DIY - Simple Audio System

I love music. Driving to work from home takes 45 mins and it will be a great bore without any music for entertainment. If I were to enjoy my drive in the Mini, I need Music ! Putting on a headphone is a NO NO. Installing a full Car Audio System will be risky and expensive. Risky because thieves will brake the glass and steal the system. I am not too worry about them stealing the things.. I am more worry about where to find a replacement Mini windscreen/window !!

I DIYed this Audio System using cheap/existing items I have:

- Dell USB Speaker

- Car USB Power Adapter

- iPod

Here is the Dell USB Speakers I am using.  I picked this model because of the sound clarity and it is cheap. And also because it uses USB as the power supply, I can easily power it using a Car Adapter without much wiring work.

I hide all the cables under the carpeting on the Mini's dashboard. leaving only the USB and Audio Input jack. Approx 10cm in length.

The speakers are mounted on both ends. Fasten down using screws.

And, the music comes from the iPOD Nano! You can see the Car Adapter in the background; powering the Speakers. 

Here is the video I uploaded to YouTube. Enjoy.... 

DIY - Change LED 3rd Brake Light

The Mini originally came with a Bulb type 3rd Brake Light. The light is kinda dim and the plastic is twisted due to the hot Malaysian weather. I have gotten an LED Brake Light bar to be installed. 

This was the original 3rd Brake Light... 

Not so appealing. And I hate bulbs because they take time to 'light up'... and the light is kinda dim.

Here is the picture of the LED brake light I bought.. Just cost RM 12.00

Removing the screws of the old Brake Light. (To remove the stand)

Installing the new LED Brake Light. It uses double sided tape. So I made sure the glass is clean before sticking it up.

After hooking up the wires (RED for +VE and Black for -VE).. it is DONE!!

Looked much nicer now.

DIY - Lubricating Throttle Cable

The throttle response for the Mini is a bit.. rough and sticky... Sometimes, I have to step on the throttle pedal quite heavily as the cable is stuck.. and sometimes, the RPM is kept at a high rev because the cable cannot return to normal position smoothly.  I have decided to do a little DIY to lubricate the Throttle Cable.

Items required is just :

- Lubrication Oil (I used Sewing Machine Oil. Engine oil can be used too)

- A T-Wrench

Let's take a look at the throttle cable. The original setting was a bit slacked and the cable is kinda old, so it is a bit rough.

Using the T-Wrench, I loosen up the nut that holds down the throttle cable. The cable comes off easily and I removed it from the bracket.

I then slowly pumped the oil into the housing-hose of the cable. While pulling and pushing the cable to ensure that the oil flows and lubricate the whole length of the cable.

I repeat this process and check the other end of the cable (which is at the pedal) to make sure that the oil have flowed thru the whole cable and reached the other end. 

After this is done. I installed back the throttle cable using the same method as removing it.

Before I tighten it, I pulled the cable till there is no more slack to ensure that I have better throttle response.

I started the engine and stepped on the throttle, felt much better now. Just like a new car!!

3rd tragedy... 3 in a row !!

That same evening, Jessie and I wanted to get ride in the Mini for dinner. I started the car, warmed it up a bit and reverse it out from the porch. It took a few reverse and 1st gears to aligned the car towards the gate. Somehow, the gear stick is kinda jammy and the throttle is not so smooth too... 

I was kinda impatient, and i started to jerk the gear stick and pulling it very hard to get it into reverse gear. (Note : To engage Mini's reverse gear, you have to PULL UP and then push it to the right and downwards) ... and with my Monstrous strength, I think I over did it..

I PULLED THE WHOLE GEAR STICK OUT !!!!

OPPS !!! The gear stick came out... 

Took it out in board daylight to take a look at the problem.. seems like the little 'cap' in the middle is cracked.

A close up picture of the 'cap'. It is a half-sphere shaped plastic. And it was serviced before previously. They added a rubber piece to make sure the cap stays in shape.. hmm, I will service this again later. Must find some metal sheet to mold it into a 'cap'

Anyway, the installation is kinda easy..  Remove the bracket that holds the 'cap' in place, put in the gear stick and install the bracket again from the top. (Note : Gear knob have to be removed to do so)

The installation was easy.. Just that it is kinda messy with all the grease around.. and it was getting late.

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I will cover this part again when I find the suitable material to mold into the 'cap'.. or when I find the spare part for this. 

Mini cranked, but couldn't start !

This morning, I was planning to drive the Mini to work. Jumped into the car and tried to start... However, the Mini's engine just cranked but couldn't start. Tried again and again... finally gave up. Took my other car to work, feeling kinda disappointed.

(Picture taken at 7am in the morning, still kinda dark so the image is a bit shaky)

When I reached home that evening, I tried to crank the car again. Thinking that the problem maybe was from the Wet/Cold Carburator as it was raining quite heavily the night before. Still couldn't get it to start.

I do notice a very strong petrol smell coming from the engine compartment. After a quick check, found out that the fuel hose from the Petrol Pump is loose, and petrol is leaking. 

The fuel pump is on the engine block, below the carburator. You can barely see it from here. 

Here is the close up of the petrol pump with the hose reattached. I had to cut the hose shorter as the original attachment was slightly cracked. 

After installing it. The car cranked and started with no problems at all!! Happy that it was just a small problem and it was easily solved...  However.. the battery was a bit weak from all the cranking.

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The Next Morning : Wanted to drive the Mini to work, ALAS, the battery was too weak to crank the engine. I got it removed and dropped it at my mechanic's doors (Too early, his shop was not openned yet) to be charged and collected it on my way home from work; everything was just fine after that.