So before my issue wasn't that bad, but now it is scaring me and almost causing accidents. It is a serious safety concern and I really need somebody's opinion who has experience with R56 MINIs.

It is a 2007 MINI Cooper S with a 6 speed MT. The ODO has about 64.5k miles, I've owned and maintained it since 59k- about three months. (I don't drive much.)

Here's the problem: When I turn the wheel more than 15 degrees sometimes to either side, the wheel will lock up completely and "bounce" the opposite way I try to turn it. I have only gotten a warning light maybe three times that indicates a power steering malfunction. This has been a problem for the last two weeks, but it hasn't been bad until this week. Now it will stop working almost every single time I start the car or pull in/out of a parking space.

I have replaced the battery already and no fuses or relays are blown. I'm hoping to god that there is something I can do to maybe fix this issue without replacing the entire ERS.

This issue occurs both when the car is cold and when it is warm. It happens almost every single time the car is under 10 MPH in either reverse or 1st gear. Occasionally it will occur when I am making a U-turn. (Happened today and I almost ran myself off the road because I lost steering.)

I'm scared that I will start to have this issue at highway speeds and not be able to drive in anything other than a straight line. So if anyone has any ideas at all PLEASE let me know.

 

Have you checked the power steering fluid to see if it's low ?

a

P.S.: I had that problem on an old e46 bimmer many years ago, and this was the solution. The root cause, however, was a leaking PS pump, which eventually had to be replaced.

 

I'm going to play the "Dead" and or "Dying Battery" card here.

07 R56 with weird things going on with the electronics.

 

It has an electrical assist rack.

There is no hydraulic system.

To the OP, make sure the battery is in good shape. Do you get a steering warning symbol at all? (Not even sure if Mini has one... But most other cars do..)

 

I haven't checked the PS fluid as there is none.

I did get a battery warning of some kind the other day right before the second time it happened, but it looked like a key fob with a low battery symbol. I was looking for what this warning was, but I took out the battery on the fob and put it back in and the warning never came back.

 

If someone could show me what the warning light for the dead battery in the key fob looks like, that would be awesome too. I've searched for it and have had no luck on Google or the owner's manual.

 

Its a big red $

 

^ Hahah.

 

Try pages 117 or 119 in the manual below:
http://libraryofmotoring.info/pdf/ma...007hardtop.pdf

HTH,
a

 

A bulb of the exterior lighting system has failed... This seems to me like it would be a battery issue as well because the lights have worked fine for me. I'm going to get it load tested and check back in tomorrow.

 

I haven't gotten back on here in a minute, but you couldn't have been more right. My windows started stuttering and I would lose ps almost every time I stopped moving. Had my battery replaced and the car feels more "torquey" and there hasn't been any problems at all. The old battery was the original and only put out ~160CCA.

 

Although, this damn battery cover trim piece won't go back on correctly!

 

Check to make sure the battery trim is correctly in place. Once set in place the little plastic nut & screw on to #8 and #9 on the other side.



# 4 in the center goes over #3 a little in the connections to make sure its all flush.


Windshield Cowl Cover Kit Part # 51132751210KT


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/51132751209/ES2581934/




Thanks

 

Problem continues. I'm at a loss. MINI hasn't replied to my emails and I'm not very confident about driving my own car.

 

That video describes basically my problem pretty well.

 

Anybody have any ideas?