So I'm sitting in the driveway, setting radio stations on my new ride, engine running. It's about 75 degrees out, and quite humid.

After about 10 minutes, I just happen to look-up at the temp. gauge, and it's pushed-up ALMOST TO THE "MAX" (OVERHEATED) mark...I blink my eyes in, and in an instant, it HITS THE MAX MARK, AND LIGHTS-IT-UP!!! I immediately turned the heat on high (learned that trick - for better or worse - many moons ago), and back out of the driveway to get it moving...get some air to the motor. Gauge returns to normal operating position (middle) as soon as I start moving.

QUESTION: What the hell could it be? The coolant "looks" good (plenty clean/clear) and full. Come to think of it now though, I'm not certain that I've heard (or seen) the radiator fan run (?).

I've only owned this thing for six days (2003 w/72,500 miles). I suppose I should first determine if the cooling-fan is running, eh?

 

The main fans should come on if you turn on the AC. But you also need to check the Power Steering fan under the front of the car. It should have a grille on it to prevent stuff from getting in. It didn't come with the grille and should have been changed to an updated fan with grill sometime in the warranty period. If it is stuck or there is no grill, you should get it fixed immediately as it will cause an overheat situation as well as the radiator fans can.

Rich

 

Great info - thanks. I'll be sure to check all of that in addition to peeking at the fuse for the fan which was suggested to me in a private message here by another person.

Thanks again, and I'll post back with results...

 

The older models had the PS fan and rad fan on the same circuit, so if you blew the former, you'd overheat in no/slow moving conditions. Not sure when they did the switch to seperate circuits (it was sometime in the '03 model year), but there was a dealer remedy for it (to split the circuits.) Not sure if they'll do it after the warranty period though. Definitely sounds like your fan one way or the other.

 

Thanks man. Mine has an 11/02 build-date, so it looks like I've got some work to do...

Do we have a "favorite" (by any sort of consensus) repair manual here at NAM for these MINI's?

 

Same deal happened to my 2002 Cooper earlier this summer. Neither fan worked with the AC on. I had my favorite local shop replace the power steering pump fan and they also put in the updated circuit.

The temprature gauge isn't really a "gauge".. It only shows bottom, middle or top so you'll never see "partly overheating"

 

Thanks man...sounds like the route I'll have to take too...

 

Bentley manual as far as service manuals go. Thing is about 4 inches thick.

 

The stealership should do this fix regardless of whether or not it is under warranty.

 

Very good - thanks.

 

Beautiful, and agreed - thanks.

Funny thing is, I signed-up at MINI's "OL" (Owners Lounge), and was really surprised at the limited (LACK OF) info there on my vehicle. It appears to only have been into a dealer twice (back in 2003 and/or 2004), for rountine/scheduled maintenance - and no mention whatsoever of RECALL work/items having been addressed.

Could MINI be looking to save a few $ on folks such as myself (subsequent owners) by NOT performing recall work? One of the recalls on mine appears to have been NHTSA mandated (NHTSA03V086000 - 01MAR03 - REAR STRUT MOUNT BOLT)??

 

Most of the TSB's are only done after an owner complains of a problem that is covered. They usually don't do a mass contact letter saying you need to have something done.

Check with a local dealer and have them give you a list of al services done and any outstanding TSB's on your vehicle.

 

Thanks to all - here's what was found:

Power-Steeing fan was bad, which caused a cooling system fuse to blow (or at least that's what I was told). I think it must have been one of the main fuses (one of the closed/sealed, larger plastic block types under the hood/bonnet) because I looked at all of the regular fuses, and none of those were bad/blown.

"Damage" (cost) about $250-$260, part(s) and labor (I think that was the amount charged for it...I had some other things done also, and haven't done a complete break-down on the bill).

So, all in all, I suppose that's not too bad, eh? And wasn't that fan actually recalled on later models? Mines a late 2003 (11/03) build.

