About a week ago on my'04 MCS the Nav System Screen no longer displayed the Winged MINI Emblem when the car door was opened. Neither did it afterwards display the legal disclaimer one needed to "ACCEPT" to continue into the system.

Now, about a minute after the motor has started, the screen finally lights up, now displaying the map of my current location. After this the system functions normally.

Does anyone know whether this is an early indication of a picture tube beginning to fail? The car is now almost 3-1/2 years old with 42,000 miles on it.

Has anyone else run into this problem already? If so, did you get it resolved? Through the dealer under warranty?

I'd appreciate all helpful responses.

Thank you !

 

Hi, I just came across this thread and noticed it's been a few months. Wondering if you've resolved this problem yet? I haven't had this problem, but I'd be interested in knowing if this is an early warning sign.

 

Previous reports indicated that this may be a early warning of a failing battery.

 

Pending on what version navi you have [dvd / cd] I've heard that the screen in the center cluster is a problem for the dvd version. The cd version of navi seems like it always has to be updated with the 'latest and greatest' software to keep from glitching.... Just a thought

 

I had a similar problem with my CD-based unit last winter. Disconnecting the battery for a while resolved the problem. I guess it needed some kinda of reboot...

 

I will agree and from what i've read on here, that it seems to be warning signs of needing a new battery. Get a new battery and your problems should be solved.

 

I have had similar problems but my CD nav kept ejecting and recently my passenger side xenon headlamp went out, then worked, then out again. I hooked up a 2amp trickle charger last night and headlamp and NAV worked fine, but then midway on my commute to work, NAV and Computer went totally blank. Then came back on after about 10 minutes to the MINI emblem and started working fine.
Do you suggest "rebooting" the NAV?
What's the deal with my headlights?
Thanks!
Ryan
MCS 2003, 34K miles

 

Still on your original battery?

 

Yes.

 

Mine acted weird like this until I finally caved in and bought a new battery. I went with the Optima red top, but many people like to stick with the factory battery. If you get more than 4 years from a battery you're doing well - beyond that is just pushing your luck...

 

Interesting. Thanks for your thoughts. I may just do that... after the holidays. Do you think this is what is causing my headlamp to act up? Last night it didn't work but after flicking the high beams and then turning them on, they worked. This morning that "trick" did not work. I drove in to work with one headlight... (hey isn't that a song?)

 

With older cars, if your car started, the battery was considered fine. Given all the sensitive electronics in the MINI, it's a little more complicated. Dying battery seems to equal weird stuff (even if it still starts the car OK)...

Try disconnecting the battery for 15 minutes or so - then put it back on your charger for a few hours - I'm betting everything goes back to normal, but only for a while.

 

I have had some issues with my Nav over the last month or so ('03 MCS). I'm on the original battery as well. The first sign (maybe more than a month ago) was that the CD kept ejecting and reinserting at random. I couldn't use the NAV while this was happening (and only seemed to happen at times that I needed NAV!) Anyhow that was the first problem that sill happens on occasion. Now the Monitor will cut-off at random, and then come on again, like you turned it off, and then turned it back on. I suppose I could check the battery, but I haven't had any starting issues as of yet.
Anyone else experience the random CD ejecting and monitor powering off/on?

 

Original battery in an '03 - time for a new one.
The starter just needs a strong burst of energy - it doesn't need 'clean' power. Computers, on the other hand, do. And they do weird things when they get 'dirty' power.

 

Interesting. . .

Just came across this thread. My '04 nav has been w/o the Mini logo, legal disclaimer, and blank screen for a few months. The blank screen is staying on longer and longer. I guess it is time for a new battery. Just had my service done (~22k miles) at the dealer and not a word. I don't even know if they check the battery.

Someone suggested Optoma Redtop. . any others. I would rather not pay the OEM price.

 

Changed the battery, and mini logo and legal disclaimer, all came back. No more blank screen.

~Allan

 

I notice mine is taking longer to pop up these days. Think of it as a DEW for the health of the battery.

 

Bought a new battery at Sears, (the hour drive to my nearest dealer is just too far for a battery). Nav worked for a few days but then started having issues again.

Is this just a cheap battery and I need to go with an Optima or Factory battery?

 

~60K miles, '03 original battery. Factory Nav screen takes some time to come up; started happening just after battery was disconnected when I replaced the sc belt. Perhaps time for battery? weird, I also have dash lights that intermittently go out till i hit a bump( i dont like that symptom)

 

I have an '07 and my NAV has just been freezing up on me a lot. The screen locks up a few minutes after I start the car, and then I get a 'please insert NAV DVD' message even though the DVD is already in there. The DVD reads fine on my PC so I think it is the computer and not the DVD, but dealer says it's the DVD. We will see when the replacement comes in I guess, if it fixes the problem.

 

Heed all the warnings, your battery is about to DIE! My Nav screed did that for about 2 months, even after reading in the forums that it is an "early warning" of battery fate...new Optima Red Top is sweet

 

I have an '03 with factory CD Navi, just purchased the vehicle in October 2008 and working fine until about a month after purchase it started ejecting the CD and not recognizing it, along with the random dark screen bit. I pulled out the unit (from under the passenger seat, prior to reading the thread on disconnecting the seat airbags so now I have the 'airbag' light on all the time, fixed via black electrical tape and velcro cover job) and brought it in to replace the laser, re-installed and worked for a few hours then randomly cut out again, but only when I needed to use it of course. Brought the unit back to service and they said it is fine, has to be something else. I had the unit serviced with an authorized ALPINE electronics technician, after the MINI dealer told me they wanted to charge an arm and leg to diagnose problem or I could purchase all new Navi CD's from them for $300. I assume the battery is original, I will look into getting a new one soon and update this thread on outcome of new battery. Thanks for info.

 

GMan61 - I've had my 03 since new. The only time I've had any problems with the unit reading the CD was when the CD was bad. The original CD the dealer gave me had a bad sector and it would reboot the whole unit whenever I drove near Edison NJ. Replacement CDs fixed that issue. But on really cold days I still have trouble with the screen staying dark - I just ignore it and it's usually fine once the weather warms up...