After a short drive today we were home and my husband starts smelling something smoking. The source was my 2005 MINI Cooper S. Had trouble getting the doors to open because the locks wouldn't work. Thankfully, I had not locked her up so were able to get the side door open and the hood open.

Discovered that the hose at the bottom of the power steering reservior had failed and the reservior was empty. On top of that I have no power to anything. He tested the battery and it shows about 10 volts.

Can't quite figure out where the two are connected but does anyone have any ideas of what might have happened, beyond the obvious of the broken PS line.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me!

 

The PS is powered by a 100 A fuse, so it can probably draw a lot of power while failing.

 

From your description the power steering system ran out of oil because of the failed hose, and it is likely that the electrical pump seized as reason would have it. I am just a shade tree mechanic but better than most pros. Without oil the electric motor will have a hard time overcoming the friction and drained the battery or blew the fuse. I suggest you take it a step at a time by first replacing the failed PS hose and refill the fluid.

Yes. the two are most likely connected.

 

Thats my guess also, leaked all out and ran dry. Check those lines and get them replaced, the pump is likely shot : pump info : https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...g-is-gone.html

Lines:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ing-hoses.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...hose-pics.html

 

Just to be clear, the Power Steering Pump is Electric, which still requires fluid. When the pump ran out of fluid, it put a strain on the electrical system. When you said battery was tested, was that while the car was running? if so, you seem to also have a problem with your alternator.

 

Thanks everyone! We went to a car repair place here in Yuma that has had good reviews working on BMW and MINI's. He reminded us that the power steering system had a recall on it. We came home and, low and behold, after digging through paperwork, I did find the recall info. It had come while we were RVing in Canada and Alaska in 2016 and it got filed away and forgotten about.

My next call will be to a MINI Dealer, probably in San Diego. I know there's 2 in Phoenix but we hate driving in that town. Will see what San Diego says.

Thanks again for the help!