 

I hate to resurrect a dead thread, but I am having similar problems. I have an 04 Cooper S (11/03 build date) and I was sitting at the bank drive up this week and I watched the coolant temp go all the way to the top. I shut down the engine and the fan stayed on, cooling it back down to the halfway mark. Any ideas as to what could have caused it? I was sitting for about 5 minutes, not very long. No heat or ac was on, just radio and headlights.

 

I'd first check your coolant level. My guess is that the coolant slowly leaked out and now you're below the factory spec line in the tank. If so, simply add any 50/50 antifreeze mix and you should be fine, at least for the rest of this year.

I don't think its a bad power steering fan or blown fuse because you stated you hear your engine fan come on when the car is off.

Did you ever get your radiator tank or cap replaced? On my 2003 MCS when I was still under warranty and at the dealer getting serviced, I mentioned that I saw leaking fluid stains all over the side of my radiator tank. They said that is a common problem and replaced my tank and cap with an updated design. However, 3 years later, I still see small dried up leak marks on the side, but its not bad.

 

As I mentioned in my last post, in my case - and believe it or not - the power steering fan went-out, which (according to the dealer) caused a cool. sys. fuse to blow (and there are apparently a number of cool sys. fuses). The vehicle also apparently has three (3) fans which are involved in cooling.

Cost me about $250 to fix at the dealer.

Good luck with yours...

 

wasnt p/s fan, just low coolant I just wonder where it went!!
thank you everyone for your help, nam is great for prompt responses

 

Based on what? That comment makes no sense. Warranty is 4yr/50k. Period. If you want something fixed, buy an extended warranty. I work in the car business and have for many years. I NEVER ask anybody to fix anything for me for free. Please, explain the reasoning for your comments....

 

Because there is a TSB out for this problem and the dealer is obligated to do the repair if the problem arises regardless of warranty coverage.

But you would know that being a service writer.....right.

 

This Service Action involves Cooper and Cooper S vehicles which were produced from 11 June 2004 through 26 August 2004. Reference S.I. M32 03 04. If your vehicle falls within this production range, it would be taken care of. To repair it on any other vehicle, it would have to be a Goodwill gesture per MINI USA and the dealer. As noted above, the driver that started the thread has a 2002 production date. This may be the same issue, but coverage is not automatic and guaranteed. Basically, you are almost right. MINI is a great company that stands behind their product. If you approach it with the correct attitude, people are likely to help you. However, Goodwill is not something that can be demanded. If you want any assistance though, the first thing you do must be to register yourself as the owner with MINI USA. Then, go see your local dealer and talk to a service writer about it. Feel free to reference the service bulletin noted above if it helps.

 

I believe you are talking about the wrong TSB. I was reffering to the one about replacing the harness to the PS pump and radiator fan so they weren't on the same circuit. See post #4. This was for the early cars.

 

I believe that Bigshot is referring to SI M32 01 04. This covered vehicles produced from the start of series production through December 2002.

 

Mini Owners' Lounge doesn't display info from the dealer; it's owner input. If you want to see what's done on the car, ask the Service Adviser at your dealer. What I find is sometimes the SA is not forthcoming with the info for 2nd owners. You can call different dealers and talk to different people with access to the system.

 

Sorry for the delayed response, TIS was not working correctly since Friday.
S.I. M 32 01 04:
short version; Car overheats, may lose power steering assist.
Cause: Power steering pump cooling function has the same circuit protection with auxiliary engine cooling fan (fuse 05). Internal corrosion or external blockage of the power steering pump cooling fan may cause the fuse (F05) to blow, causing an inoperable auxiliary engine cooling fan.
Correction: In case of a customer compaint only, the wiring for the power steering cooling fan can be modified to separate it from the auxiliary engine cooling fan circuit protection.
Warranty information: Covered under the terms of the MINI New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

Same symptom, different issue. The S.I. M32 03 04 is a "Service Action", in other words if the vehicle falls under the VIN range it will be repaired under warranty regardless of current warranty coverage.

If your issue is as described in S.I. M32 01 04, there is NOT exceptional coverage for this repair. Not to say you can not get help from the dealer, but repair coverage is not guaranteed.