Oliver's an '04 Justa Cooper, and his battery died today. Turns out it was an OE battery delivered in January '07. Just about 7 years old, so I figured it didn't owe me anything. Since I need the car for work tomorrow, I didn't have the luxury of shopping around and had to take what they had at my local Advance Auto- an Autocraft Gold. It's a group 47 (whatever that means) and all the amperage numbers are bigger than what was in there before.

Replacing it was easy enough, and the car cranked up and ran fine. But now my outside temperature is stuck on 6 degrees F. I figured this was my car's way of telling me something. I've been searching around on here, and it looks like I need to "register" the battery with the computer somehow, but I can't find any instructions on exactly how to do that.

Can anybody point me in the right direction? Thank you!

 

You do not need to register a battery on your 04 Justa. No idea why your outside temp is screwed up.

 

Thanks. I'm gathering that the more I read around the interwebs.

Is there some way to just reset the whole computer? Any benefit to doing so?

 

here you go.

1. With the key in the ignition, but in the off position, press and hold down the odometer reset button with one hand, while holding the button down, switch the key in the ignition to position 1 (first click) with the other hand.
2. The screen will have a number and the word “tESt”.
3. Scroll through the numbers by pressing the odometer rest button, through to 19 and wait a moment. (Note: the number order is: 1,2,10,19)
4. The message will say 19 "L i-off", flash to "L i-on", and back to "L i-off" again. When "log i-off" appears, press the odometer rest button again. You are now in the system.
5. Scroll through to 21. tESt and wait a moment. 21.0 rESEt will come up. Press the button once.
6. Your gauges will now make some sounds and movements. Once the lights come back on start your car. You have now reset your ECU and your MINI is now ready to relearn the new mods and your driving style.

 

Yes R50 R52 R53 MINIs do NOT need the battery programmed. Just install and go.

 

I had this happen with my '04 MCS when I replaced the battery.
I thought I must have a problem with the temp sensor from changing the battery, or just dumb luck it failed.
However, it corrected itself a few days later and has be accurate ever on.
SOOOO, just leave it for a while and see if it self corrects.
YMMV

 

Thanks everybody. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.

The temperature fixed itself. Had to go across Florida and back yesterday- 300 miles of trouble-free motoring.

 

The temperature sensors in the first generation cars do that. It takes them about a day to come back to the actual outside temperature when they are disconnected from the battery. Don't know why, but it's normal.

Val