Hey fellow NAMers

I first posted a problem with my Mini this morning thinking the battery was bad. We'll just got back from the gym, and man has it gotten worse. I'll explain.

I'm backing out of the parking space, turn the wheel then everything goes dead. A/C, all guages, the battery and ABS light come on. Power steering is non-existant. Then, after a moment, everything comes on. This wasn't that big of a deal, it has been happening over the past few days.

So I'm trying to beat a yellow light, coming down a hill. I put the clutch in and let it coast through. BUT, as soon as the engine gets to idle speed, I lose all power, the power steering goes out, and I'm am inches from a guard rail when I am finally able to muscle it on course...

I'm in the neighborhood trying to replicate it. No problem. It seems that when at idle engine speed and turning I lose all power, but keep in mind the engine stays on. So I try turning off the A/C. Still powers down. Whats even more puzzling to me is that while stopped I can turn the wheel full left or right, lose power, then it's restored. Even though the steering is still full left or right....

Obviously I'm going to make the 3 hr. trek to Mini Nashville, but can anyone figure this out or had the same problem?

Thanks in advance!

 

Wowza - not good! Yes - a trip to the Dealer is definitely in order. In fact, I would call and have it towed by roadside assistance. Not sure I would want to chance driving it.....keep us posted...

Donna

 

It's a long shot but what the heck!
I had something strange happen with my mini a little while back.
For some reason every now and then my R53 would hold at around 2/3k and then almost jump forward with power.
I know already your thinking that this sounds totally different.

But, I ended up noticing that the DSC wires were out of there harness and had rubbed the coating down to the cables.
On turns the cables would touch metal and throw the system off.

So this weekend take a close look at all wires under the bonnet area.
These wires some how managed to rub against the engine belts in my case.
Kind of strange.

Strange part was that I found out what was wrong, when Mini of Manhattan was saying everything is working fine, "This is how the DSC works!"

Check it out, Sounds like there is something that is rubbing and causing a short.

Best of luck!

 

Second that-not safe to drive it to the dealer,what if the steering/power goes on the interstate-yikes!

Sounds like an elctrical problem-power steering has an electrical motor right?

 

I think I saw someone else with a similar issue and it was the harness wiggling loose.

 

get that thing to the dealership(towed) Good luck

 

Yeah definitely get it checked, but I wonder if any of you remember the days of non power steering??? I used to drive a 1980 something BMW 320is which was completely manual in all regards. No power steering. If you lose power steering you can still handle the car, it'll just be harder when going slowly. If you're already moving, there isn't much difference in steering input.

Good luck with getting it fixed.

 

Haha I was expecting a "Check that the battery nuts are on tight" post... oh man I feel dumb but that's what it was... I was disconnecting trying to reset the key and guess it wasn't on there tight enough. Sure enough everything is back to normal!

 

That's funny, I was going to suggest that----but was thinking to myself--who in their right mind would be messing with their battery and then posting about an electrical problem?? Good you found the problem was so simple!