What is the Anti-Lock Brake System and How do I Maintain it?
The anti-lock brake system (ABS) is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to maintain tractive contact / friction with the road surface no matter how hard the driver pushes the brake pedal. The ABS does this by preventing the wheels from locking up (stopping rotation).
Mini Cooper Coolant Leaks
It’s not uncommon for Mini owners to experience problems related to coolant leaks. Some of the older Mini Coopers experience radiator and thermostat housing leaks, but the most common issue is with the water pump. In fact, some Mini Cooper water pumps have failed on vehicles with under 10,000 miles!
My Car is Making a Loud Noise – What’s Causing it?
Loud vehicle noises were once a common concern for drivers. Suddenly their cars would begin to sound very loud.
There is Something Hanging Under My Car!
I have heard this said to me many times. It is usually said with a sense of urgency and concern. Well the good news is, most times there’s not much to worry about — unlike in the 1991 movie classic, Cape Fear, where the movie’s villan, Robert DeNiro was hanging under the car.
Why is my Mini Cooper Making a Rattling Noise?
Based on the questions we’ve grouped together most of you have probably guessed that the common rattling noise heard from the right hand side of the engine (that is normally worse upon starting) comes from a loose timing chain. The timing chain is what joins the camshafts to the crank shaft. The chain runs through guides, and a tensioner takes the slack out of the chain.
Mini Cooper Power Steering Failures Cause Difficult Steering
These are just a few of the power steering complaints that we’ve heard from customers and that we’ve seen floating around the Internet. What is going on?
My Check Engine Light is On. Is it Okay to Keep Driving?
My Check Engine light is on but I am not having any symptoms. Is it ok to keep driving?
3 Common Problems with Mini Cooper Doors & Windows
Are you having a problem with the proper operation of your Mini Cooper door or window? If so, you aren’t alone. We’ve discovered a few common problems that some of our Mini Cooper owners have experienced that can be resolved by removing the door panel and making the needed repair.
Something I Got From My Auto Repair Shop That I Never Expected
It’s probably a good idea to start out this blog post talking about me and maintenance; it’s a constant challenge.
Mini Cooper – 10 Quick Facts
We’ve been doing quite a few Mini Cooper blogs lately, so let’s keep the fun rolling….
7 Common Repair Problems Mini Cooper Owners Face
Mini Coopers can be great fun to drive, but sometimes problems do crop up. This covers the seven most common problems we run across in servicing Mini Coopers.
Avoid VW Cooling System Problems – Replace Your Lifetime “Antifreeze”
Last week I noticed that a VW had been in our workshop for a number of days. I knew it was having heater issues so I asked Ben, the technician working on the car, what he had found.












