I have a 02 Cooper S with only 128 miles on it and had to buy a new battery. Original battery was dead. After installing the battery I heard one thumb sound coming from the right rear side. Car would not start, it turns over that's it. Noticed that EML and service light are both lighted up now. No error messages.
Does anybody know what might have happened??
I pressume the S will have to be towed to the dealership for a checkup?
Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Well, for what it's worth, I recently had a dead battery, (03 MC) and when I charged it up it would crank but not start. Turned out the immobilizer (EWS) and the ECU had "gone out of alignment"- who knows how? Anyway, towed it to the dealer, who realigned 'em, and voila, it runs. Mystery.

 

You have an '02 S with only 128 miles ! ! !

How often do you start it up and drive it?

How fresh is the gas?

 

Check your fuses, when I swapped the battery in my 02 I blew a fuse. the one I blew was IN the engine compartment, I can look it up and tell you which, but it's pretty easy to check fuses, I swapped out the fuse and vvrrrooommm

 

Yes this is one of the first Cooper S's to come into the states. I have the black t-shirt with the number to prove it. I actually wanted a S from the beginning but they brought the Cooper in first. You should have seen the issue I had registering the Cooper at the registry. They never heard of the car at that time. Yes it only has 128 miles and basically I wanted to keep it untouched but now I am getting the itch to scratch that idea and have fun driving it.

I actually only added a few gallons here and there and would run the engine for a while or drive it around the neighborhood. So I don't think it is the gas.

I will check the fuses next. If I don't see any blown fuse I will give the dealership a call and have it towed (flatbed) to the dealership.

If anybody else has any idea's please let me know.

 

You say it cranks or turns over.

Is there spark?

Is there fuel?

Guessing the fuel pump is not running.

YD

 

I drive very little compared to most folks. 31,000 miles on my 02 MC. The first five years, I never had a bit of trouble starting the car, despite leaving it for 6-8 weeks twice a year. New battery in 2007 (bought from Mini dealer). Since then, 4 times, the battery's gone dead, this time three days after a 100-mile trip. The dealer tells me I drive too little. Huh? Wassup? How far/long do you have to drive to charge battery fully. I'll cost me $400 to put an outlet in my carport, and the cost of a trickle charger. Do I really need to do this?

 

at your location a solar trickle charger or "battery maintainer" would be much cheaper,they are available many places.

 

From what you say about the battery going dead so often, it sounds like you have a short circuit in the wiring system. The 02 and 03 MINIs have a known defect in the engine wiring harness. There is a service bulletin on it. See this thread. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...goes-dead.html I have not yet had this repair done, as the estimate is $900, but for now the car is drivable.