I have an 05 MCS that recently went in the shop to have a clutch and control arm bushings replaced. Now, 4 days later they are telling me the car won't turn over AT ALL. The car has 141k miles, and the majority of those from 70k onward are pretty much all highway miles. The car was running fine and never hesitated to turn over. I know it was low on oil and I was planning for them to do an oil change while in the shop. The guys are telling me it isn't uncommon for this engine (R53) to just die. I think I'm getting taken for a ride. Your thoughts?

 

Are the bettery terminals properly connected?
Sounds pretty dumb but one morning when i went out to drive off to work my car wouldn't turn over at all...... I was freaking a bit but it turned out my battery terminals were not making proper contact.
Make sure of that 1st

 

I just recently had the same problem and it turned out to be the starter died right after I changed the clutch. The shop could have manhandled the starter too much on replacement and it may have been damaged just like mine. That isn't too common of a problem, but it's a damn sight cheaper than a new motor

 

I think you're getting taken for a ride as well. An engine doesn't just die and not turn over. If the starter isn't even trying to turn the motor over, it's something electrical - battery, starter or something else. Check out this thread for an obscure issue with the same symptom: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-bulletin.html I know it says it's for an '07, but someone with an '03 further down in the thread said the fix worked for them as well.

Regardless, if it was running fine before, they've done something wrong.

 

wow thats alot of miles! I plan on keeping my mini for the long haul too. Just wondering... you still on your original supercharger? If so thats amazing.


edit: and the shop sounds like they are BSing. They probably did F up your starter and thats why it wouldnt turn over.

 

Sounds odd....
Go in running for a clutch...
And they try to sell you a motor...
Motors generly fail when running..not when sitting on a lift.
If you drove it to the shop VERY LOW on oil...i guess it is possible it siezed when it was turned off...but i would expect the low oil preasure light to be on/flickering on the drive to the shop, and other noises, even smoke to be comming from it as you pulled in.
I suspect they disconnected something, and swapped the clutch....and cant start it. Sounds like they messed up. Before swapping a motor, it is not hard to do a compression check, check the valves, etc...heck, maybe a push start to see if it only a bad starter...maybe they have a bad ground wire....

 

Yes, get your car out of there!

Most likely Starter or Simply Battery. (was it ever replaced) my battery "just went" at about the 160,000 mile mark last Aug. would still run the electricals but wouldn't even click to start. (I believe it's more Time than Miles, and your just about right with an '05)

Or yes, something got damaged or disconected during the clutch swap, take it somewhere elwe & well document the findings, most likely the shop screwed up.

I have 187,000 "HARD" miles on my '05, most 1st gen engines (esp. '04 to '06) should get you at least 200,000 if well maintained.

 

You need to determine whether it is an electrical problem (cable to starter not connected, for example) or mechanical (motor won't physically turn over.) With car on the ground, spark plugs removed, and car in gear, try to rock it back and forth. This will tell you whether the motor is seized or not.

 

Have them check the clutch lockout switch. The car will not turn over if this has become unplugged or is defective. Turn the key, car will just "click" instead of turning over. It is located above the clutch pedal.

 

Yea they're full of *****