I know this has been brought up before... DANGER!

[miniconcarne]

I'm not sure what to do. I just want to warn all early year Mini owners. I had no warning, noise, signs of this. I just parked one morning and when I got in to dirve home no power steering. Upon further investigation:






Electrical terminal completley burned off!!







Wires into pump fried!!!


I have no idea how my car did not burst into flames!!

Please make sure your power steering pump fans are working. Apparently
mine had locked up and I assume it shorted out the pump. Car is an 11-2002
build S with 58k miles. No warranty and never had any pump work done. It is original to the car.

I'm not sure I have any recourse with MINI-USA but I feel I need make them aware of my experience.

[nabeshin]

Holy crap. My car is 2 months older than yours and same mileage. I need to check the fan. Whenever I'm under there, I test it and it spins freely. Maybe I should just replace it for piece of mind.

[Stanislaus]

I just had the after-market fan guard installed on my PS fan. So far the fan and pump are operating the way they should.

[-=gRay rAvEn=-]

I replaced mine about 10K miles ago, but thanks for the heads up.

Got the updated version of OEM FAn so no guard is required it is built in....and it was on my door step in 2 days....takes only 5 mins to install.

Here: http://www.bavauto.com/shop.asp

[volki]

Originally Posted by -=gRay rAvEn=-

I replaced mine about 10K miles ago, but thanks for the heads up.

Got the updated version of OEM FAn so no guard is required it is built in....and it was on my door step in 2 days....takes only 5 mins to install.

Here: http://www.bavauto.com/shop.asp

+1. Had the fan replaced with the newly designed one about 10Kmiles ago... Recently, PS pump went dead, came back, went dead during the same day. I had it replaced the next day, because even one day was enough to live with the idea of my car bursting into flames. I parked it outside of my house during the night, and at the top level, away from all the cars at work; didn't carry any passengers, etc.

This is scary indeed!

[DaveVT02S]

Originally Posted by -=gRay rAvEn=-

Got the updated version of OEM FAn so no guard is required it is built in....

Tough luck, but good information - that's an answer to a question I didn't know to ask - I have an 02 MCS (07/02 build), bought used Oct. 07 w/ 47k (from a Kia dealer) - just under the car last w/end while replacing the LCA bushings, and that's what my fan looks like (built in 'cage' - guess the previous owner already replaced it

[miniconcarne]

Originally Posted by DaveVT02S

Tough luck, but good information - that's an answer to a question I didn't know to ask - I have an 02 MCS (07/02 build), bought used Oct. 07 w/ 47k (from a Kia dealer) - just under the car last w/end while replacing the LCA bushings, and that's what my fan looks like (built in 'cage' - guess the previous owner already replaced it

Mine had the built in cage also.

[Gil-galad]

Originally Posted by miniconcarne

Mine had the built in cage also.

Better be careful...just because your PS fan has the cage/grill covering doesn't mean it is the latest and greatest replacement part. There was an intermediate redesign that had the cage but did not have the extra electronics. I discovered this on my '05 and posted pics here:

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...ml#post2702414

Also, if you give any credibility to the NHTSB report on this issue the root cause is purportedly moisture getting into the power cables for the EHPS pump itself and not the fan assembly. BMW has subsequently redesigned both components so it's still anyone's guess...

[miniconcarne]

That's what I ment, the fan that went fubar had the "grill". The new one I bought does indeed have the extra electronics. Hmmmm..

[Bigshot]

Fan replacement is a good idea, but the pumps can and do fail on there own.

[ofioliti]

Originally Posted by miniconcarne

I'm not sure what to do. I just want to warn all early year Mini owners. I had no warning, noise, signs of this. I just parked one morning and when I got in to dirve home no power steering. Upon further investigation:






Electrical terminal completley burned off!!







Wires into pump fried!!!


I have no idea how my car did not burst into flames!!

Please make sure your power steering pump fans are working. Apparently
mine had locked up and I assume it shorted out the pump. Car is an 11-2002
build S with 58k miles. No warranty and never had any pump work done. It is original to the car.

