Hello! I'm new to MINI and new to NAM. But I've been waiting oh-so-long to get my MINI (tried to buy a classic mini before leaving europe last year, but just didn't have the confidence to take the leap ) and can't believe I'm having trouble. I just bought a 2004 MCS from a friend and I've had it less than a week. I drove it from St. Louis to Northern Minnesota, through freezing rain in Iowa, into below freezing temps. The day after arriving (parked outside, about 20F) I started her up without any problems, but couldn't budge the gear shifter. We were able to get it into the garage and setting up a small portable heater got things moving in less than 5 minutes. When we finally had a day above freezing, I went to the car wash (touchless, of course!) and made sure to have the undercarriage sprayed. Back into the garage, but I didn't get back in it for a couple of days. The day in between was -23F in the morning and I don't think it got above -10. So this morning I decided I needed to check on starting it and it started right up again, but my gearbox was froze again! I've been reading forums off and on all day and haven't really found much help. One guy on another site said something about letting it idle for 10-20 minutes in cold weather. Not exactly the kind of thing I'm prone to doing. Another said something about moisture getting into cables and causing the problem. Has anyone else experienced this? I don't have any desire to let my car sit running for 20 minutes every time the temps fall below freezing around here, and the nearest MINI dealer is over 100 miles away! (I did let it idle today to free the gear shifter. It took 16 minutes and it was 7 above.) Any help would be greatly appreciated!

vera

 

It is most likely moisture in the shift cables. I had this for one winter. After a hot summer the shifter was fine the following winter. I guess the moisture just has to evaporate out.

 

Thanks nabeshin!
Sadly, our summers in N. Minn aren't generally considered "hot". Not to mention the prospect of dealing with this for the next couple of months throws a huge wrench into the anticipation I had of zipping around in my new baby! My sister has a heated garage and I'm thinking of taking the car over there and parking it for a day or so. Do you think it would do any good or would it be a waste of my time?

vera

 

Also stay away from automatic car washes! They get water where it has no business being.

 

Maine replying here. Happens to me most every morning. I usually just pull it out of first and the move it back and forth between first and second half a dozen times or so and it starts to loosen up. You might try leaving the car in neutral with the handbrake on, then you can start it up and let it warm up for a bit before you start driving. For me less than a quarter mile down the road results in normal gearbox operation.

 

It has more to do with the trans fluid being very thick. My car has starting doing this too. Let it idle for a few minutes and then give it a big push into gear to get started. After a mile or two of driving and shifting it's back to normal.

 

sucks for u guys...

you should move to Florida, you wont have that problem here.

 

It seems our Minis don't enjoy the colder climates.

 

stay away from brushless or any auto car wash for sure! The side spray and wheel spray will get under the car and splash around for sure.

If it's the tranny fluid, try some Red-Line MTL tranny fluid. It may have better cold weather properties than what came in the tranny.

Matt

 

it's not the tranny fluid. I have the same problem on my '03 MCS. I have to "force" it into gear, once I can get it broke loose and move it 5 or 6 times, it works fine, and as the engine warms things up under the car it quickly goes back to normal. There's a TSB on it where they're supposed to replace some part of the housing or something, I've got my Service Writer at my local dealer looking into it for me, they may fix it under warranty.

 

I live in CA, what do I know?

When I lived in Rochester NY, my Fiat would start at any temp above 12 F. Any lower and the starter/battery combo just couldn't turn the nearly frozen grease/oil....

Matt

 

Well, when I got it out of first yesterday I left it in neutral, so I'll try that method for now. I just have issues forcing it into gear. I have a bad habit of breaking things and I would not be happy damaging the MINI right off the bat! Right now I'm wondering "why did I come back to Minnesota?" Back a week and I'm dreaming of palm trees and sandy beaches.

vera

 

Hey, I'm in Rochester (but wishing I was in CA). No problem with a frozen gear box in 2 1/2 years with the mini.

 

I had a similar problem in my 2005 MCS in its first winter. I took it to the dealer and they replaced the shifter cables. I now keep it in the garage and haven't had a problem since.
The heated garage sounds like a good idea. I turn on the dehumidifier in mine if I've been driving in the rain or snow. A fan might help the drying process as well. At least you can rule out the problem.

 

When I say force, I just have to pull hard on the lever (like into second or 4th gear) and once it moves, it's fine.

 

My 03 MC survived through 3 severe Manitoba winters, -40 for days on end, and the cables/linkage, nor tranny fluid were ever an issue. That said I have heard of folks having issues with the grease on the shifter cables freezing. Now you say that you got the car from St.Louis where I now live, and contrary to what the locals here may say, there is no REAL winter here. So it may have never been an issue with the car here. My guess, replace the grease, problem solved. Hope this helps

Mark

 

It might be to your advantage that your gearbox is different from an MCS.

 

HI Vera.l , I have a o4 mcs that did the same thing the first winter after I bought it new. Dealer replaced shifter cable assembly. No problems since.
I was told that from normal heating and cooling of engine,exhaust,etc causes moisture to condence inside cables. New ones are better insulated to prevent this. Just leave it in neutral when you park so it can be warmed up a bit when first started until you can have the cables replaced.
Happy Motoring, Jeff

 

Gearbox is different yes, but cable and linkage are pretty much the same, and I bet that is the problem, not the gearbox. Cheap to re grease the cables and see if it helps.

Mark

 

Thanks Jeff! I'll look into getting the cables replaced. The weathermen are saying our severely cold weather is over for the year. So with any luck I shouldn't have to wait too long on average to let things warm up. I can't wait for summer!
Cheers! Vera

 

Mine locks up at anything much under about 25*, I'm still waiting to hear back from my SA............if they don't do it for me under warranty, I'll look into fixing it myself........

 

I had this issue this afternoon for the first time with my '05 MCS, and I'm about a month out of warranty. Would flushing and replacing the transmission fluid resolve this, or do I need to get all the shift cables replaced?

In my case I parked the car this morning at work, leaving it out of gear. It's about 25°F out right now, when I went to go to lunch I could move the **** right to left but couldn't move it forward or backward into any gear. Figuring something might be frozen I went back inside and left it running for 20 minutes. When I came back out I could shift into gear and go, but now my service engine light is lit.

 

It's NOT the fluid!
It's the cables........at 1 month out of warranty I'd definitely take it in and ask for some freebie help on this....

 

I talked to another mini owner this weekend about that and we concluded that the fluid mini used for the trans is just a little too thick when it gets cold like it has here in MI.

 

I agree.

No problems with mine at these temps.




Mark