Im in The car got my brakes done earlier today and im tryn to start the car and the brake wont go down so i cant push start! Im not home help me out asap!

 

Make sure you have the car in gear . Most likely the rear e-brake is stuck . They can sometimes rust and then when you pull on the e brake and then let off the cable does not retract. Put the car in gear if manual . Park if auto , release the e brake then tap the where the cable connects to rear caliper towards the bottom. When you drive your MINI in the salt from winter it will happen. After your done I would replace the cables.

Sound like problem?

 

Pop the hood and open the brake fluid reservoir. That should create a vent so you can release pressure on the brake lines.

I don't know man, never heard of this kind of problem. Should have gotten a first Gen, we don't have those issues.

 

im gonna try that but knowing my luck it probably wont be it

 

Doubt thats gonna do it. You will need to jack the car up and release the pressure through the calipers.

 

If it does, let me know. I'll have another beer to celebrate.

That's got to be it though. I don't think there's any electrical issue that would prevent the brake pedal from being pressed. It has to be mechanical... Or something frozen.

 

maybe this will help
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...ing_Brakes.htm

 

I just got my brakes and rotors done this morning maybe they are too tight.. But i turned the car on 4 time between when thu got installed and now The awesome thing is my mechanic is only 6 blocks away... At it is 944 pm! Not 6 i wish!

 

I will bet they just need to be bled.

 

Check your fuses?
Did you try pumping the brake pedal (as hard as possible) when you took the brake fluid cap off? It definetly won't bleed your brakes, but it's your only bet to attempt to get the pedal to press past all that pressure.

 

i dont even know how to do that, argh! Or bleed it ! so fustrating and its friggin cold... And that mini jack does not look stable lol my boyfriend used his his car amd it slipped... Yikes!

 

the more i pumped the the more stiff it became,, that would work on a manual car

 

do you have roadside assistance with your car insurance?

 

Read this.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...ing_Brakes.htm

 

I do i forgot about that

 

Where in NY are you? Maybe another NAM can help.

 

Wait. If you can press on the pedal enough to notice it getting stiffer that means your fluid and lines are fine.
You have a broken or brake switch or sensor or whatever it is. The thing that tells the ecu that you're brakes are pressed.
You can verify this by checking if you're brake lights are coming on when you step on the pedal.
...I think. Should have gotten a manual 1st Gen aka a real MINI lol.

 

Im in queens ny, i read the article and im too muh of a noob i will probably mess it up , mind you i never jacked up my car. I know the process just havent, plus my car is on a busy street, luckly street cleaning in on friday!

 

Gosh if i was far from home i would have gotten someone on craigslist! lol

 

Im learning manual thank you very much but it has been put on hold i cannot reach the bmw 330ci clutch without cramping my legs, so how do you think that damage happened ? Did the mechanic accidently mess it up? Or is it just a big coincidence?

 

It could just be a coincidence and/or a faulty piece of electrical equipment, how often does anyone hear of this happening?

 

And when I taught myself how to drive standard on my Mini the stiff BMW clutch cramped up my leg(s) often. And I'm a tall, athletic guy, but I sit at a desk a lot so my muscles had gotten lazy.

 

i cant press the brake pedal down at all its very slight, so the brake light doesnt engage

 

Not sure about minis but most auto transmission cars can be started in neutral. Try releasing the parking brake if you have it pulled, turn the key on and step on the brake pedal to shift to neutral and start.

 

Unless someone else come's up with a better answer, this is all your stuck with. You're going to have to tow it to the dealer or your mechanic to get a proper diagnosis.

Try this last band aid solution. If you were to blow a fuse that wouldn't let you move the shifter out of park, because it can't sense the brake pedal, there is a button you'd press, usually hidden under a tab you have to pop off on the shift boot area.

Try pressing that and pushing the start button. The engine cycle should release the brake pedal. If it doesn't realease the pedal, please don't be stupid enough to drive without brakes.