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Cooper S woes

Discussion in 'General Automotive Discussion' started by vvvmd, Mar 24, 2008.

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  1. vvvmd

    vvvmd F1 Rookie
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    Victor Villarreal
    #1 vvvmd, Mar 24, 2008
    My sons Cooper S has started to overheat. Did this twice. Was a little low on coolant, and down about 2/3 of a quart of oil. The coolant looks very dark not the green color of the stuff out of the bottle. The car is 2.5 yrs old and has 15000 miles.
    We have modified it slightly with a borla exhaust, cold air intake colder plugs a 15% under-drive pulley for the super charger and a Unichip. The check engine light had been going off when scanned it said that the camshaft position sensor was off. If the chip is disconnected no check engine light. The chip was replaced by Unichip but the new one does the same thing.
    We took the car to a local guy. Runs an his own shop. Have know the guy for years very honest. He thinks it may be a blown head gasket. He can replace it for about $700.
    BY time and milage the car is still under warranty. I'm concerned that if I take the car in to the dealer they will claim the damage was from the mods and they won't honor the warranty and I'll have to pay dealer rates for the repair. This may be as much as $1800.
    ANy one know what the specific rules for warranty coverage in a modified car?
     
  2. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 darth550, Mar 24, 2008
    So you want the dealership to pay for damages which were a result of you putting in aftermarket parts? The warranty is for OEM parts, not any parts.
     
  3. Turner

    Turner Karting

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    #3 Turner, Mar 24, 2008
    i have a 06 MCS with about 11K miles. i have held off modding the car for now because of the warranty. according to my dealer, they will not honor certain things because of the aftermarket parts. either put it back to stock and take it to the dealer (hope they dont see this post) or pay either the independent shop or dealership for the repairs. sounds like a blown head gasket to me too. good luck with the repairs.
     
  4. Sfumato

    Sfumato F1 World Champ

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    #4 Sfumato, Mar 24, 2008
    Underdrive pulley + lots of revs cavitates water pump, sucks air, overheats, blows head gasket. Sometimes hose collapses too.
    I've had 2 S Coopers, one a works with lots of mods. Never did underdrive pulley save for factory Works one. I have devoured waterpumps for years in any small high-revving car I've owned. Rabbits/Golfs worst. Had built 2L Golf Cabrio, 165bhp @ wheels. Oil change and water pump please. I could change the pump while oil draining.
    Put cylinder head temp gauge on it. Eat the repair, and discover how hard your son is driving it.
    I used to get 16mpg in town, so I seemed to run it hard. Not ricey, just fast. S2000's hated me. Miss those cars.
     
  5. GoFerrari28

    GoFerrari28 Formula 3

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    #5 GoFerrari28, Mar 24, 2008
    While I was talking to a fellow that came over to help me with my 360, we were talking about motor oil brands and he says that Red Line oil really helps reduce temperatures. It could be a place to start with your car.
     
  6. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 wax, Mar 25, 2008
    Sfumato - as Johnny Carson used to say... "I did not know that!"
     
  7. tiara4300

    tiara4300 Formula Junior

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    #7 tiara4300, Mar 25, 2008
    Well you could just put all of the stock parts back on and take it in for warranty work............just sayin......
     
  8. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #8 UroTrash, Mar 25, 2008
    There's gonna be some real head shaking when they see the chip and the exhaust.
     
  9. vvvmd

    vvvmd F1 Rookie
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    #9 vvvmd, Mar 25, 2008
    Called the dealer said there is a problem with thermostat housing on minis. They can crack and cause a leak so far no more coolant leak. The dealer said the car was covered unless the the actual part that was replaced failed. Will take the car in next week and let the dealer take a look. So far no more coolant loss, no check engine light, temp in the middle of the temp gauge. Lesson learned if the mods caused the failure and I have to eat the repair.
     
  10. fastback33

    fastback33 Formula 3

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    #10 fastback33, Mar 25, 2008
    You should consider a radiator flush aswell. If the coolant inside of it is a deep brownish color like you describe, it is probably a good idea. ;)
     

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