"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
06/08/2019 at 07:15 • Filed to: None
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"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
06/08/2019 at 07:15 • Filed to: None | 1
| 14 |
Drove the Mini up to Charlotte from Atlanta last night. Hit some patches of very heavy rain. When it got really wet the fan belt started squealing and I would see a substantial voltage drop. The lights and wipers were running, so it was under high loads as well. Reading on the Mini forums there are three potential causes. First is loose belt, second is failing alternator bearings and the third is failing water pump bearings. First two are pretty quick fixes. The third would be tougher. So, are alternators fairly generic and what are the odds that I could walk into a typical auto parts stir and get one for the Mini?
Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
> f86sabre
06/08/2019 at 07:27 |
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I often find Rock Auto a good place to look just for a reference point. Usually many brands -- and part numbers -- to choose from. You can do some cross referencing with that info.
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Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
> f86sabre
06/08/2019 at 07:28 |
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What year is your Mini?
Urambo Tauro
> f86sabre
06/08/2019 at 07:54 |
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...what are the odds that I could walk into a typical auto parts stir and get one for the Mini?
Not g reat... But i f you have a local starter/alternator rebuild shop , they might have the right bearings on hand.
Ready for an adventure!
> f86sabre
06/08/2019 at 07:59 |
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well, my local NAPA has one, but this is Michigan.....so I looked in C harlotte on the NAPA website and they are $250!!! but in stock. Look around I’m sure you’ll be fine. But check first, pop the belt off and spin things!!!
someassemblyrequired
> f86sabre
06/08/2019 at 08:32 |
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They run about $40 in the UK if you can wait. Mini spares has a US store, shows $87 for a 70A one. https://usa.minisport.com/gxe2276-mini-alternator-high-output.html
Here’s another us supplier: https://www.7ent.com/ , they have one for $130. Rover part number is GXE2276.
AuthiCooper1300
> f86sabre
06/08/2019 at 08:50 |
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Back in the day here in Europe it was fairly common to replace i t with one from a Mk1 Fiesta. However, the Fiesta sold in the US had a different engine with lots of anti-smog stuff... probably pulley-driven, so I am not so sure those would be compatible.
Alternators are usually fairly robust, but voltage regulators may also fail. A good auto electrician should be able to help you. If they are going to fix yours instead of giving you a reconditioned one,
have the bearings changed as a matter of course.
A seized alternator bearing may break the belt. And even if you have a spare belt the blasted thing would not turn anyway, so you’d be stranded. Not funny, particularly if you are out in the boonies.
Minimania carries most of the Minispares catalogue. Maybe you should have a look at their website. Canadian Minis may use the same alternator as yours too. Would it be very difficult to buy one from there?
If it is the water pump, I think those haven’t been rebuildable for decades (BL used to sell a nifty kit of bearings and seals, but that was a loooonng time ago, and the design of the housing was slightly different). If you have to change the pump make sure a) it’s aluminium b) it has a proper impellor, like so:
Those of the “bent sheet of metal” type are to be avoided at all costs.
MM54
> f86sabre
06/08/2019 at 08:59 |
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If puddle -> b
elt n
oise -> low voltage then I’d strongly suspect the belt is the culprit here, not so much the alternator itself. If you want to have a spare handy (you can check the bearings while changing the belt) though, I would bet they aren’t particularly expensive, but may take a while to get since you may be ordering from the UK (remember shipping costs when picking one, may be cheaper overall to buy a more expensive one domestically).
Khalbali
> MM54
06/08/2019 at 09:11 |
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I'd bet it's almost certainly the belt, my wife's Kia did the same thing, I changed the belt and it's fine.
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Khalbali
> f86sabre
06/08/2019 at 09:12 |
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I agree with MM54, it's probably just the belt. Water makes it slip a little causing your noise and low voltage, my wife's Kia did the same thing, I replaced the belt and it's fine.
RacinBob
> f86sabre
06/08/2019 at 09:44 |
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Me thinks it is water pump . I believe your water pump has tightened up and is very stiff to turn. It’s taking up several HP of torque which the belt can handle dry but soon as it’s wet, slips.
Loosen the belt off the idler and give both a spin, and draw your own conclusions. My brother’s E150 van had a noisy belt. It was the pump and when changed his mpg improved by 4 mpg.
I doubt it is an alternator as their bearings don’t get tight, they just get noisy.
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RacinBob
> f86sabre
06/08/2019 at 09:52 |
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Ooooh, just realized you have a real mini with a v belt and not a BMW mini with a sepentine belt. In that case I expect it may just be a lo ose or worn belt. It could even be a worn pulle y (yes they can wear out and the V’s become U’s .
V belts have a much smaller margin of error compared to serpentine belts plus they don’t have self tensioners. They also can get glazed and dry like yours appears.
I would put a new belt on first, check to make sure the pump t urns freely, and see if that fixes it. You can afford a new belt every 50 years can’t you?
66P1800inpieces
> f86sabre
06/08/2019 at 12:17 |
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Interchangeability is possible. There are only a handful of alternator brands, designs, and mounts. The main issue might be the pulley (diameter, spacing) but you can often take off your current pulley and put it on a new alternator(impact gun is helpful ) . Just match up with amps and you are on your way. Singe v belt + water pump probably limits you to 60-70 amps.
AfromanGTO
> f86sabre
06/08/2019 at 13:27 |
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Alternators used to be fairly generic when they came out. AC Delco made the same basic one, and different companies slapped their sticker on it.
gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
> f86sabre
06/08/2019 at 16:09 |
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I would start with the cheapest/easiest and replace the belt.