Thanks mini4mo. This Thermostat issue does seem to come up a lot.

Will report back once it's fixed.

 

Everything described is completely normal behavior. The fans may/ may not be running while driving. They may/ may not be running while stopped at signals. It all depends on engine, coolant, and ambient temps. Though we can't control ambient temps, the car does controls the others. While driving, air is flowing through the radiator (a heat exchanger). If this is sufficient to keep coolant and engine temps low, then the fans will not run. However, if you're driving stop/ go, it's hot out, or you're right-foot happy the engine will run hotter (and harder, depending on conditions). Additionally, when you park your car, your engine acts like a giant heat sink. The fans may run to circulate coolant through the engine and/ or turbo to bring them down to "safe" temps. Engine temps would continue to raise otherwise, even when engine is off.

Don't sweat this unless the fans are running for "many" minutes.

 

So, I was driving home on Wed night and my check engine light come on; of course I was alittle freaked out. I didn't notice anything that could have been going on, no engine noise, no lack of power. We took zippy to the dealer for service (excellent 5 star service at East Bay Mini). Long story short it was just the gas cap. The last time we put gas in we didn't tighten the cap tight enough. We were alittle red faces, but very relieved.

 

Very interesting, esp. since I had just pumped gas when mine came on. Maybe I play around with my gas cap tonight to make sure it's tight. Thanks.

 

+1
was relieved happened right in the middle of family emergency. My dealer couldnt get me in but Habberstat mini was wonderful they scanned the car said it was fine and sent me on my way.

 

Comet sat for two days in the garage this weekend. Anyway I went to go to work Monday and I opened the door and I had no lights or power at all. It wouldn't start and nothing worked. Fortunately I could jump it with my wife's minivan. Drove to work and everything seemed fine except the power windows. The one touch up on driver side wouldn't work. It started Tuesday morning no problem. So I took in to the dealer Tuesday just to check it out.

It appears my battery was discharged by the radio turning itself on and off 254 times over the weekend. They will have to reprogram the computer to stop it from happening again. This takes 8 hrs. No loaner with an AT was available today so I have to bring it back on the 17th.

So that means my car is alive right?

 

Damn.

 

hk audio cracking. new panel bass cranks and no distortion.

One other issue is flashing blu and red lights sometimes in rearview mirror. Annoying.

 

It just needs a "Valentine" to exorcise those out of the mirror

 

Love our MINIs, but their paint is absolutely garbage! My wife's car had a bird crap on it for all of 2 hours, and it ate through the clear coat, and screwed it all up. She drove 2.5 hrs each way to the dealer and they brought it in and fixed it for free. I had the weeping washer nozzles, and it made the paint bubble up around the nozzles, and in a few spots where it trickles down the hood. WTF???!!!!!!!! We picked our cars up on 6/27/12!

 

Just took mine in because the engine light was on. I had the same gas cap code but, I also have a bad fuel sensor. When I get down to about 4 candy corns on the gas read out and the car sits for a few hours, it will show the low gas warning when I start it back up. Once I start driving, the read outs starts clicking up in mileage as if I'm making gasoline as I drive (too bad it's not really working that way). This happened twice and the second time, the engine light came on. If you see something like that, be sure to take it back in.

 

1,630 miles so far no issues, knock on wood! It's a fun car to drive and glad I made the choice. Adopted it on 6/2012.

J

 

1500 miles on Mid-Range (JCW R55) and had one initial problem from factory. The port to plub in an ipod was giving off some static that my salesperson noticed when he was showing me how to use it. He ordered up the part and it was replaced.

 

847 miles on a brand new 2012 Justa auto (bought it last weekend). Unable to remove Key FOB from ignition slot using normal methods. Car would not start, but electronics would activate. Forcefully removed Key Fob and after several follow up attempts the car started. Very nearly left me stranded and in need of a tow truck.. Monitoring the issue now (has not re-occurred in the past 7-8 start-ups. ) At 1,000 miles now.

Had I been stranded this soon after purchase, I'd probably be looking for a new car right now, but I'm giving it a few more chances. My opinion on initial reliability is currently low.

 

Remember to push it in to take it out. I thought mine was stuck once in the early weeks of ownership. Was about to call a tow truck, but decided to have lunch first. After lunch I went back out to the car and by normal habit pushed it in to remove; it came right out! For some reason I was trying to just pull it out like a key and got frustrated, when all I needed to do was push it in to pull it out. Hasn't happended since.

Hope that is all your issue turns out to be too. Time will tell...

