I put a post on "General Mini Talk" yesterday after almost getting left with a dead car (no start). It's a 09 clubman with a standard trans. so we rolled it down a hill and got it going to get home. I have a Schwaben unit, which says the CAS is at fault. Being a rather expensive part & being there are other things in the circuit I am in hope of hearing from someone with an interest in helping who might know a little more about this specific system than myself. I'm a mechanic & machinist but not an electrical engineer!!

 

On your scanner, when you go into the CAS menu does it list a specific fault/code?

 

I haven't figured out how to get into the CAS menu. I thought I should be able to get more info & read over the directions again last night but didn't find out how~

 

sometimes a weak battery can cause these kinds of issues. was the car cranking but not starting? can you post a link to your post so you dont have to repeat yourself.

 

I figured out how to get the codes! The CAS Fault is A0B4~

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...not-start.html

A0B4 Engine Start, Starter Operation

Possible check the starter and the connections on the starter. I would put a 12v on the starter and see if you can jump start it to see if the starter engages if it does its something in the CAS with the starter system.

 

It's a new battery, maybe 6 months old, cranked fine in the morning to get me out of town, then stone dead at noon to go home - we rolled it down a hill to "bump" start it, standard gear box~

 

So that code is really just the CAS reporting that it tried to crank and couldn't.

The resolution to your problem is a bit of a wild goose chase. It certainly has something to do with the electrical system between the battery and starter. You'll find umpteen forum posts all over BMW sites that list things like...

- Bad/low battery
- Corroded battery terminal
- Corroded ground strap to engine
- Corroded starter wiring

I'd probably start by attempting the jump again but connect the ground to the engine (turbo works great for this) to rule out grounding strap. If that wasn't it, then I'd look at the battery terminals with scrutiny.

 

Thank you for getting back to me,quick question - If I hot wire the starter can or will I do any damage by the electric "back feeding" into something??????

 

if the battery is good, then it leaves me to think the terminal could be loose or the ground strap on the engine is loose.

as mentioned above, the CAS is just reporting the it tired to start and couldn't,

my car is currently acting up where it takes 5 or even 10 push starts for the starter to spin. I hear it clicking and that's it. after few on and off pushes, it starts.

 

Eating lunch now, will prove electric grounding, and hot wire starter after lunch. Looks like they hid the starter as best they could~

 

Disconnect the wires on the MINI just to be safe, if its spins the motor, of course, it will not start as the system will not have fuel or spark. Just do it very quickly. Or you can pull it off and bench test it as most places do.

 

Well, well, well - after quite a fight I got the starter out, the real pain is the manifold. I think if I had done a few of these I could do it without removing the manifold, but seeing is about impossible down there with it in. What's wrong is the solenoid on the starter. The reason for the extra day getting it out was a phone call from my Dr telling me I have Lime & to get something for it at the drug store - problems seem the come in bunches

 

I have a little issue!! I got my new starter in, got the intake back on and as I was getting all the wires back in place I found one plug with orange and black wires with no place (that I can see) to plug it into. They go into the harness under the engine on the left hand side as you "face the car". If you need more info to help let me know~