glad you got your mini back

 

Glad to hear it's all better, but I got to thinkin'. What new electrical device did you recently purchase, hmm?
It's that freakin' HeyHorn that ate yer battery all up.

 

Great news Paul!!!

 

ive got a yellow top sitting in my garage from my vette, think thats innapropriate for poweing the car? or is a red top what i really need?

i have a fairly powerful stereo in the car, so i was wondering if the yellow top would work ok as the main battery....

 

I didn't realize the MINI needed a "special" battery size or type. Doesn't it take a standard battery size?

 

Yellow tops should work as the main battery, and considering the yellow top is deep cycle, it may serve your stereo needs better.

 

I'm pondering buying a yellow top. I'm about to install 2 amplifiers and a subwoofer, and it looks like the best battery for the job.

I'm not thrilled with the 1 year warranty though. You'd think a battery that expensive would be backed a little better.

 

Awesome Paul, glad to hear it was just the battery. It's not uncommon for the newer cars with ECUs and such to not jump if there is a short in the battery, which is a very common failure. One of the six cells can short to ground if there is enough debris in the bottom of the battery and even with another good battery parked across the terminals you still have a short to ground. The debris build-up happens as just a normal break-down process of a wet cell/lead-acid battery. You'll see companies advertise "larger chambers", etc, in the bottom, and thats why, more area for material to collect in before it causes a problem.

This can also happen with some ignition systems and spark plug wires when they get old. They can build up enough resistance in one bad wire that the ignition system just shuts down completely. Personal experience with my 95 Chevy S10 4x4!

Dan

 

Funny cars, aren't they?

Won't start if down a few Volts, don't drive well if low a few Octane points.

I can't wait for those engineers to make a MINI Hybrid that's 1/2 solar, 1/2 natural gas!
... and has an "amphibious floats" option (or "Submarine Mode" like Austin Powers').

 

mine dead just 2 hours ago. Now it is the dealer. I hope it's battery..not because of the mods i have.

 

i checked / optima tech support and they claim that a
D35 size yellow or red top will fit in a mini cooper.
i'm not sure if the "S" uses the same size.

 

Hey... Might still be lighting aka the mighty Thor that took your battery out.

Glad you got yer Mini back.

K

 

If your problem sounds like what I described in my first post in this thread, that's likely all it is. Good luck, and keep us posted!

-Paul!

 

Same problem...exactly as you describe it.

I'm hoping that's all it is.

Although, I will say that I'm going to feel a bit foolish if I have my car carried 20+ miles on a flatbed and the extent of the problem is the battery.

 

Try 73 miles to the nearest dealer!! But it could very well be something bigger than a simple battery. The best thing to do is let the dealer futz around with it and figure it out. And if like mine, its just a battery, great!! But if not, at least it's in the right place to get it taken care of, whatever the problem!

Good luck,

-Paul!

 

Replaced my battery yesterday. Went to the local gas station, they tried an Interstate, no luck. Drove up to MINI of Towson, picked up a new battery. Ten minutes after I got home I was back on the road. The first battery lasted just about 3.5 years and 96K miles. From all indications, it lived a good life....

 

Hi Mine went down this morning but it's 250 miles to the dealer. should I try a new battery or just let them tow it ?

 

I had the problem diagnosted at the local gas station. They are very good and prices for work are reasonable. The Interstate did not have fit, first it was not tall enough and then the top seal was the wrong, so the cross brace would not fit. Very little price difference between the cost of the Interstate and the BMW/MINI battery. Only down side was I had an 80 mile roundtrip to get it.

 

Thanks so much for the quick response I have a BMW dealer about 60 miles away wonder if they might have one that fits

 

Good luck

 

And the answer is.....

The battery!

Battery had a dead cell and couldn't muster enough amperage to turn the starter even with the help of jumper cables. Dealer popped a new battery in and I was off in less than an hour.

 

Yeah!!! thanks Paddy and everyone else, it was just a battery, I didn't go to the dealer though it's too far away. Local auto parts store and in 15 minutes running again

Thanks again
Sandie

 

Glad to hear from both of you that it was just a battery!! It's funny how the batteries in our MINIs just seem to give up the ghost with nary a warning!

-Paul!

 

THat's great news. What brand of battery??? Also, what does the MMC # mean???

 

1/2 hour for the battery replacement??

that left a lot of time for them to perform a draw test...