My 2002 Mini Cooper S has overheated 3 times recently while stopped in traffic. I have tried to reproduce this in my driveway with no luck. It started to overheat again yesterday while stuck in traffic and I was able to bring the temp down to the normal range by turning the heater on. When I got home I tried in vain to reproduce the overheating by idling with the A/C on. Though I could not get it to overheat, I noted that my fan down was not turning. I thought these are always on when the A/C is on. Is this wrong?

Thanks,
Brian

 

Being a 2002 your fuses for the cooling fan is on the same circuit as the powersteering fan.

A few things to check -
-make sure the cooling fan still spins freely (turn by hand w/ car off!)
-the cooling fan should come on when the ac is turned on - if not it still could be the fuse

-jack up the car enough so you can check and see if the powersteering fan is still spinning freely. Its under the car, just behind the engine. (mine jammed about a month ago and caused the same problems you are having). If stuck, try to spin it and get it to loosen up. (mine had a rock in it. Once spinning freely check fuses.

It should be a five amp fuse under the hood - 5th back from the front if I remember correctly - if fuse is blown - replace

Good luck - Mini has a fix for this same circuit problem - but I never did it.

Nik

 

Thanks Nik. It was indeed the 5amp fuse. I had looked at the other fuses that have the fan symbol on it and assumed I was looking at the correct ones. The fan now comes on with the A/C. I am looking forward to a less stressful commute home tonight. I'll take a peak at the ps fan this weekend as the PS is making a whining noise after drivig it for a while. Maybe its not being cooled!

 

Good job - Yes double check the ps fan - otherwise it will pop the fuse again!

Nik

 

Right again - the fuse was blown by the time I got home and inspection of the PS fan the next morning revealed that it was indeed stuck by a rock. I unjammed it and the overheating problem seems to be resolved. You would think that blowing such a vital fuse would trigger the check engine light or something.

Does anyone know if the PS fan is on a thermostat or is designed to run continuously? After I removed the rock and replaced the fuse, I started the car to see if the fan still worked. When I tested it on a cold car it wasn't turning, but I assume it only comes on when needed.

 

I'm not sure when it kicks in - it may only be on the circuit for the high cooling fan. - But that is just a guess. I know its not constantly tho. It would be nice if it had a warning light. One of the main reasons that I didn't have Mini separate the ps fan circuit from the cooling fan circuit - is because you could easily cook your ps because your fan failed, (ie rock stuck in it) and never know. I know I check regularly to make sure the cooling fan is running when the ac is on.

Not sure how I would check it otherwise - regular check of the fuse I suppose!

Nik