I was pulling into my driveway,and noticed my temp. guage maxed out,warning light onI shut off the car and heard the rad. fan running for the first time,even in the summer at 100F.I popped the bonnet,coolant tank was empty,look under the car and coolant is running out.Not sure how long the light was on. I drive on the highway almost to my door,outside temp. was 15F,and I had stopped on the highway,about 15 minutes before,to shoot some sunset pics and everything was fine then.
I'm more worried about the engine,than whatever let the coolant run out.
I let the car sit for an hour,went out and turned the key to turn on the dash lights and the temp. gauge was just below normal running temp.I started the car,all was normal,no bad sounds.turned it off right away.
MINI roadside is coming to get me and the car in the morning.
Should I use the tow hook to get the car on the flat bed?
I'm not happy right now

 

Bummer Lot! I think it's good you're up in the frozen tundra tho. As long as you weren't pushing it hard for that 15 minutes I would think enough 15 degree air would blow thru to prevent any damage, and you may have reached home just as the warning lights came on. Lets hope so anyway. If it was me I'd put on the tow hook because I don't know enough about the underside of the Mini to know where they can hitch up. Good Luck!

 

lot15 - I had the same thing happen when my coolant tank split while I was driving. I shut it down immediately and the fan was going like crazy. I called roadside service and they came and picked me up.

The tow truck driver asked for my hook so he could pull the car onto the flatbed - so you better have it handy or put it in yourself.

My dealership replaced the tank, filled it with coolant and I was on my way. No problems with the engine.

 

There should be no engine damage considering the outside temp and the short running time. I've got my fingers crossed for Poco!

For sure the tow hook is preferable to using some point on the undercarriage.

 

Yikes, Lotsie - that sucks to hear! You'd think that with how cold the ambient is there wouldn't be any cooling issues. I hope there isn't any big damage. Good luck at the dealer!

Hugs,
Ryan

 

I have an extended warrenty to 95K miles or 5 years.Costs me way less than if the engine blows at 85K miles.
I'm still not happy,and will not be untill this is fixed.
I trusted the car,and the dealer to do things right.
They may think I'm happy to own a test car,for cold weather conditions.And I seemed willing to put up with it.BUT NO MORE
That's how I feel right now. I'm over that now,new tranny because of cold,new door handles cause of cold.Frozen oil breather because of cold,that caused the dipstick to pop and blow oil all over the engine compartment.
And now having coolant run out of the car,after they replaced the water pump because it had a slow leak,and install a coolant heater to keep the block warm,one of which just let go,and may have toasted my engine,makes me very mad,and I hope there is a crowd there when I show up tommorow with the flat bed,and rant and then rant somemore.
They know me,they like that I don't give them a hard time.But this is different,the dealer did this work,and my beef is with them,not the factory.

 

Poor Poco. It'll be okay!

 

It better be fixed tommorow,or the loaner,whatever it is,is going to see some real back roads this weekend

 

If you don't mind me asking, what was the cost?

 

There's a tow hook somewhere in my car? Where would it be?

 

YOU'RE IN 5TH GEAR AND YOU DONT KNOW WHERE THE TOW HOOK IS??????


-Paul

 

It's in one of the tool kits in the boot (either with the jack or with the actual tools) and threads into the hole in the front or rear bumper.

 

Thanks a lot.....your response was just what I wanted.

and...thanks Pete.

 

YIKES ! My sympathies are with you, Lot15.This winter was certainly hard on our MINIs, and I've been impressed with your patience and equanimity through all of Poco's problems.

I'm curious to know if this problem was related to the block heater install. Please keep us posted, and keep 'yer chin up .

 

Well,I'm glad that is overPoco is fine and still goes like snot
The new block heater sprang a leak,we could not see anything wrong,the seal was good,it had some flaw we could not see.The dealer had me out of there in under 1 1/2 hours,and had a brand new demo Bimmer standing by for me.
scooterboy,I think that extended warrenty cost me $2000 or so,well worth it when you put 25K+ a year on the car IMO.
Next winter I plan on leaving 2 tow hooks installed,that plastic cover would explode trying to get it off at -30,and installing one while stuck in a ditch would be no fun.
Well I did not tear any limbs off of anyone at the dealer, I also did not get to go back roading in a new Bimmer,was kind of looking forward to some RWD drifting
But Poco is fine,and thats all I really wanted.
So we are going back roading all weekend

 

Beauty, eh?!?!