Not a happy bunny.

[bub2006]

Something gone seriously tits up with the metro. Lost all forward drive,knocking noise when car is rolling and a leak from the diff. Now as it stands we have two cars,both with knackered boxes. Anyone know where I can get a cheap engine and box from? Seem to be like rocking horse shit. I will never buy off so called friends who assure you that the car is perfect etc.

[vulgalour]

Shame you can't get a Mini cheap to pillage for bits.

[Station]

Are you sure the driveshaft hasn't come out of the box?

You will lose all drive if a single shaft is loose,

[bub2006]

Drive has not totally gone,foot down and wait and it will eventually move. Reverse is fine. No such luck getting a cheap mini. I'm browned off as now the wife can't get to work and I've sunk all spare cash into the pos outside. Oh well. Live and learn

[Lord Sterling]

PM sent Bub, Steve might have the bits you need. He knows about Metros inside and out. Hopefully all will get sorted soon.

[Partridge]

Shame you can't get a Mini cheap to pillage for bits.

Oh, the IRONY.

[bub2006]

I've replied mo,will ring him tomorrow. Thank you. I would love to pillage a mini for metro parts,bet the mini boys wouldn't appreciate it! Can't find an engine or box anywhere but hopefully the number mo sent may help.

[Rusty_Rocket]

Sadly, the only time a Mini has ever let me down was when the autobox on it failed 

First q- is the oil light on? Is the oil level ok?

I wouldn't be too harsh on your friend, the 'boxes can expire with no warnings at all.

 

You should be able to get another engine with auto box on ebay relatively easy, most Mini owners convert to manual.

[bub2006]

Oil light is not on. The funny thing is the slipping and squeaking was getting better so I thought iwould take out the 20/50 oil and put in 10/40. That's when it all startedgoing pete tong. The oil had been in the engine less than an hour.

[Rusty_Rocket]

The oil grade shouldn't make a difference that quickly but I stand by my original advise- all A-Series engines should use good, old 20w50, regardless of what Rover said in the 90s.

Have you tried starting off in 1 or 2 instead of D?

[Rusty_Rocket]

Also, Martin at MRA Minis is the authority on the AP autobox. He has all the original tooling and now re-manufactures unavailable parts to keep them going.

He's in Northamptonshire - 01933 628385.

[daveb47]

Its probably the clutch torque bolt at back of gearbox.

It stops the forward clutch outer gear from rotating.Its like a bolt with a spigot on it and the spigot part shears off allowing the whole thing to rotate.

[bub2006]

Thanks for the advice and help so far. Iam at work and wife just rang and told me she has seen a Peugeot 406 estate cheap so see where this all leads!

[bub2006]

I can gather that apparently mra minis have gone under? A lot of angry people on forums. I don't know the ins and outs though

[Rusty_Rocket]

Hmmm that's interesting. I must confess, I'm a little out of the Mini loop as I'm too old for the Mini-specific forums as I'm not into the union jacks/ silly wheels scene.

Would be a shame if MRA is gone/ has a bad name as Martin genuinely is an eggspurt on these autos.

[bub2006]

From what I have seen he has taken money,parts etc then disappeared and company gone under. I can't get on their website

[Rusty_Rocket]

Oooff 

[bub2006]

If it's all truth then it don't bode too well does it?

[Rusty_Rocket]

It doesn't. Amazing what can happen in a couple of years! If DaveB is right, you're probably best sniffing out a replacement 'box anyway. I know nowt about these contraptions but do have the factory AP manuals!

Or you could convert to manual engine /box.. 

[bub2006]

Don't fancy converting to manual. It's fine in reverse so I am led to believe it's the forward clutch which operates 1,2,3 gears. Apparently these can be replaced in situ but god knows where I can get one. Spoke to a chap earlier who has a 998 engine and box I can buy so was considering it while I rebuilt mine. Trouble is I don't know if the inlet,exhaust,alterNator,coil,distributor etc will fit or if it's a points engine where mine is a electronic ignition.

[Rusty_Rocket]

All the ancillaries are much the same; I can't think of anything off the top of my head that won't fit.  Just make sure the replacement lump is an A+ (from 1983 ish) and not an early Mini auto.

It's just a shame that the auto engine's block is different to the manual one.  They can be converted with some machining and parts but it's not cost effective.  Probably will be in the future as the engines get harder to find, though.

[Station]

They have a silver mini in HK breakers in rhosllanerchrugog.

[bub2006]

Any way of finding out if it's an a+ engine? Would the hif44 on the 1275 be too much for it too? Station,how do I pronounce that name?!

[Rusty_Rocket]

It'll run with an HIF44 but the 38 would be better suited.  I suppose you could go for an earlier HS4 but then the air filter may not fit!

 

The 998 A+ was painted yellow and the A-Series was black (or green if it's pre 1970!!).  Also, the A+ has ribs on the block where the earlier lump is smooth.

TBH, you're unlikely to easily find a pre A+ auto, I'd imagine they are near enough extinct now?

[bub2006]

Thanks,that info is great my friend.

[bub2006]

was it the a engine that didn't have a park feature too or did that carry on onto the early a+ engines too? Thanks

[Rusty_Rocket]

Yeah I think the Park option is only on the later (1275cc) auto box?  I know the two are different, but will swap over.

 

Check this link out-

http://www.austinamericausa.com/

 

Click on 'Technical', then 'AP Auto box' and you'll see a fix for the loss of drive in 1,2,3, but drive in reverse.

[bub2006]

Ahh ok. I will see if I can find a forward clutch and all gaskets etc close to home. Not fannying about that way. If I did do an exchange I would love to pole up to a mini meet and say I removed my 1275 and pillaged a mini as I really wanted a 998!

[Rusty_Rocket]

Yeah, that would raise some eyebrows with the sportspack crew 

I would say, now you don't have to get the car running urgently, you can sort something out with minimal cost.  The engine swap itself is very straightforward.

[bub2006]

To be fair now I have a car sorted I can sort this one out. I believe it's the forward clutch as it is great in reverse,just slips like a swine.