I'm not sure I have any recourse with MINI-USA but I feel I need make them aware of my experience.

Yikes!

So, did the fan die and the pump started burning (but continued to provide power steering for a while) before you parked? (Then was kaput the next morning?)

[MLPearson79]

Holy cow! As crazy as it sounds, I'm sure you know you were very lucky you don't have a char-grilled MINI!

[MrCooperS]

Holy crap. If your MINI got on fire because of that dumb fan, would insurance cover something like that?

[misemici]

Mine went out two weeks ago (same scenario, although I didn't see it to verify that it was charcoal). 02 Cooper CVT. This is my third go-round with the power steering components, including pump replacement, column issues, and now the fan (and wiring harness and thermo). Apparently the fan locked, the fuse blew, the car overheated (quickly), and fused the thermo housing. I'm still trying to fix the resulting problems, and am up to about $1100 at this point (on this month's problem).

I'm really disturbed to see that this seems to be a not-uncommon problem. Personally, I can't believe the wiring harness upgrade wasn't a recall issue, because from what I understand it has either been the cause of my problem, or at least the reason it went from bad to much worse.

I'd appreciate any tips in dealing with my dealer. I tried to go to a private MINI repair person, but his work didn't fix the coolant leak and now he won't return my calls. Indy's definitely no place to own an out-of-warranty MINI.

[miniconcarne]

Originally Posted by misemici

I'm really disturbed to see that this seems to be a not-uncommon problem. Personally, I can't believe the wiring harness upgrade wasn't a recall issue, because from what I understand it has either been the cause of my problem, or at least the reason it went from bad to much worse.

I'd appreciate any tips in dealing with my dealer. I tried to go to a private MINI repair person, but his work didn't fix the coolant leak and now he won't return my calls. Indy's definitely no place to own an out-of-warranty MINI.

I also would like tips/suggestions as to this issue. MINI-USA told me to take it to the dealer. If they agree to help out they "MAY" pay for some of it.
I need to get in touch with a service rep.

I also feel this should be a recall.


Check this out:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fixes/49527-important-have-you-had-power-steering-pump-failure-please-vote-yes-no-47.htmlA

According to this poll more than half have had failures!!!

[billie_morini]

miniconcarne,
thanks for making this thread and including photos.
billie

[Bigshot]

While I agree that this is a problem area, less than 1500 respondents is probably not a valid portrayal of the actual numbers.

[miniconcarne]

Yes, those are just the numbers from that particular forum. Could much higher!

[dustinhxc]

This is scaring me! Should I get this new fan or would it be ok just to get the cover under neath it? how do you install it? thanks!

[ngweibing]

i dun know muhc abt my car....now i am scared

[volki]

Judging by some of the comments, it appears that some MINI owners are seeing PS pumps catching on fire for the first time. This has been going on for a looooong time. Just check the sticky at the top of this sub-forum.

[miniconcarne]

Looong time! Not the first time I noticed this, but STILL happening. I just wanted to tell my story. Horrified at the carnage! I was hoping this item was a recall issue. I figured if they recall exhaust tips, why not pump-a-que?

[volki]

Originally Posted by miniconcarne

Looong time! Not the first time I noticed this, but STILL happening. I just wanted to tell my story. Horrified at the carnage! I was hoping this item was a recall issue. I figured if they recall exhaust tips, why not pump-a-que?

See... you hit the spot. The exhaust tips -apparently- burn people, the failed pumps so far did not burn anyone (luckily). It's crazy how the recall items are determined, dont you think?

[Gil-galad]

This probably belongs in Post #1 of the Spontaneous Engine Bay Fires sticky (and I see the OP has posted in that thread recently).

Problem is, I see that SCoop hasn't updated the list since April of last year, and has not even posted anywhere on NAM for a year. What a shame -- this first post was a nice running tally but now it's missing valuable, supplemental data.

[miniconcarne]

It is. Power steering pump replacement is pricey, bad press for people burning their legs is costly!!

I really do consider myself lucky, it very well could have caught fire in my garage. I hope this never happens, but it could....