Hello everyone. Last week my check engine light came on. Everything seemed to be okay. I turned a blind eye to it for the moment as I have my last semester's worth of finals to worry about. Between finals and work, I don't have time to play around at a Mini dealership, that's 50 miles away, for a bogus censor or something.

Anyway, fast forward to two days ago. I'm parked at a stop light and all of a sudden my car just starts blowing freezing cold air at me. I pushed a few buttons (fan speed, temp, auto, etc..) and it went away. Well, the problem persists. I only get heat when on the throttle and when the engine is revving higher than 2000 rpm.

I called my mini dealership and the first day they can get me in is Dec 23, 11 days from now. I get that it's first come first serve, but it's winter (single digits with wind chill this morning) in Connecticut. I have a 40 mile commute each day, and spend at least 20-30 minutes in stop-and-go traffic. For those 20-30 minutes I am sitting in a refrigerator. I think it's crap that I can't get in any earlier than that AND they don't have a loaner car for me... but that's a different rant.

I've been searching the boards (searching is difficult here because of all the sub forums) and have seen several complaints about having no heat. I haven't seen any that really match what I am experiencing. I think my coolant may be low, but I'm not mechanic, and I don't see any evidence of a leak in the snow on my driveway.



It looks low to me, and if there's a leak I am obviously going to schedule an appointment, but at least I'll have heat until then. The manual advised that certain coolants are not compatible in a Mini. What should I use?

Thanks for your time.

 

You might have a leak at the thermostat housing.

What year is your R56 Cooper ( Non S) ? 11537534521 for the thermostat housing up to 2/2013 ( which is in the linked post ) , then need the little adapter cable ( 12517646145 ) for the Cooper (non S) thermostat housing. On the 2/2013+ they went to 11537647751 part, which does not the additional adapter lead.


You can check out this thread on the no heat. Looks like you have a leak and here are some common locations. Here is the link w/ info and coolant to use, since you have the MINI Coolant, Blueish color.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...8-no-heat.html

You don't want to overheat and ruin your engine.

Thanks

 

Thanks for the reply. Not sure how I missed that thread. I appreciate the help.

 

Definately a coolant leak. Do you hear any water rushing around after tapping the gas from idle? Air in the coolant creates an audible tirbulace when rushing thorough the heater core near the firewall/dash.

 

Not that I noticed. I may have heard it and just not registered the noise. I just bought a gallon of coolant from BMW, same stuff from what I gather (sorry ECS, I don't have time to to wait on shipping, especially with the holiday mail rush). I just topped her off and the engine immediately changed its tone. It's warming up in the driveway now. I'm going to go out in a few minutes, after I send my cars salesman an email, and see if it's toasty or not.

 

It is British Car throw back day! An authentic Vintage British car experience.... All my MG's and Triumphs only had heat when it was hot outside!

I am betting on what those guys said.... to make heat you need "Hot Water" and you probably do not have enough in the system. You need to get that fixed ASAP.

 

A couple of months ago I spotted a water puddle on the ground making a quick stop at my house and it turned out to be coolant. I traced it to the thermostat housing, it was squirting out of the base of the thermostat housing. It tends to leak on top of the tranny housing dripping down backwards to the bottom of the tranny. My reservoir was almost drained completely. Glad I caught it before my Check Engine light came on!

 

This really sounds like a Thermostat, we have been seeing a ton of them fail at a rate of at least one a week in the shop.

 

Being from ct and student I offer my help to you, but it sounds like your pretty far away from where I am located.

 

Way why doesn't anyone manufacturer an aluminum version of the thermostat housing? There's money to be made here no doubt! Even though I replaced mine a few months ago I would jump at the opportunity to install an aluminum version and I'm sure many more would as well! I could see an aluminum version lasting much longer.

 

+1

 

How many times have you replaced your thermostat housing? At least twice right?

 

From the maintenance history I got with the car, only once. . . . so far.

 

I know I would buy one..along with a few friends of mine... I cant recall ever messing around with thermostats and housings as much as I have on the MINIs..

 

Just got a call from the Mini dealership. Needs a new water pump at 25.5k miles. Fantastic!