Our 1998 Rover Mini Cooper Sports LE has had a series of repairs and maintenance tasks completed by Jonn. The nearside door pin switch was revisited, removed, and found to be obstructed by paint on the pin. This was resolved by rubbing it down, lubricating, refitting, and testing, with the switch operating correctly after these steps. The radiator brackets were painted and allowed to dry.
The steering pinion flange was stripped, fitted with a new shim, and refitted, which improved but did not entirely eliminate slight play. Once the radiator brackets were dry, they were fitted, the holes in the slam panel were tapped, and the radiator was secured. The grill was refitted, the bonnet catch was adjusted, the fuse cover was reinstalled, and the battery was placed on charge. A clip was fitted to hold the servo pipe securely in position.
With new parts arriving, a reverse light switch was installed, adjusted, tested, and secured. A new boot stay cable was fitted, and the boot handle and lock were stripped, replaced, and tested to ensure proper operation. All 16 wheel nuts were replaced and the wheels were retorqued.
The car was taken outside, started, and run up, followed by a road test. Steering improvements were noted, though it was slightly tight. The heater was found to be non-functional. Upon returning to the workshop, the coolant was drained, and the cooling system was stripped for cleaning and flushing. Hoses were removed, and the heater box, along with the valve, was taken out. The heater radiator was discovered to be blocked, which was resolved by unblocking and flushing it until cleared. Water was also run through the engine block.
Reassembly began with the heater matrix being refitted to the heater box and piped up. The heater box was secured back into the car, with hoses and valve cable connected. New thermostat gaskets were fabricated, and a new thermostat was installed and secured.
