So last night while the car was idle the temp light came on, temp gauge was just about pegged at 250*. I've checked my coolant and fuses. The fan doesn't come on.

What else should I be looking at?

 

Sounds like the dreaded low fan speed relay

 

Either a leaking thermostat or most likely a non-functioning Power Steering Fan.

That is assuming your expansion tank is not leaking and you were really low on fluid.

Rich

 

IF the fan NEVER CAME ON, the PS fan is likely stuck....BLOWING THE FUSE, rendering the radiator fan and the PS fan inoperative. This could occur on any unmodified pre 2005 production MINI. An update on 2005 production gen1 Mini's fixed this...many cars were retrofitted.

Also check the fluid levels.

IF the low speed fan was out...the high speed would still work...prevent overheating.

 

The year is wrong....it was changed in 03. Not sure of the month tho. But before 10/03 builds.

 

2006 Mini Cooper S

I've checked all the fuses, none of them are blown. The resevior is full, no apparent leaks. The coolant swirls in the resevoir which usually means the thermostat is working. Power steering pump fan is spinning.

Is there a relay in the engine compartment that controls the fan?

 

Well, you know what the problem is (fan isn't coming on), now you just need to find out the why.

There is a relay, there's also a temp switch. Deos it come on when you turn on your A/C?

You have a bad switch, bad relay or bad fan (or broken wire to one of the above) Now you just have to trace it down and find it.

.....and hope you didn't overheat so bad that you blew the headgasket.

 

There is a relay, there's also a temp switch. Deos it come on when you turn on your A/C? No, it doesn't come on with the A/C.

 

Nope..that was when they changed the relay location....from the fan to the car....
But the wiring change to split the Fuses for the PS fan and the Rad fan was stating with 1-05 production...I know... I have a late 04 Model yr 05...the dealer did it for to to bring it up to the "2005" production standard...and cause they are a good dealer and were very proactive.

 

And again you are wrong. My 10/03 build has the split fuse on it.

 

Some folks may suggest a possible stuck thermostat...maybe chewed up water-pump/SC PTO gears.....any number of things could cause a car to overheat....but not here....you just need to determine WHY the fan is not running.....a failed fan will cause a car with no airflow to overheat QUICKLY!!
That will do it every time if the car is not moving. The fact that the Temp gauge and the light BOTH work tells you the sensor that tells the computer the temp appears to be working.....
So I would check the relay....and than see if you can get the fan to turn on...I'm thinking the fan motor might have failed...it does happen!! Heck....it may of had a low speed fan failed for months...and the motor finely gave out from running on HI too much......

 

Well, I checked the relay. Swapped it around with the other relay in the fuse panal; so unless both are bad I'm guessing its not the problem.

I've heard that there are 2 temp sensors in the system, there is 1 tied to the thermostat housing; but where is the other one?

 

What could be the problem if fan does turn on when A/C is on, but short cycles; turns on for about 10-15 sec. and turns off for about 30-45sec. and then whole cycle start again.

 

If it is loud when it cycles....hi speed only, the resistor on the fan has most likely failed, killing the lowspeed portion....
There are fixes...a new aftermsrket fan for $100 is common, oem for 3x, or a homebrew fix to the mod fan for the adventerous....