Hi, im having trouble with my 2002 mini cooper s not starting, when i turn the key the lights come on dash etc, but when i turn it again to start it , nothing , no click, nothing, so i took it to the mechanics behind where i work and he said it was starter motor, so 1000 dollars later i have a new starter motor, but still the same problem mini wont start, i have checked battery, ground leads, im thinking maybe ignition switch? If anyone has any suggestions they would be muchly appreciated, thanks

 

Could be an ignition switch. When turning the key wiggle/push/pull the key to see if you can affect the dash light behavior possibly even get the engine to start. Try this a number of times.

If a manual equipped car the clutch interlock switch could be bad. You can try vigorously working the clutch pedal some then pushing it all the way down and see if the engine cranks. As with the ignition try this more than once.

With an automatic equipped car the problem could be a bad transmission lever position sensor. The engine controller can't tell if the transmission is in P or N. As with the key and the clutch move the lever from position to position and wiggle it and then put it in P (or N) and see if the engine cranks. Try this several times. Or if you need to depress the brake pedal to start the brake pedal switch could be bad. Like the clutch work the brake pedal vigorously some then try to start the engine.

Another possible explanation is the car's security system is not recognizing the RFID. This can be a bad RFID, or a bad RF system.

With all of the above one might expect a message on the dash: Press clutch to start; Shift transmission to P, or Press the brake to start; or Key not recognized; but maybe not.

 

Hi Rock, thanks Ive tried the doing the clutch thingy and still nothing, it was actually at one point only doing it every now and then, and like you said if i wiggled the key or sometimes took it out and put it in the other way the car would start, but now nothing i can do with the key is helping, ive checked the fuse compartment on passenger side for any moisture and that looks good and dry and fuses are all good. If it was the security system it should come up with a fault on the screen and theres no faults, but i will check any fuses etc for the alarm. It crash starts really easy and once shes going its perfectly normal, just a pain having to park on a hill where ever i go and the moment.

 

Im thinking ignition switch too, is that very hard or expensive to replace? Ive just tried the clutch wiggling again, and mucked around with the key, checked all ignition switch fuses and demobilizer fuses they all look good and unfortunately still nothing. :(

 

If you affected the start behavior with wiggling the key or removing the key then reinserting it that to me -- I'm not a pro auto tech -- I think points a finger at the ignition switch. They wear out. I had to have one replaced in my 2002 Porsche Boxster. The key tumbler was ok. The problem was in the housing at the other end that contained all the electrical contacts for starting the engine and the other electrical systems/circuits.

 

I've had similar issues - intermittent no starts ever since I got my used 2008 R52 a few years ago. I've been meaning to check out the ignition switch and remembered this post:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post4545964
If nothing else, it looks like an easy thing to check for anything weird.

 

Pretty good DIY vid on ignition switch disassembly / cleaning / replacement. Would exercise caution when dealing with BMW built plastic parts; especially snap / lock tabs which get brittle and break and tiny screws which should never be overtightened into it as they'll easily strip out the threads in the plastic. Should turn gently until they bottom out then 1/4 - 1/2 turn max to snug.

 

Maybe just a data point - I took apart the ignition switch on Saturday, cleaned with some electrical cleaner and rubbed between the contacts with the rough sides of a screwdriver, and rubbed again with very little dielectric grease. It didn't look bad and there was nothing totally obvious, but it is hard to see details down in there. Nevertheless, so far (knock on wood), solid starting and my random windshield wiper going on and not being able to turn it off hasn't happened again.