When I turn on my car, the power steering will not come on. I have to restart, and then it will kick on.

 

It can be the power steering pump electrical motor. You can get it rebuilt for $200 at http://www.bba-reman.com/us/index.aspx.

 

My car just started doing this, too. I noticed that when I start out in the morning everything seems normal, but after about 45 minutes of driving it suddenly feels like I've got to manhandle the steering wheel. My drive to work is mostly in a straight line for about 45 miles while I'm on the expressway, so it's probably not that noticable then anyway. If it is just the electrical PS motor why is it intermittent? I'd think it would either work or not but not return to normal.

 

Def sounds like you need a P/S pump. I don't recommend the rebuilt units, I've had to replace them.

 

Hey guys, have any of you ever removed the pump? and if so, how did you get it out?

 

I'm replacing my pump in 02 cooper, but I could use some help with the removal. It looks so simple but I cant get to the bolts that are holding it in. Is there a special tool I need. Any feed back would be awesome.

 

The wireing harness near where the pump plugs in can chafe too...worth a look.

 

Very common the 06 S is in the shop right now. Hopefully getting fixed.

 

Try these references:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/3686894-post694.html

http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-gen...-pump-diy.html

Good luck!

 

I would also suggest you look at getting the OEM power steering fan duct kit....it will provide better airflow to your new ps pump, keeping it cooler and also protect/extend the life of you power steering fan. The duct is 80$ from moss.... I have one on my s, took 10 min to install.

 

Does it hurt anything to drive without the P/S pump working? It may be a week before I have time to get this fixed.

Thanks!

 

I went to Mini of The Woodlands in Texas today. It turns out my P/S pump has an electrical fault and the fan is fine. No leaks - the fluid level was actually slightly above the max level.

Quote was $908.32 ($771.29 for the pump and $165 for labor).

Since it takes about an hour of driving to lose the P/S right now I'm going to hold off and see what happens. It's a disappointment that an '05 MCS with just shy of 80K miles needs a power steering pump. I've had other cars with nearly double the miles that never had this kind of problem. I've been driving for 34 years and never had one of these go bad.

 

This is a well known and well publicized weakness in the 1st Gen MINIs. You should be glad you got 80K out of your pump -- many people experience a failure with less miles than that.

I'm actually thinking about a proactive replacement at 75K. I've heard of others doing this and being amazed at the reclamation of performance they didn't realized they'd lost.

 

I don't like advising customers to run their MINI without the P/S pump working. Over the years we've seen several Engine bay fires and I worry that these fires are sometimes caused by the pump shorting out completely. Not trying to scare anyone, but I don't want to see a MINI die a firey death.

 

It would also suck to have an accident and have the cause be "defective equipment".

 

The newer style pumps like on the MINI , some BMWs and an ever increasing number of cars are an DC electric motor with brushes that wear out much like an generator/alternator....so now they have become a bit of a wear item, rather than a lifetime item like earlier pumps in exchange for the 1 to 2 % fuel savings these pumps are said to save when compared to the old beltdriven pumps that run all the time.