I replaced the factory battery in my 2011 mini cooper S hardtop and it started and ran for a while then the engine warning light comes on and says it may be running at reduced power.

the battery I put in was a NAPA BAT7547 with the vent, as I found some mini users used from an online search...

car starts and runs and the electronics run, but it does run at reduced power. and even after shutting everything off, on restart the engine check comes on again.

do I need to go to the dealer to reset the computer since i put in a new battery or something or did I put in the wrong battery?

 

need the code it's throwing or can't help. And no the battery won't cause that .

 

I changed my original battery out last month and went with a BMW battery I got from the MINI dealer in Reno. I haven't had any issues, but they did say I might have some issues if the CCA are a lot different from my original battery. My original was 480CCA and I think the Napa unit is 650CCA. You might have to go to the dealer and have them register the new battery.

 

that having to register is total BS , not needed and won't ever cause a limp mode or check engine.

I replaced the wifes factory 480CCA with a autozone 680CCA and no problems what soever.

I would try and reset the ecu, remove battery for 10 mins and try again. If not you may have another issue, bad alternator or ?? You need to get the codes read and go from there.

 

thank you for the replies. i do not have a code reader. i will disconnect the battery for awhile and reconnect and see what happens. it certainly may be a separate issue whatsoever.

in other searches i have read about that smart battery sensor or whatever.

will give this a try later today/tomo.

thank you so far!

 

autozone etc can read codes , atleast the major codes.

 

hi guys, thanks for all the helps and just for closure --

so i brought the mini to the autozone to get the codes read.

of course when the lady came out with the scanner, the "reduced engine power" warning no longer came on, but the check engine/icon remained lighted.

she said she pulled 6 codes, but it was really 4 since 2 were repeats. she got: P13AE, P13B8, P144B, P0456
she could only look up one which she told me was a gas cap error. the rest she said only the dealer would know.

so before i drove off i opened up the gas cap and replaced and retightened.

well, driving away, and a week later now... the reduced engine power warning never came back and the check engine/icon isn't lighted anymore.

hopefully that's the end of those issues (unless attaching the scanner to the mini erases and resets all the codes)


(looking back now..i had not driven the mini in at least 3 months... the battery died... i replaced it... it had maybe 2 gallons of fuel sitting for a while.... so maybe this was the cause of everything...i replaced the battery..filled with premium...and ran her).

i guess one take away message is the good thing is you don't need to go to the dealer to replace and program the battery...and the NAPA battery works just fine... at least my experience so far..

thanks again

 

If your car has navigation then it needs to be coded to the car by your dealer. If it doesn't then no coding is required.

 

yes the car has nav -- what needs to be coded? the nav system or the battery? nav seems to be working ok

 

Since your car has nav then you would have the battery detector and the battery would need to be coded to the car with the specifications of the battery. If it's not coded then the alternator will not charge the battery correctly shortening the life of the battery

 

+ 1. The process is called "registering" the battery. It's not usually a full programming session but just an "encoding". A dealer should charge you no more than 1/2 hr If they say . Oh no we have to program your entire car. They are 100% lying.

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