Whats wrong with my Mini?

XxKathyxX

so I just drove home and my car was acting weird. It started when i was reversing out of my spot. it took loads of reving to get it to move and it was raising up a bit. then as i drove away it took loads of revving to move. this was the same all the way home. the car was really slow all the way home but the engine sounded normal but i had to give it loads of welly. when i got home there was a real weird burning type smell, not sure what it was there was also loads of ticking and clicking sounds and stuff coming from the back end of the car? its a 08 mini cooper

what could cause this? something expensive? is it safe to drive?

plz help, rly worried!

xoxo

ba_barabus

Did you let the handbrake off?

Karl Stein

It sounds very like a slipping clutch. Have you noticed this come on gradually or suddenly?

Captain Slow IRL

Probably the fact it was designed by BMW and built in Britain.....:)

Slipping clutch sounds likely, can you stall the engine if let the clutch out with the handbrake on?

P.K.M.

Aye, slipping clutch or brakes binding??

mathepac

XxKathyxX wrote: »

... and it was raising up a bit. ...

ba_barabus wrote: »

Did you let the handbrake off?

+1

XxKathyxX wrote: »

... is it safe to drive? ...

I'd be fairly confident the car is safe ...

XxKathyxX

ba_barabus wrote: »

Did you let the handbrake off?

do i look like a idiot? :mad:

xoxo

XxKathyxX

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

Probably the fact it was designed by BMW and built in Britain.....:)

Slipping clutch sounds likely, can you stall the engine if let the clutch out with the handbrake on?

I dont understand?

xoxo

ShaunieVW

Sounds like binding brakes,Sticky rear caliper perhaps, when you lifted off the accelerator did the car slow down quicker than normal?

XxKathyxX

ShaunieVW wrote: »

Sounds like binding brakes,Sticky rear caliper perhaps, when you lifted off the accelerator did the car slow down quicker than normal?

yea like it was like a brick. it never happened before tho. only this evening, not even a hint of problem earlier. will it be expensive? there was red light on the dashboard too, cant really remember the symbol?

ShaunieVW

Sounds like a rear brake issue, does it feel like its coming from either side or evenly spread? Any decent mechanic should be able to take off the rear caliper and get to the route of the problem. Very young car to be having such issues. As for prices thats really unknown until you find out what exactly it is as it varies so much. Where are you based? I can recommend some excellent mechanics.

ba_barabus

XxKathyxX wrote: »

do i look like a idiot? :mad:

You wouldn't be the first person I suggested this to and found out I was right.

If its not that I'd say a seized rear calliper.

I'd be very doubtful the clutch has anything to do with it.

ION08

The red light on the dash was probably for the handbrake.

RustyNut

XxKathyxX wrote: »

so I just drove home and my car was acting weird. it took loads of reving to get it to move and it was raising up a bit. the car was really slow all the way home but the engine sounded normal but i had to give it loads of welly. when i got home there was a real weird burning type smell, not sure what it was there was also loads of ticking and clicking sounds and stuff coming from the back end of the car?

XxKathyxX wrote: »

there was red light on the dashboard too, cant really remember the symbol?

ba_barabus wrote: »

Did you let the handbrake off?

I think we have this one sussed out.

RustyNut

How far was the drive home OP ?

BorneTobyWilde

She drove with the handbreak on
Hense car raising
Hense burning smell
The clicking and ticking
Yea thats the red hot heat

JTbzr

Ye defo the clutch is boxed 100%

BGozIE

Bring it to a garage. Most likely the clutch.

Could also be the ignition coils.

Quazzie

How can anyone suggest the clutch after reading the OP. Some people really shouldn't give an opinion when they obviously haven't a clue.:rolleyes:

BGozIE

Quazzie wrote: »

How can anyone suggest the clutch after reading the OP. Some people really shouldn't give an opinion when they obviously haven't a clue.:rolleyes:

Hold on, atleast I was the first person to say bring it to a garage.

Quazzie

BGozIE wrote: »

Hold on, atleast I was the first person to say bring it to a garage.

Well that is good advice, but everything in the OP suggests it's a rear caliper stuck on. Why would the car raise up if the clutch was slipping, or why is there a ticking from the rear from a slipping clutch. Not directed at you individually but at everyone who suggested it was a slipping clutch.

BGozIE

Quazzie wrote: »

Well that is good advice, but everything in the OP suggests it's a rear caliper stuck on. Why would the car raise up if the clutch was slipping, or why is there a ticking from the rear from a slipping clutch. Not directed at you individually but at everyone who suggested it was a slipping clutch.

