I have what is most likely a stupid question, but it's so simple I am sure many of you can answer it for me.

When I start the car, the instrument cluster lights up, the red service symbol pops up, the one with the mini looking like it's stilts. Then it immediately goes away and is followed by the seat belt symbol.

Is the service symbol normal at start up every single time even though I am not getting any service lights?

I have never paid attention if it has always been there. I understand that if it comes on and another symbol stays on the cluster, that is the actual problem that needs serviced. But I'm not sure why only the service symbol flashes and goes away. Is this just the car running a diagnostic check at each start up?

 

There should be a mileage counter there - that's your Condition Based Service indicator. The mileage would be how long until it needs an inspection.

 

Check for codes and go from there, also how old is your battery? When batteries start to die they have been known to cause very strange behavior when it comes instrument cluster lights, for Mini's this is considered normal which is great because it tells you that you most likely have a dying battery. Dying batteries have also been known to cause permanent damage because lovely randomness of ghosts and gremlins roaming about freely to cause havoc in the electrical system.

Have your battery load tested with proper equipment to determine if your battery is truly ready to die! What I don't understand is why MINI/BMW didn't devise a reliable sensor to go off when a battery is no longer sufficient enough any longer. I mean isn't that what the intelligent battery monitoring systems for? Many have said that the unintelligent battery monitoring system () is not very intelligent at all and I think it's under an developed feature for these cars.

 

"mileage counter", no mileage counter...this is not happening when scrolling through the various service guides based on mileage. This is not happening while using the "BC" button on the stalk either.

I start the car, the service symbol flashes..goes away, is that normal M.O.?

 

I have it hooked up via DashCommand and no codes, its running like a champ. I may have to just post a video so you can see what I'm talking about. I have checked YT and there's a bunch of vids on how to reset the service symbols and I get that. This anomaly makes no sense because it's so brief followed by the put on your seat belt symbol. I think it's nothing I just want to make sure.

And I agree the the lack of ability to check battery voltage, its not supported by DashCommand or any other apps I know of unless someone can enlighten me. I have 12' MCS and I'm in Florida, so I'm sure the battery is about to die. Getting 3 years out of a brand new battery down here is average.

 

hmm... Could it be that the CBS countdown ran out and so there's no mileage to show?

 

Not trying to be a smarta$$, but did you get an owner's manual with it?

To put your mind at ease, I have 5500 miles on mine and get the service light on startup followed by 8000. I assume that means @ 8000 miles til the next service. Which would be about right since I had Mini do the first service at 3500 miles (1 year).

Out of curiosity, is your seatbelt already buckled up when you get the seatbelt light? If not, try buckling up before you start and see if you get the light?

I don't think you have anything to worry about though. Hope that helps.

Mike

 

No it's not normal at all, whenever you see a red status light showing an icon of your Mini elevated on a lift means something isn't right, usually the red light means something is seriously wrong and you should refrain from driving, while a yellow lift icon is cautionary that you need to have your car looked at and may be OK to drive. Many forum members have had the yellow lift icon only for the status to change rapidly to something it can cause damage, I always pull to the side of the road when I receive yellow icon left light and thoroughly check out the car under the hood and under the car and have it towed!

It might be just a set belt sensor gone bad, if the car thinks something is wrong with the seatbelts sensor operation the computer would consider a serious potentially harmful situation for any passengers. In any case you need to have the codes read by the special computer diagnostic equipment, I'm not suggesting going to the dealer, just a reputable MINI independent specialist shop.

 

Oh yeah, the manual..sure I have one of those but I'm too lazy look it up.

By all your responses it sounds like I am due for some kind of stealership service plan.

I am going to try and muster up the energy tomorrow and read thru that owners manual and figure out like a real man. And I'm not worried about or anything, I'm just looking at this mini on stilts going where the f*%k did that come from...has it always been there?

 

As a matter of fact SystemLord I do have really good Mini specialist not too far from my house, I think I'll try and swing by his shop and let him give it a look. About it being a serious hazard...eh don't know...I thought that was only when the service symbol stayed lit. In any event I will take everyones advice into consideration and post an update.

 

yep, I just read in my manual:

Lights up in red: Have the system in question checked
without delay.
> Starter failed or
> ignition malfunctioning. Engine
restart only possible when brake
is depressed or
> lighting system failed. Low
beams/tail lamps and brake
lamps still operational. All other
lamps failed
The engine cannot be restarted.

Lights up in yellow:
> Control of the brake lamps failed
or
> fuel supply malfunctioning
You can continue your journey, but
moderate your speed and exercise
due caution. Have the system in question
checked without delay.

 

Well there's an education for me! Thank you SystemLord!

Looks like I've got to check something out...

And yes I have the manual too but alas, also too lazy to look stuff up sometimes...

 

One thing's for sure your car is trying to tell you something important, I just don't know if going to the dealer is that important. Try and find a MINI independent shop because they have the same diagnostic equipment that the dealer does and are able to reset, clear codes program certain things related to the ECU.

