air con

Author
Discussion

david29dpo

Original Poster:

28 posts

219 months

Tuesday 13th February 2007
quotequote all
i am thinking of buying a jap import cooper spi around 1996 and pinch all the air con parts from it for my rover mini cabriolet. i can do this myself, but, does anyone know what i do about the ECU? has the ECU got anything to do with controlling the air con? if so, if i use the jap one, with it alter the engine controls? all help gratefully welcome.

skyedriver

17,895 posts

283 months

Tuesday 13th February 2007
quotequote all
Sorry to ask but why?

fwdracer

3,564 posts

225 months

Wednesday 14th February 2007
quotequote all
The Engine ECU will have a signal from the compressor for sure (to control the Compressor clutch), probably to give an idle "jack" (A raise in rpm/fuelling) at idle or low rpm to compensate for the extra loading on the engine that the A/C compressor will exert.

To ensure no intergration problems you'll do best to graft the whole 1996 jap spec spi powertrain, inc loom into the cabrio... A load of work.

A Cabrio....??? tumbleweed

How about take the roof down for the fully air-conditioned experience.... hehe

guru_1071

2,768 posts

235 months

Wednesday 14th February 2007
quotequote all
there is a guy in bradford who has just imported a load of jap spec late stuff with air con.....

some nice looking cars, very busy under the engine bay, and dont forget that the inner wings and bulkhead are different on the jap spec models for all the extra pipes, rads and fans to fit!

not a easy job............................

david29dpo

Original Poster:

28 posts

219 months

Wednesday 14th February 2007
quotequote all
does he have a web site?

guru_1071

2,768 posts

235 months

Wednesday 14th February 2007
quotequote all
erm.........

">www.importedjapminis.com..........

dunno,

i can find a phone number tomorrow, or if you let me know your email i can email you about 20 photos of the four (i think) cars he had. some nice snaps of the aircon

guru_1071

2,768 posts

235 months

Wednesday 14th February 2007
quotequote all


heres a snap of the engine bay of one of them, theres a couple of the insides showing the dashes - the rest are outside pics.

guru_1071

2,768 posts

235 months

Wednesday 14th February 2007
quotequote all
please note the above one is a s.p.i, so will be esier than using a m.p.i

going now!

skyedriver

17,895 posts

283 months

Wednesday 14th February 2007
quotequote all
Like playing spot the engine in there.....
You could get a bit more under the bonnet but you would need an Impreza style bulge.....on the bonnet of course.
That A/C must drag the power down a bit further might be worth buying a decent one and stripping out the excess baggage

david29dpo

Original Poster:

28 posts

219 months

Thursday 15th February 2007
quotequote all
i take the cab abroad a lot, so the conversion appeals. a reliable source tells me the ECU on the jap mini copper differs only in the way it controls the air con, not the fueling or the ignition of the engine. but i need to know 100% this is the case. i have also found out that MPi minis never went to japan, SPi only till the end, so any jap import copper with injection will do. i think it should be a fairly simple swop over job between the two cars. only problem i can of in the future is what if the ECU goes bang? where do i get one from!

miniman

24,995 posts

263 months

Thursday 15th February 2007
quotequote all
If you want a jap spec turned aluminium (genuine Rover) dash with holes drilled for air con controls, let me know!

guru_1071

2,768 posts

235 months

Thursday 15th February 2007
quotequote all
dave


m.p.i's with air con where sold in japan, normally with auto's.

this confuses people as the rad is on the side, so they look like s.p.i's - and leads to a good pub question of 'what years did rover stop using side mounted rads'? - fools will answer 1996, look smug and say 'actually........'

skyedriver

17,895 posts

283 months

Thursday 15th February 2007
quotequote all
david29dpo said:
jap import copper !


Are we importing them now as well ?

david29dpo

Original Poster:

28 posts

219 months

Thursday 15th February 2007
quotequote all
guru, thanks for your input. the link your posted does not work. have you got the other pix yet? with regards to the MPi in japan, according to some rover records i have dug up, japan continued with SPi until exports there finished in 1999. however, from 1997 the distributor was removed and the quad coil fitted, as MPi in the uk. as you say, the side rad stayed to the end in japan.

guru_1071

2,768 posts

235 months

Friday 16th February 2007
quotequote all
david

you may be right.

the engines where 'm.p.i' blocks, but they may have run s.p.i injection.

all i have ever seen is the complete engine and box with all ancillaries less the injector and the inlet manifold.