I stopped at the gas station today, jumped back in my 03' R53 and fired it up to leave.....and noticed I had absolutely zero power steering. Nothing. I was able to muscle the steering wheel with both hands so I could get the car home. The pumps not making any noises...it's completely dead. Are there some fuses and/or relays I should check first before I order a new pump? I know they have a recall on the power steering pumps, but the closest Mini dealer to me is around a 3hr drive. Not worth it, I'd rather just pay to fix it myself.

Any tips or advice for troubleshooting the pump to make sure that's the problem, and it's not just a fuse or something?

Any help would be great! Thanks .

 

Check first if your generator give 14V.Than check fuse FL4 and F39.Check the steering pump connector located on steering pump unit.If all is OK, than pump is dead.If you're a DIY guy can try to repair the steering pump, most of time is about the wear of collector brushes located on electric drive engine pump.
Here pictures of fuse FL4 and F39 locations.

 

Thanks!! What's the trick to getting the fuse box in the engine bay pulled up enough so you can get to the FL4 fuse? I took the two screws out, unhooked the main power wiring going into the back, and unplugged the big connector going into the front of the fuse box....but I'm still only able to pull the box up just a few inches. The big wires going into the bottom side are tight, and keeping me from pulling it out any more.

Any tricks to this? Thanks for the tip on the alternator...I will check the output voltage and see if that's the issue.

 

Well....this is kind of strange. I went through and checked all of the fuses. Checked alternator output (14.3v when the car is running), and got under the car and checked for lose connections on the pump, nothing looked lose but I unplugged everything and plugged it back in. Fired up the car....and now the power steering is working just fine. Maybe taping the pump with a wrench a few times freed it up? Doesn't make me very confident that it's not going to do it again. Could there be a bad spot on the commutator on the pump motor? Kind of like when the window actuators stop working...and you can hit them a few times to get them working again? Very strange.

 

PSP pump may run you close to $1000.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...2416778425kt1/
You may be able to find one for less though, that is a link to the OEM part.

I'd make the drive though for you it sounds like a full day would be needed to get this fixed at the dealer - though parts and labor would be free, it wouldn't actually be "free" so I get it.



I did drive my 2004 Justa for months before getting it replaced under the recall. It can be done, just treat it like a classic car which is to say that you really need the car moving some to make the steering easier. It would be even easier if the MINI's steering wheel was of a large diameter but such is life.

Mine went in and out for a few months before it completely stopped.

I will have to say, I rather liked the feel of the steering without the PSP working, it was a pain in the *** to park the car but other than that I had no issue with it. I probably wouldn't have got it fixed if there wasn't a recall.

 

Is the begin of the end of PSP , i'm 90% sure collector brushes wear is maximum.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/283828797006