressure plate, etc.. ) if he would replace them for a greatly reduced rate -- he did.


:D


Mines is an 04 MCSC...yes...it is a ticking noise that increases with speed...oh dear!

My car has only done 11000 miles...not sure that it will need a new clutch yet....but it is a thought...as I didn't do the 10000 of those miles

Thanks for the advice!

mark

[vintageb3]

Thanks for the reply on the seats guys....now I'm less worried about that aspect

(Sorry admin about posting in wrong section....still getting a handle on the forum)

mark

[BigSwanMiniMan]

Mark i cant help you with your engine noise:(, However i would suggest gettig your seats looked at as the seat rails, at base frames and seat back frames all have common faults with them.;):)

Regards BigSwanMiniMan

[mikeythemini]

My engine used to make just that noise - when accelerating hard alongside the crash barrier with the window down. 4 years 34000 miles it did it for - then I part ex'd it :)

[james f]

@ the funny sound could be a loose nut on the manfilod or even in the fan or could be the engine is pinking

[vintageb3]

quote:Originally posted by BigSwanMiniMan

Mark i cant help you with your engine noise:(, However i would suggest gettig your seats looked at as the seat rails, at base frames and seat back frames all have common faults with them.;):)

Regards BigSwanMiniMan


Hi Chris...

Thanks for the reply. I was out in the car for a while today...but didn't have too much time to think about these concerns I have with the MINI. (Christmas Shopping...YUK!)

I noticed something strange that may be related to the seat runner issue. I had to get into the back seat for my jacket...and when I put the seat back “back” and jumped into drive…the seat position had moved...I was rammed right up against the steering wheel. I then had to readjust the seat back to my driving position. Actually never noticed the seat clicking on the runners today though

I hope to get sometime with the car over the holidays…to investigate further into both these issues.

I’m hoping to use Menzies as much as I can for servicing, and repairs etc...so will be in touch with the service dept in due course.

Thanks again…

mark

[vintageb3]

quote:Originally posted by mikeythemini

My engine used to make just that noise - when accelerating hard alongside the crash barrier with the window down. 4 years 34000 miles it did it for - then I part ex'd it :)


Not an option for me Mikey…I plan to keep the car for a long time. I really like the shape of the R53.

I think I will mention it when it goes in for a service…and ask then to check it out…but if it isn’t something that is doing any damage to the engine etc…I will just leave it.

Thanks for your post!

mark

[ELFMAN]

Mark, Re. strange engine sound. I've had something (maybe) similar - more like a 'chattering' under acceleration, and it was traced to the Tensioner on the Supercharger Belt - which was adjusted a long while back, but I've still heard it up to when I got the JCW stuff fitted last week - I MIGHT even still have it a wee bit, but to a lesser extent - it's hard to tell now, cos when I accelerate, all I can hear is the exhuast and the 'Blower! Maybe a wee Dealer check of the Tensioner would help? In three years nothing ever flew off my engine though, despite revving the nuts off it!

[vintageb3]

I think I will get the dealer to check this out at some point. Thanks for mentioning your symptom...this will help me explain the problem better.

mark

[ACF]

Re Engine Noise...

What is the differance between the Harmonic Balancer and the Pulley belt tensioner or are they the same.!

And have anybody changed it (them) and cured the noise ?

[bigcoyote]

I did have my harmonic balancer replaced - it was seperating - that was one cause of the "ticking" noise.

The balancer and the tensioner are not the same thing -- different parts