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#61

Daves Garage / Re: Red

Last post by cstudep - July 10, 2026, 01:17:26 PM

Just that particular road perhaps? But I assume its one you regularly traverse.

#62

Daves Garage / Re: Red

Last post by MiniDave - July 10, 2026, 12:13:48 PM

Hmmmm.....car is up on the rack, I can't find anything wrong with it, everything is tight, bushings are all good including the LCA and top mount rubbers, nothing's bent, broken or unattached.

I guess I'll put the wheels back on and go drive it again and see what I see.

Puzzling.

#63

Daves Garage / Re: Red

Last post by MiniDave - July 10, 2026, 08:34:20 AM

I was supposed to go to a Mini Club ice cream social last night, it was too hot to drive the classic so I jumped into Red, hit the A/C and headed out. About 2 blocks down the street I knew something was wrong....I pulled over to check for loose wheels or flat tires and found nothing, so I turned around and went back home. I'll put it on the rack today and see what I can find...

The issue is when I accelerate it goes left, when I let off it goes right - significantly. It just feels like the steering's not connected somehow, even tho turning the wheel feels normal. We drove it to dinner the night before and I don't remember it doing that at all, tho we didn't go very far. It sure didn't do it on the 2500 miles I drove a week or so ago!

Possibilities include bad lower control arm bushings (new), torn upper spring plate rubber mounts (also new), or maybe a loose steering rack (I didn't have to unbolt it from the subframe, so I doubt that's it)? One of the guys at the ice cream thing (I drove the Audi) suggested a bent steering arm. I don't think that's it but I'll know more once I get it in the shop later today. It's always some damn thing......

#64

The Lounge / Re: What did you do in your sh...

Last post by 94touring - July 10, 2026, 07:03:14 AM

Have to go back to work but ordered 2 high flow cats. Not sure how much time I'll have to actually fab it all up before my big trip but it would be nice if I could find the time. 

#65

Daves Garage / Re: Red

Last post by cstudep - July 09, 2026, 05:22:50 PM

There is an old locksmith around here, probably in his 70's I'd guess. Walking into his shop is like a blast into the past with tools, keys, safes etc... On my 2010 GMC the dealership wanted something like 80 bucks for a key, then when I handed them the key they guy said, oh we dont cut double keys anymore. Told me to go to this locksmith. He took my key, did some odd counting sort of out loud sort of in his head....mumbled a bit jotted down some notes on a piece of paper and cut me a key.

I looked at him like "do you seriously expect me to believe this is going to work". He just said ,dont worry it will work, that will be 28 dollars. I handed him a 50 and walked out. I'll be damned if I didn't walk out, put the key in the ignition and off it went. No idea what voodoo magic he had going on in his head to just come up with the key but its the only place I go for keys anymore lol.

#66

Daves Garage / Re: Red

Last post by MiniDave - July 09, 2026, 02:31:05 PM

Keys.....the car came with one remote key and one with no electronic functions except for the recognition chip that lets it start the car - that one is the "problem". It works, but when you drive the locks cycle about every minute or two.

Someone recommended Dr. Bruce, the Mini Key Doctor so I contacted him and sent him a pic of the two keys. His recommendation was either do nothing and use it for a backup key or I could use a program he linked to "remove" both keys from the car's computer and reinstall just the one. He said "use at your own risk" so I decided to take option 1 and make that one my backup key and just use the "good" one!

I sent him a later note to ask what it would cost for another one of the remote keys but haven't heard back, I have a feeling it will be more than I want to pay. We do have a key shop here in town that can do a lot of these fancy keys, I might touch base with him too just for fun.

#67

The Lounge / Re: Slate Auto - An EV you spe...

Last post by Jims5543 - July 09, 2026, 01:15:37 PM

I saw that in my feed the other day. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L6_9_HHLOSY&pp=ugUEEgJlbg%3D%3D

This was a really good one too.  I learned from this one there is only 1 battery option, which gets you about 205 miles range.  This is not ideal, but decent.

I am still not 100% on this, I might decide to just buy a used Tacoma instead.

#68

The Lounge / Re: What did you do in your sh...

Last post by scalpel_ninja - July 08, 2026, 07:44:25 PM

I changed out the HPFP in my 2010 MINI JCW for the third time.

First pump came with the car when I bought it at 109k miles. It died in a year.

Sent the core to a guy in Canada who rebuilt it and it lasted 5 years, 50k miles and it also died.

Guy in Canada had no more in stock, so I bought one off eBay (my mistake). Lasted less than a month. The spring loaded regulator valve was glued on, fell off after a few heat cycles, oil in the pump all leaked out. Full refund.

Finally bit the bullet and bought an OE part. Works like a charm now and I didn't realize how much HP I was missing!

#69

The Lounge / Re: What did you do in your sh...

Last post by 94touring - July 08, 2026, 12:28:21 PM

After reading,high flow cats actually flow within a few % points of going straight pipes, particularly if you go with a larger diameter in/out on the cats.  So I'll just go high flow and use the 02 sensor spacers to hopefully keep the CEL from going off.  I want it to sound as stock as possible. 

#70

The Lounge / Re: What did you do in your sh...

Last post by 94touring - July 08, 2026, 08:52:50 AM

No dual, just a 1/4" bigger on diameter after the headers y pipe. Need to determine how I want to do cats too. High flow or just resonators.