Hi - just joined the mini forum - previously only been on minifinity.
Live in Luxembourg (though English) and have just bought a 1999 Mini 40 - only 20,000kms, 5k of which I’ve put on in the last 3 months.
My first post, and first question - need desperately to get the alternator off tomorrow morning, and need to know procedure - looks to me as if the gril and rad will need to come off - how do I take the rad off w/o damaging it or popping off the hose?? Have no access to a Haynes or posibility of getting one tomorrow, as am in foreign climes!
Hi, removing alternator is reletively simple, and the grille/radiator don’t need to be removed!
First things first - removing the cover, nice n easy, small nut at the bottom, large nut on top!
slackening the belt.
The tensioner pulley then needs to be slackened by undo-ing the nut a few turns, this is found under the alternator, and is smallish, black, rouind and plastic!
now you loook under the car, towards the alternator area, you will see a 10mm square adjusting nut, turn this anti-clockwise to slacken the belt off - its on a really fine thread, so it takes some turning!
Then push the belt to one side.
Remove the 2 wires remembering which way round they go!
Slacken the 2 lower bolts found lower down the alternator bracket, then the big bolt on the top, and thats basically it! remove all the bolts, and it should lift off!
boil the kettle, make the tea, and replenish on the hardwork you have just done!
welcome to the madhouse anyhow!
I don’t think you need to get the rad off, unless you have a front mounted rad (in which case I’m not sure on the procedure), but the alternator is basically held on by three bolts, undo these and Bobs your uncle!
front mounted rad indeed - have taken cover off, along with top bolt and side bolt, but can’t get to anything else - can’t even see the belt slackening bolt - best to jack the car up???
thanks all for the help & hello’s.
mini up and running again - new fusible cable between the solonoid to the alternator - looks to be all!!
taking radio out to check that hasn’t been damaged (fingers crossed) - but requires dash off, as was over zealous with bending the cage clips.
fitting new steering wheel at same time - will require removing airbag warning light bulb - need to put in a new bulb for the full beam warning light - is this the same, therefore straight swap over???
