I'm hoping someone can help me here, because I really don't want to have to haul this car 2 hours to the dealer, even though it is still covered under warranty. When calling the dealer, they said they've never seen this problem before, but I find that hard to believe that someone out there hasn't seen it before.

Car is an 04 Base cooper.

About 3 months ago, the car started having a no start issue at random times. Engine would turn but no fire. Sometimes in the morning, sometimes just after shut-off. We found that after multiple times of trying to start it it would start. Finally after a few weeks of this I noticed a difference between the times the car wouldn't start and would start.

When you insert the key and turn to run, normally all of your instrument lights (seat belt, brake, engine light, etc.) are supposed to come on. You will also hear all the relays engage, and the fuel pump turn on for about 5 seconds as it primes the system. On the times the car wouldn't start, only the seat belt light would come on - everything else stays off, and no relays engage - no fuel pump - nothing. So became the ritual over the next two months of inserting the key, looking for all the lights to come on in order to start it. If only the seat belt light came on, you had to turn the key back to off and try again, or remove the key and try again. The moment all the lights came on, the car started fine.

The situation got worse and worse over the course of a few months, to where now, the you literally need to sit in the car and turn the key 50,000 times to get all the lights to come on.

I removed the battery and load tested it - it's fine.
I removed the engine relay in the relay panel and swapped it with the
radiator fan relay (they all have the same PN) and nothing changed.
No fuses are damaged.
All wiring harnesses have been checked and double checked underhood.

I am "assuming" there's an ignition switch problem to where the run and start position of the switch are not engaging the circuits (relays) for fuel and ignition. I really can't see it being anything else, but no searching is revealing this problem with anyone else. Any ideas?

 

Why would you not want to use your warranty for this???? It is repeatable and....well, frankly sounds like the kind of stuff you see in Lucas electric systems on the classics....

Hopefully your dealer has a loaner policy but I'd want this one fixed by them......no question.

 

and your guess of a ingintion switch issue is a good place to start....

BUT, you've lived with the hassle for a while, paying with time every time it happens. If it's happening a lot now, off to the dealer! So, put up with the hassle, find a local service place and pay out of pocket, deal with the dealer, or get a manual and fix it yourself.

Sad but true, it's only four ways I see it go....

Matt

 

Corrision in the connector that plugs into the driver side fuse box?

Yes .... I'd use the warranty also. I'd use the emergency number and let MINI tow it to the dealer for repairs.

 

Thanks, just didn't know if there was a simple, common fix. I'm going to try to get the dealer to tow it out of here, as now, it won't start at all.

 

I just had this same issue my self ended up taking it to the dealer and they just reflashed the ecu and bam all was good again...
they said sometimes it just needs to be done to reset some stuff.
also check your clutch switch mine stopped working at the same time and the car would start without the clutch petal pressed in.

 

"fusable link box right next to the battery. The main power terminal on this box was loose to the point of causing intermittent disconnection, which caused the car to die when it no longer had electrical power."

From another post. Might be worth looking at!

 

Thanks guys. Called roadside today and had the car hauled off to the dealer.

 

Hey lookie there.....

Dealer called me today. Ignition Switch was bad.

They suspected that water was leaking down the A pillar and into the harness under the driver kick panel that apparently can short out too, but it wasn't totally the problem.

They did fix the sunroof drains, replaced the entire carpet (!), and noticed that the drivers lock wasn't working right with the key FOB and changed that too.

I'll have to say I'm very pleased. Well, moreso when the car gets back here.

 

Well .... I was partly correct. Glad to hear you've got the MINI sorted out.