Ask GTP About Your Car Problems/General Questions

[Philly]

Power steering or something? Or maybe something's loose in the steering system?

 

[Joey D]

Just one. Was it like that on the stock tires?

I don't believe so, but I blew through the stock tires extremely quickly and they were wonky when I ditched them anyway.

Power steering or something? Or maybe something's loose in the steering system?

The dealer looked over all of that during my last service and said it was fine.

 

[Perfect Balance]

Get a set of wheels and summer tires. Problem solved.

You did buy some all season continentals didn't you?

EDIT: IIRC you had this problem when you were buying new tires and we told you the same thing.

 

[Joey D]

I have wheels, and the tires are fairly high performance all-season tires. I don't see how that is causing the issue. Every other car I have ever driven with all-season tires does not have this problem, including other MINI Coopers.

 

[Northstar]

What brand are the tires? That could be causing the problem if they aren't as high quality.

 

[Philly]

He got the tires quite a while ago though. When did this issue pop up? I'm thinking if it's the wheels or tires, then we would have heard about this by now.

 

[niky]

3-point strut bar is optimum, because it ties the towers to the firewall. Effects may vary, depending on your car, but most people are happy with them...

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RE: tires... feels like you're on balloons? If you're not on the same tires as stock, it's possible the tires have lost their grip... and/or you're experiencing excessive sidewall flex.

Only other thing I can think of is loose anti-roll bars, which would cause the same sensation, but you'd hear a clunking if those went. What tires are these?

 

[Joey D]

What brand are the tires? That could be causing the problem if they aren't as high quality.

Goodyear Eagle GT's

They are named brand and the review on them are fairly solid.

He got the tires quite a while ago though. When did this issue pop up? I'm thinking if it's the wheels or tires, then we would have heard about this by now.

It's been going on for a little while now but was not happening right after I got the tires, which leads me to believe it's not the tire but something else...unless the tires have an issue with them.

3-point strut bar is optimum, because it ties the towers to the firewall. Effects may vary, depending on your car, but most people are happy with them...

I wouldn't mind one, the only problem is pretty much all the strut bars I find are for Cooper S's, not Coopers.

RE: tires... feels like you're on balloons? If you're not on the same tires as stock, it's possible the tires have lost their grip... and/or you're experiencing excessive sidewall flex.

Only other thing I can think of is loose anti-roll bars, which would cause the same sensation, but you'd hear a clunking if those went. What tires are these?

They are not the same size tire, but they are also on aftermarket rims. Everything should be the right size for the application and I can't imagine the Cooper not being setup for something like that since you can get the same size rim tire combo from the factory.

The anti-roll bar was my leading thought, there is no clunk though. Past that I can't think of any other suspension components that would be going bad.

 

[Paulie]

What does the term "atmo" mean in reference to an engine? If it's atmospheric what the hell does that mean?

 

[mafia_boy]

It's just another way of saying Natural Aspiration Paulie. You can't get more than the atmospheric pressure of air (14.7psi) going into the motor, so they refer to them as "atmo" motors. Once you feed some boost into it, they lose that tag.

 

[niky]

I wouldn't mind one, the only problem is pretty much all the strut bars I find are for Cooper S's, not Coopers.

Shouldn't they fit? Unless they tie down to the intercooler, I don't see how they wouldn't.

The anti-roll bar was my leading thought, there is no clunk though. Past that I can't think of any other suspension components that would be going bad.

Well... it never hurts to check.

 

[Turbo_G54B]

Would anyone be able to tell me why the positive post on my battery keeps turning black?

The battery ran down once, after a long period of not being used (stupid me for not keeping it charged) and I found the post turned black. I cleaned the posts, recharged it, and it seems to work fine, except the post turning black again. Thanks in advance.

 

[Joey D]

Shouldn't they fit? Unless they tie down to the intercooler, I don't see how they wouldn't.

There is quite a bit different between the Cooper and the Cooper S, it all comes down to the fitment. Hardly anything fits both cars. The only other strut bars I can find for the car though go underneath it.

 

[buickgnx88]

Would anyone be able to tell me why the positive post on my battery keeps turning black?