ADDED 9/14/12: This happened to me again yesterday. Pulled into the driveway and got distracted by the dog wanting out because he knew he was home. Turned the engine off and the key wouldn't come out. Turned out I hadn't put it in PARK yet. The key won't come out until the auto is in park!

 

Well, just when you think your all good to go motoring the check engine light rears it's ugly head again. This time it's the engine light with the slash through it on the tach. Of course we stop everything and took Zippy back to the dealer. This time after running all their test it turns out we have a faulty Valvetronic Motor. So hopefully after replacing the Valvetronic Motor we'll be good to go again. Again we can't say enough about the service we recieved.

 

In post# 181 I posted this:

Ghost in the MINI machine?
Comet sat for two days in the garage this weekend. Anyway I went to go to work Monday and I opened the door and I had no lights or power at all. It wouldn't start and nothing worked. Fortunately I could jump it with my wife's minivan. Drove to work and everything seemed fine except the power windows. The one touch up on driver side wouldn't work. It started Tuesday morning no problem. So I took in to the dealer Tuesday just to check it out.

It appears my battery was discharged by the radio turning itself on and off 254 times over the weekend. They will have to reprogram the computer to stop it from happening again. This takes 8 hrs. No loaner with an AT was available today so I have to bring it back on the 17th.

So that means my car is alive right?

Well I had to reschedule my appointment to the 6th (Yesterday) due to family issues. When I dropped my car off I was told there was an open campaign for the Coolant Temp Sensor (SIM 17 09 12 DUE) and asked if I wanted them to do that also. I said yes.

I was wondering if I would have been notified if I hadn't come in. When I talked to SA after everything was done he said the sensor thing could have resulted in a breakdown. Which sounds serious to me. Does anyone know if they would have contacted me?

Hopefully my electrical issues are solved.

 

I got the same Coolant Temp Sensor recall update last week when mine was in for a reverse light replacement due to a condensation issue. No notice received prior to going in, it just came up on the computer when they checked my car in.

 

In regards to clear coat. I have a spot on the passenger right rear quarter panel right below the window that is not smooth like the rest of the car. When you run your hand over that part of the car there is a slight texture to the paint instead of being glass smooth. I clayed it to be sure nothing was on the paint. Is that just a spot that did not get polished as well? How could I tell if it was just an unfinished polishing or a missed portion of clear coat? I can't imagine its a missed portion of clearcoat because I am sure its a machine that sprays every panel....

 

i went to the dealer for "free saturday car wash day" several weeks ago and my sa walked over and asked for my key ... read the key and told me i needed the temp sensor recall action ...

the sa told me they were catching the cars that need it as they come into the dealerships to prevent a flood of people trying to get it all at once, exceeding the number of available kits

he said that eventually, those that were not caught when they came into the dealer would get a mailing

i made an appointment for the following wed ... it only took 45 minutes to perform, including another car wash

and,

last week my dad did get a notice in the mail for his 09/2012 build cms all4 (he does not take advantage of the "free car wash saturday")

scott

 

does anyone know if this effects justa ?

 

Apparently there are recalls requiring notification and technical service bulletins (TSB) which do not. A TSB is an identified running change/improvement/fix that is not deemed to be safety-related and therefore subject to recall notification. As an example, when we we had our '07 JUSTA 6-speed we were stranded on a trip because the car would not start after a fuel stop. It was flat-bedded to the nearest MINI dealer and after we had a motel room and meal courtesy of MINIUSA, was promptly fixed. The problem, a loose wire connecting the clutch safety interlock, had been identified as in issue and dealers were sent a TSB for to fix if/when a problem developed, rather than pro-actively.

 

Mine is a 2012 MCa justa and they installed the fix. It's worth noting that I had no issues prior. IIRC I read somewhere that the recalls were going out for the Countryman's first. Apparently some Countryman's were having issues (or they just want to insure that issue doesn't spread and cause damage the newest models reputation). I wouldn't worry, but if they don't bring it up next time you are at the dealer I'd ask about it.

 

I have a new one to add - my 2012 regular Cooper needed a new clutch at 1K miles. I started feeling a slight vibration in my foot, mostly as I was disengaging the clutch. So I took her in. At first the SA started w/ all the bs about my driving, but at 1K it was a stretch. Had one of their top mechanics drive it and he immediately agreed there was something off.

So - they replaced the clutch & bearings, but turns out the 2012's have a single mass flywheel and maybe there was some kind of change to the clutch as well. In any event, its fixed now - still good at 7K.

So passing along 2012 issues...

 

LOL, "candy corns"