Hi I am from Atlanta and have an '02 MC that has about 90K miles, all from me. But this past month I have noticed some strange things. The radio controls on the back of the steering wheel and the climate control will sometimes not work. This problem is sporadic and will start working again when I turn the car off and restart. However, yesterday when I turned the car off and back on to correct this, the car would not start (it would turn over) I pushed the hazard lights on and kept trying to start the car. It finally started but then my headlights would not come on, so I turned off and restarted again. This time the headlights came on but then the hazard lights would not turn off and my blinkers were sporadically working at wrong times. But once I got home and went to drive later everything worked fine again. I worry because I drive an hour each way to work and I don't want to get stranded, and I don't want a HUGE dealership bill trying to figure out what is wrong. Has anyone else had this problem with the '02 Mini?? Please help!

 

Yikes, sounds like a pretty unique problem to me. My guess is gremlins. Unfortunately, I don't think you're going to be able to avoid paying the dealer to check this out. It could be an issue with a wiring harness, or corrosion somewhere, or... anything, really. I don't remember seeing anyone post that type of problem here recently. Good luck, and let us know how it turns out!

 

this has happened to a few friends of mine with 02s....the radio stuff I am not sure about....but the car not starting or even stalling turned out to be the engine wiring harness...I think they are like 250 bux...

 

...things that make you wanna go h-m-m-m.... well, it wasn't with my Cooper, but I had a problem with another car that wouldn't start because of a problem with the clutch (if it wasn't fully depressed, the car wouldn't even turn over), but my '04 MC was under recall because of problems that could have developed as a result of a faulty motherboard with the computer.

But really, it sounds like you have an electrical problem going on...and unfortunately, chrisneal sounds right: you're not gonna skate out of paying a dealer to take a look at this one.

Keep us informed: information is power and an informed consumer is a "dangerous" one. Mick

 

Wow, I am surprised at the quick response. Thanks everyone. So far nothing has happened again, and with my funds being low after the holidays, I think I am going to take my chances and wait for as long as I can. Everyone seems to be thinking wiring harness? It only doesn't when I initially start the car, either things work or they don't. They don't quit working while driving down the road, that's why I was thinking computer.....but I am definitely no mechanic. I love my car, but it being one of the first 500 out, I am well aware of the Mini mechanical woes!