The battery ran down once, after a long period of not being used (stupid me for not keeping it charged) and I found the post turned black. I cleaned the posts, recharged it, and it seems to work fine, except the post turning black again. Thanks in advance.

Are you sure it's tightened up all the way? If not, it may be arcing across from the post to the clamp and vise versa.

 

[niky]

There is quite a bit different between the Cooper and the Cooper S, it all comes down to the fitment. Hardly anything fits both cars. The only other strut bars I can find for the car though go underneath it.

Well... anti-roll bars are usually a better investment than strut bars... especially on a car like the Cooper, where the strut towers are already closely tied into the firewall, anyway.

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On a related note, just last month, I noticed some excessive understeer from my car (excessive here meaning it actually understeers at less than full chat). I'd put it down to the condition of the tires, since we'd been doing testing a few days before... but recently, the steering has been wonky, too... brought it in yesterday and it turns out that a clash with a gargantuan pothole a few weeks back knocked my alignment out... giving me positive camber on the right front tire. All fixed now.

 

[nk4e]

Niky, how is the weather there this time of year? humid?

 

[Paulie]

It's just another way of saying Natural Aspiration Paulie. You can't get more than the atmospheric pressure of air (14.7psi) going into the motor, so they refer to them as "atmo" motors. Once you feed some boost into it, they lose that tag.

Thanks Mafs, makes sense now.

 

[niky]

Niky, how is the weather there this time of year? humid?

Let's just put it this way: If it rains any more today, I'll be fishing my cars out of the lake tomorrow morning. Humid doesn't even begin to describe it. At least, since it's a "ber" month, it's not muggy hot during the daytime.

Still, wish I could get my serial port adapter working. The cold weather is playing havok with my fuel maps and I still don't have my temperature sensor hooked up to the piggyback. Lazy, lazy, lazy me.

 

[Turbo_G54B]

Are you sure it's tightened up all the way? If not, it may be arcing across from the post to the clamp and vise versa.

Yeah, the clamps are on tight. It doesn't seem to effect anything, though. Car starts up great and everything functions fine. I'm just concerned about whether it's a hazard or not. The post first turned black when it was discharging and it didn't have anything attached to it.

 

[Thatman]

👍 or 👎?
http://rmn.craigslist.org/pts/1360451573.html
I have a few rock chips in my hood and my Rx7 hood feels heavier then my talons.
I think he still has it so....How much should I offer him for it?

 

[Rotary Junkie]

350 and go from there I wager.

 

[Thatman]

mmmkay, well he says he needs cash... thanks.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Am I supposed to take that as a proper thanks or a sarcastic one?

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

mmmkay, well he says he needs cash... thanks.

That means he's going to rob you.

 

[Philly]

Anybody have suggestions for a decent car wash? My parents recently took the GTI on a road trip, and I guess it got covered in ocean spray, and I won't be home to wash it until Thanksgiving. Anywhere my parents could take it without dragging a month's worth of dirt all over my paint? Because I'm fairly sure they can't be bothered to wash it themselves.

 

[buickgnx88]

Find one where the employees power-wash the vehicle before it enters the "noodles". I'm sure they could get most of the dirt off beforehand.

 

[Giancarlo]

Anybody have suggestions for a decent car wash? My parents recently took the GTI on a road trip, and I guess it got covered in ocean spray, and I won't be home to wash it until Thanksgiving. Anywhere my parents could take it without dragging a month's worth of dirt all over my paint? Because I'm fairly sure they can't be bothered to wash it themselves.

Here? http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-...michigan&view=text&latlng=7143625221227450414

 

[nk4e]

Would it be possible if Injen would send me a short ram intake with the right EO number?

 

[Philly]

Here? http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-...michigan&view=text&latlng=7143625221227450414

Do they have places that will do a good hand wash? The car is back at home in Seattle so I can't take it to that place in Holland.

Or maybe they wouldn't mind taking it to one of those DIY places where they provide the soap and water and things.

 

[niky]

Would it be possible if Injen would send me a short ram intake with the right EO number?

Would it be possible for them to send the part, are you asking?