... Having searched and found nothing current, I suppose I'm OK to post.

Yesterday:
The MCS was idling for a few moments in the parking lot at work, while I ran through my pre-flight checks for the drive home, when I heard the RPMs dip and return to normal 3-4 times in rapid succession. Never having heard the MINI make this kind of sound before, I even looked around to see who's car was sounding so funky - there weren't any other cars running nearby.

So I turn back round to strap in and go, RPMs have evened out and are "normal" at just under 1,000, and SES is lit .

Take kiddo to his ballgame, turn off the motor, turn it on to take him home, SES still lit. Pop over to the gym after dinner, SES still lit. I'm thinking at that time I'll call the dealer and see just how easy it is to continue a normal day while leaving the car for a OBD check... heck, maybe they can do it "on the fly", right?

Today I leave for work, SES light is off (MIXED Blessing Alert): Did the car clear off the "fault code" so I can never hope to see the "cause" of the "problem"??

I wouldn't want to be lackadaisical about SES lights, but if there's no point in going to get the codes dumped, it would be nice to know beforehand.

Before you ask, I did read everything I could find in the nice pouch full of documents, brochures, addendums and manuals that came with the car, and I found the paper that's specifically about the SES light. All it really told me was that if my "fault" was caused by loose gas cap (it wasn't) then the light probably wouldn't reset itself (which it did LOL).

 

There are quite a few other threads about the SES light coming on in the '05s with an auto tranny. I had this problem, read some of my posts here:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=44711
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=40751


If you don't have the auto tranny, then your experiencing a different issue. From my experience and reading, the SES light does reset itself after 3?-5? ignition cycles. It's not clear to me if that clears the codes the dealer can read though.

 

Manual tranny (I been meaning to update my sig. to reflect this since the MCSauto came on the scene).

My Plan is to
1) go ahead and call service to ask them this same question (did the code get cleared or should I come by),
2) Pop the bonnet and visually check for small furry animals that may have confused the MINI by their presence (or maybe a line's come loose),
3) keep checking in here for more hits on the thread.

Even while SES was ON, there was no loss of power, or roughness in the idle, at least not that I could notice. Maybe an exhaust leak (?), but the very subtle change in tone could be just me "listening too hard".

Thanks for the reply complete with links, I appreciate it -
Tatt

 

You could have a small vacuum leak. Keep in mind that generally when you get an SES it has to do with emissions codes for the 05'. The difference in tone is the car running a little rich.

What production is your 05' you should look for the thread on the bypass valve (which really isn't the problem ultimately) and it could be as much as a throttle body issue, a small vacuum leak or a potentially bad bypass valve. I would not discount the bypass valve but that hasn't been the final issue with alot of the 05's (many of the auto's).

Cheers

 

Yes, I recall seeing that in the actual Owner's Manual - SES related to he's not happy with emissions...

Do you mean rich compared to before the SES light came on?

My MCS was built in December 2004, "week 50". That's probably good advice about t/b, bypass valve, or vacuum leak. It would sure be nice to know that the code stashed in RAM is STILL there, since it might point right at one of those things.

Tatt

 

You can get them for around $50. It saves tons of hassle, and you can check the BS lazy service guys tell you (has helped several times). Also, it will come with a manual that expains how the auto reset of the SES works depending on codes. Some reset in 3-5 starts, some have much higher standards.
I know there's no going back on this one, but if it happened once, you can bet it will happen again.

Matt

 

this has happened to me twice now (comes on/goes off, repeat) and it always happened around time for service so i was able to get it checked soon but both times it was the O2 sensor (which mini replaced)

 

tattman-

When I say it runs rich I mean that I am assuming the tone you are hearing is a lower growl from the exhaust because of the vacuum leak. It could be the O2 sensor as well but I would bring it to the dealership and have them take care of it assuming you have not modified the heck out of the car.

Chris

 

Good point Matt - Those scanners are always a 20/20 Hindsight item. Case in point - our '02 Caravan has an "airbag light" that is definitely a repeat offender! The first 3 times we returned to the dealership to have it checked/reset, they "happily" replaced various pieces (clock spring etc) under warranty and sent us on our way. Can you guess what happened next? Yup, the warranty ends and of course the airbag light returns (2 weeks or so after end of warranty). On THAT trip to the dealer, the code allegedly said that the airbag was "bad" and required replacement. Parts and labor was over $2k, so I smelled that "BS" you mentioned and walked, after having him reset the light. How exactly does an airbag "go bad", anyway?

Kewl, thanks for clarifying. I'm still stock, unless you count "mascot MINI" the matchbox MC painted CR/B that rides along in that funky space under the ebrake handle . Trying to keep him from flying out of that recess, is how I keep myself in check when motoring in the 'burbs. Sadly, I have to modify my budget before I can modify my MCS.

Tatt