This Morning I woke up, got in my car, turned the key, and nothing.... the light came on the radio work, the elctric door unock worked.. but the car did nothing... not even tried to turn over.. Tried jumping it but to no avail... I don't knwo what wrong. I can't beleive the alternator woudl be out on new car.. I don't race, I don't do much actually.. and it has been driven that much lately , just to and from work... holey cheez.. Any ideas.. I'm goign to call MINI roadside assistance, probably, but has any body heard of this.. and yes I had fuel in the car.

 

Get in, leave the car door open and put the key in the ignition.

Do you get a "Bing-Bing-Bing"?

If NOT, the car is not recognizing the ID chip in your key.


Try another key.

If it bings, it's seeing the chip in the key, but I'm not sure if it bings when the codes don't match.

If the car doesn't recognise the ID chip, it will not crank the engine at all.

 

Sorry to hear about your troubles.


A couple of things come to mind. If your engine dosen't turn over is could be the starter or the neutral swicth are bad.

Either way that would be a dealer repair item.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Cheers,
Jack

 

I had the same symptoms, and the cause turned out to be the signal wire to the starter solenoid had come loose. Likely it was not tightened fully when I had my Quaife installed, and shouldn't be an issue on an unopened MINI... but it has the identical symptoms to what you describe. Turn the key, everything comes on, everything is good, but nothing happens when the key is advanced to the start position, no lights dimming, no voltage drain, nada.

 

Does it try to turn over for a split second, then nothing? That's the security working.
I had the anti-theft kick in and do this to me before. I don't even recall what I did. Something like locking the car with me in it, taking out the key or something odd.

The manual should tell you what to do. I think that you need to re-unlock it with your key, but I'm not sure.

 

no turn over that I can tell... I don't here whire normally asociated with the turning over withotu starting, that I've heard on other cars.. now maybe this security thing will work. but I'll not knwo until I get home tonight. I'll aslo check the wires under the hood.. any idea of the exact way of reseting the security your were talkin about? Becasue I tried my fincee's key but that didn't work.

 

Here's a thought, if it's a Cooper with an automatic ?, is so, is the shifter in gear.

 

yeah it is a cooper automatic... hmmm I didn't think I left it in gear but damn mayeb I did... I'll ahve look when I get home

 

This occurred to me one time - I think I bumped the lock button on the key when I inserting it into the ignition. I think I simply closed the door and hit the lock/unlock and everything was fine - no problems since.

 

It's impossible to leave the CVT "in gear". If you don't put it in park, you can't pull your key out of the ignition

 

Well maybe your MINI is suffering from depression. Try flooring it a couple of times and take it for a drive at least once a day. MINIs like to see mountains and beaches and they LOVE twisties.

 

I promise to do that once it promises to start Besides I'm very good to the mini but everybody has to work sometimes

 

I don't know how it is on a Cooper Auto as mine is an S, but on my Range Rover and Volvo XC I can take the key out when it's off and in gear. When starting it won't crank over until it's put in neutral or park, the key will turn to the on position and all electrics will work - but not start.

 

If stop and "park" (set the e-brake or whatever) and try to turn off the car, the key won't turn back to the origin-position unless it's in park. You can kill the engine, lights, radio, etc. but it still won't *quite* turn far enough to actually remove the key.

 

Ok guy thank you soooooooooo much, this is why I love MCO.. um I mean NAM! THe problem was the securtiy engine lock out.. all I ahd to do was get in the car.. put the key in the egnition and press the lock button... that when the doors locked and UNLocked real quickly and then the engine started.. Yeah my MINI is flyign high Thank you so much.

-Chris