Am frustrated by problems I'm having with my 2003 Mini S with only 15K miles and recent service at Mini Hawaii. The car is not starting on the first try and really struggles to turn over on the second go.(Posted on Fuel Injector thread) Mini Hawaii couldn't find anything when my car was in for service a month ago. They suggested that I pay for a diagnosis for fuel injector build up or just go ahead and have it done.(And yes, I know that tires and carbon build up are not covered by warranty.) However this kind of problem could be caused by many other things.

It seems that when you hit a wall and are having problems, if they can't duplicate it or if it doesn't fit within the parameters of the service per your milage, you're stranded. What can you do? I had a problem with a squealing sound a year ago. Took it in. They couldn't duplicate it. Couldn't find anything wrong. As I drove it off the lot, it made THE SOUND. Went back, got Eric (great service rep from the BMW service days). He got a mechanic. It was the clutch. They replaced it. (Yes, a fried clutch at 10K miles). Aside from my current started problems, I also have problems with my headlights staying on, even though I turn them off. And one morning, my tachometer needle was vibrating like it was possessed...before I started the car. I reported both incidents during the service last month. Nothing was found that could cause it.

What's the solution? What are they responsible for? I can live with intermittent problems with lights and tachometer needles, but if it's indicative of a huge electrical problem, what can be done. Likewise, the problem with starting my car. Where is the line drawn and what are our rights?

 

Your warranty covers faults with the car!

Lights that stay on might be because you activated the "follow me home" feature, or might be an electrical problem.

Your poor starting is quite possibly related to the gas you use. Try a different brand - try a different octane! For example GBMINI#3 doesn't start well on 93 in the summer, but is happy with 91.

The tacho needle probably isn't a significant issue - but I haven't seen it.

 

I can sympathize with you on your gremlins in your car. Take it back as it is under warranty. It seems as though your gremlins may be related to the body unit computers on your car.

 

Whatever you do, don't take "No" or "we could't duplicate it" for an answer. Our 2002 Cooper S was in for service 6 frickin times before MINI of Hawaii got off their butts and decided to really fix it.

 

Thanks for all of you for letting me know that I shouldn't accept this situation from the dealer. In the meantime, as I posted on the "Fuel Injector" thread, I solved the starting problems by resetting the ECU. (Thanks again to everyone who posted and especially minihune).

I waited a week to make sure that the reset did the trick. It's been 7 days now and my Mini turns over immediately. Like magic. After two months of listening to the death throes as it struggled to start, simply disconnecting and reconnecting the battery was all that it took to reset the ECU and the get it to start smoothly again.

Yes... if it were dirty injectors it would have run rough all the time ... which wasn't the case in my situation. Am still peeved that the Mini service department tried to get me to pay for a diagnosis and/or a fuel injector cleaning. And I'm FURIOUS that they don't know about the ECU as a possible solution. I will be taking my MINI back in to have them figure out why the lights stay on occasionally and the tachometer needle vibration.

2003 MCS