Mini dealers have been getting a bad rap for dishonesty, extremely high prices and the typical you need this when you bring in you Mini for simple things. I have two BAR complaints again my ex-local Mini dealer strangely with the same mechanic keeps trying to sell me on pure BS!

 

Question: Did it state if the light stays on while driving? Or, even when you are running a serving check via the BC button?

Because I just ran out and did a test and when I ran thru the service checks the service symbol came up with the date 7/20/2015. So is it safe to assume it was put in there by the dealership for a scheduled service date?

 

Yeah this local shop does Manic tunes and has all the same diagnostic tools the stealership has. I might have like a week left on the warranty, I have to check because it's covered I'm going there first. But I agree, my Mini dealer here in Orlando is really bad in opinion, I don't trust them at all.

 

Based on my reading of my manual, I believe that after the red-stilts-mini logo goes away, if there's another issue, there'll continue to be another light that stays on.
Does the seat belt light stay on even with your seatbelt correctly attached?

I assume it behaves in the same manner as this gentleman (who has an issue with his brakes):

 

Nope, no other service lights appear. And to makes things more odd, I just went out and started the car but put my seat belt on first and the stilts symbol did not come on.

But like I said in an earlier post, when I scroll thru the service info the stilts come on and has the date 7/20/15. I know I didn't put that date there, so either the service dept. did it the first and only time I have brought my car for service. I never went back there because they refused to change the oil in the car, even though I had told them I just bought it second hand, and even though it had super low miles I would like the oil changed and they wouldn't do it, even though the oil on the dipstick looked like tar. The service advisor said it had already been done somewhere else, I asked to see the report and he said "we're not allowed". God Bless those of you who have good and honest service depts. because the one here sucks.

 

Sounds like a typical "CBS" date. If you go through the service checks again, you can guesstimate when the oil was changed last. Typical oil change interval in the car is 15k miles. Pelican Parts has an EXCELLENT article all about it, here: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti..._Explained.htm

 

You nailed it GS! I just went through the manual so I could fall asleep after this last post. And it states it just a basic service requirement reminder. I think the only time you have to go in freak out mode and not drive the car is if the symbol comes on while driving, which is not happening in my case, thankfully.

I am going to call the stealership and see if my warranty has expired, because if they're not covering this service reminder I'm going straight to my indie mechanic. Thanks everyone for your help.

 

You may as well go ahead and go to your indie... Unless by some miracle you got the extended maintenance included with your car, a CBS service inspection isn't covered by your warranty. It's meant a s a preventative measure to remind people to look at their cars for things that there isn't a sensor on - like suspension components and such. (It certainly won't hurt to check on the warranty though.) I'd still follow through with SystemLord's suggestion - your indie should have the tools needed.

 

 

Spoke with dealer service today and yes it's all CBS related, they told me it would have been covered under warranty but mine has expired.

How many of you bring your car in when you get this CBS indicator? Part of me just wants to reset/ignore it. I have a 2012 with 17K miles...other than needing new brake pads what could I possibly need changed with such low miles. I change the oil myself so that's not needed.

edit: forgot to add I also just got a new CAI, new tires, and the fluids are topped off. I think I'm just going to reset it and wait for the next round. I'm certainly not taking it to the stealership. "uh sir, we ran the diagnostics and you're going to need your brake fluid flushed, new brakes...front and rear, and you may as well get the coolant flushed while we're at it, we can do all that for you today for $859". eh, no thank you.

 

The main things they do are change the oil and give the car a once-over. They may do a software update as well. As part of the update, my 2012 had the nominal service interval changed from 15K+ to about 10K miles.

BTW, the system voltage is available on the OBD2 bus. My ScanGauge can display it; I am very surprised if anything else you plug into the OBD2 port could not.

 

Do you mean the control module? I see the control modules voltage at 14.2 which is what the alternator is supposed to put out voltage wise, this voltage also charges the battery.

 

you can reset that counter via the buttons on the "stalk" and make it go away

it is a reminder for basic date based service ...

I too was a customer of Orlando MINI and while not the BEST dealer I've ever experienced I gotta tell you they are WAY better than most.
A couple of years back I got invited to a 'free car examination' for my out of warranty 7-s

I heard them talking to other 'customers' that were in that day with LONG lists of EXPENSIVE stuff needed. I was prepared .....

They called me and said I needed NOTHING ...... curious in that I'd been doing my own maintenance for a while. IMO this was 'honest' as compared to another MINI dealer who told me I needed pads and rotors NOW .... funny since I'd changed them myself weeks b4 . . .

In Orlando area? Bring it over to my house and I'll do the basic maintenance ... you buy lunch and listen to my BS

****************
FOOTNOTE

It would not have been covered by warranty .... it would have been covered under pre-paid maintenance. These are DIFFERENT but have been a cornfusion issue for MINI buyers since 2002 . . . . these can each be EXTENDED but one does not extend the other . . .