Your logic is 100% spot on. I really just wanted to suggest the OP bring it to a garage. Admittedly I only skimmed a few lines of the OP's post, shouldn't really have suggested anything other then bring it to a garage.

Anyway OP I would bring it to a garage ASAP and hopefully it is only a caliper stuck on. Shouldn't be too costly a fix.

KamiKazi

:D:D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_zAo7hBUoU

H3llR4iser

Your handbrake was on; The red light, which I'm sure looked a bit like this symbol: (!) , is a telltale sign as it is usually wired to the lever itself.

The fact you could drive around and only feel a bit of "drag" means it was only partially on - otherwise, you'd have a "rear wheel lock" situation like the FIAT in the clip above. Before going to a garage, check if there is anything that lodged itself under the handbrake lever, preventing it from going all the way down.

Supergurrier

1 careful lady driver

mathepac

Supergurrier wrote: »

1 careful lady driver

owner pal, owner. Careful driver might be pushing it a bit.

stee.mc79

H3llR4iser wrote: »

Your handbrake was on; The red light, which I'm sure looked a bit like this symbol: (!) , is a telltale sign as it is usually wired to the lever itself.

The fact you could drive around and only feel a bit of "drag" means it was only partially on - otherwise, you'd have a "rear wheel lock" situation like the FIAT in the clip above. Before going to a garage, check if there is anything that lodged itself under the handbrake lever, preventing it from going all the way down.

Be warned that is not the only function of that light. It also indicates low fluid levels and or break problems.
Found this out the hard way when a brand new caliper piston seal failed = fluid leak = no breaks!

RustyNut

BGozIE wrote: »

Hold on, atleast I was the first person to say bring it to a garage.

This is good advise OP, sounds like the hand break didn't fully release for whatever reason, most likely human error (have been there myself) but the exessive heat that builds up when you drag a break can do damage to seals,wheel bearings etc so best get it checked out.

Nemeses

I did have a handbrake that was sticking.. Even when fully released.... Cost me 2x handbrake cables and a couple of rear discs..

Also the point about the (!) light, Yip defiantly has other meanings.. such as Brake pads are low etc..

H3llR4iser

stee.mc79 wrote: »

Be warned that is not the only function of that light. It also indicates low fluid levels and or break problems.
Found this out the hard way when a brand new caliper piston seal failed = fluid leak = no breaks!

Nemeses wrote: »

I did have a handbrake that was sticking.. Even when fully released.... Cost me 2x handbrake cables and a couple of rear discs..

Also the point about the (!) light, Yip defiantly has other meanings.. such as Brake pads are low etc..

I know guys, I know, but come on: the car behaves as if it has the handbrake on, it smells as if the handbrake is on, makes noises as if it has the handbrake on, the handbrake light is on, what would be the very first thing you check?

Then if it's not the handbrake still on all the rest can be checked. But the first thing for the OP to do is to make sure there's nothing caught underneath the lever, possibly near the hinge - I don't know the exact configuration on the mini, but on some cars something as small as a bottle cap can prevent the lever from coming down the last 1-2 "clicks". If the cable is tensioned properly, it's enough to have the brakes on.

stee.mc79

H3llR4iser wrote: »

I know guys, I know, but come on: the car behaves as if it has the handbrake on, it smells as if the handbrake is on, makes noises as if it has the handbrake on, the handbrake light is on, what would ibe the very first thing you check?

Then if it's not the handbrake still on all the rest can be checked. But the first thing for the OP to do is to make sure there's nothing caught underneath the lever, possibly near the hinge - I don't know the exact configuration on the mini, but on some cars something as small as a bottle cap can prevent the lever from coming down the last 1-2 "clicks". If the cable is tensioned properly, it's enough to have the brakes on.

I was just adding to what you had said.
Just so anyone reading thread knows that it's not best practice to be driving with this light on it will tell you this in the cars manual in the glove box. Not to mention the cost of driving it ON with seized calipers as mentioned in other posts costs discs, pads, calipers & if your unlucky bearings as well on both sides.
Plus if your really unlucky break failure! only himself upstairs will know how that goes.
I got a qouted once for a caliper of €400 that was just for the part alone, not including the pad and disc & labour. For one side. That was the side that failed leaking the fluid.

HandsomeDan

So obviously the handbrake left on.

And the gobs suggesting it was the clutch... :pac:

mathepac

HandsomeDan wrote: »

So obviously the handbrake left on. ... :pac:

My A/C unit has a clutch & I have a clutch handbag, so is it still a hand-brake problem or could it be the 710 again?

ION08

Hey OP, any chance of an update?! xoxo