At a stop/PARK, if i turn my steering wheel to the left and right, there is whining sound comes from the hood/engine? kinda loud

is that normal? i know that MINI has hydrolic steering wheel.

thanks,
dominos

 

Perfectly normal...thats just the sound of the electric motor. It says in the MINI handbook that they use a separate motor so as to not drain horsepower from the main engine.

 

Just to clarify... that an electric power steering pump motor that you hear. As littlecS indicates, it's to reduce drag on the engine at parking lot speeds.

 

Yup, yet another MINI personality thing .

 

P.S. I looove the sounds my car makes. From the power steering to the sounds of mh HK system

 

whining is normal... really loud whining and other noises is bad... last week mine started to whine really loud, i figured it was because I was driving with the windows down more frequently. Turns out my steering rack had the leaking fluid issue and i just got it replaced on monday. Good thing I'm still under warranty. If it is really loud, check your fluid level to be safe.

 

It took me a little while to get used that when we first got our Mini. It's just a sound that would be a bad thing on every other car I've owned!