R56 Yellow Engine Light, Low Coolant, and Fan
#1
Yellow Engine Light, Low Coolant, and Fan
Hi All!
I'm guessing this is going to be a real expensive fix. My wife pulled her 2011 S with 14,000 miles into the garage yesterday, and said that the radiator fan wouldn't stop running for a very long time. When it finally shut off, i looked at the coolant level, and it was just below min. I added 1/2 cup distilled water to bring the level just up to min.
We took it out for a short ride today, and the steady yellow check engine icon on the speedo is lit yellow. Brought the car home, shut it down, and the fan runs on.
I waited a few hours to check the coolant level, and it has dropped a little. Started the car, and I have the same yellow check engine icon on the speedo. I shut it down after 30 seconds, and the radiator fan runs on.
Anyone want to guess before I take it some place to read the code tomorrow?
I'm guessing this is going to be a real expensive fix. My wife pulled her 2011 S with 14,000 miles into the garage yesterday, and said that the radiator fan wouldn't stop running for a very long time. When it finally shut off, i looked at the coolant level, and it was just below min. I added 1/2 cup distilled water to bring the level just up to min.
We took it out for a short ride today, and the steady yellow check engine icon on the speedo is lit yellow. Brought the car home, shut it down, and the fan runs on.
I waited a few hours to check the coolant level, and it has dropped a little. Started the car, and I have the same yellow check engine icon on the speedo. I shut it down after 30 seconds, and the radiator fan runs on.
Anyone want to guess before I take it some place to read the code tomorrow?
#2
Thermostat (had the fix?) and / or thermostat housing would be top of my list...in fact, I think I'd replace both while it's stripped down. IMO it's not really the mileage so much as a poorly-designed-gasket-and-plastic-part.
I'd be interested to find out what that eml code is, so pls keep us posted.
Hope it's an easy 'fix'...loadsa luck!
I'd be interested to find out what that eml code is, so pls keep us posted.
Hope it's an easy 'fix'...loadsa luck!
#3
#4
#5
+1 get a OBDII diagnostic tool and pull the code. That will help us determine what may be the cause. Do you see any leaks under your MINI? Could be very slight as the thermostats tend to get hairline cracks.
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#6
P0128. No leaks under the car.
What I don't get is why the fan runs so much after the car is shut down. It never did this much before. And like I said, it's cool here now. The unusually long fan run-on is telling me that the car thinks the engine is hot. How does a stuck open thermostat or slightly low coolant level (due to a small leak somewhere) cause that?
What I don't get is why the fan runs so much after the car is shut down. It never did this much before. And like I said, it's cool here now. The unusually long fan run-on is telling me that the car thinks the engine is hot. How does a stuck open thermostat or slightly low coolant level (due to a small leak somewhere) cause that?
#7
According to Engine-Codes, possible causes are:
- Leaking or stuck open thermostat
- Low engine coolant level
- Insufficient warm up time
- Faulty engine coolant temperature sensor
- Engine coolant temperature sensor harness is open or shorted
- Engine coolant temperature sensor circuit poor electrical connection
Might be time for a new thermostat. We have them HERE if needed. Adapter lead here. Let me know if you have any questions.
- Leaking or stuck open thermostat
- Low engine coolant level
- Insufficient warm up time
- Faulty engine coolant temperature sensor
- Engine coolant temperature sensor harness is open or shorted
- Engine coolant temperature sensor circuit poor electrical connection
Might be time for a new thermostat. We have them HERE if needed. Adapter lead here. Let me know if you have any questions.
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#8
According to Engine-Codes, possible causes are:
- Leaking or stuck open thermostat
- Low engine coolant level
- Insufficient warm up time
- Faulty engine coolant temperature sensor
- Engine coolant temperature sensor harness is open or shorted
- Engine coolant temperature sensor circuit poor electrical connection
Might be time for a new thermostat. We have them HERE if needed. Adapter lead here. Let me know if you have any questions.
- Leaking or stuck open thermostat
- Low engine coolant level
- Insufficient warm up time
- Faulty engine coolant temperature sensor
- Engine coolant temperature sensor harness is open or shorted
- Engine coolant temperature sensor circuit poor electrical connection
Might be time for a new thermostat. We have them HERE if needed. Adapter lead here. Let me know if you have any questions.
#9
Thanks! I can see that that a leaky thermostat is the only one that could drop the coolant level. But what is causing the radiator fan to continue so long? Is it just that the leak has caused the coolant level to go below 'min', or do y'all think I have a second P0128 issue?
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#10
Thanks! I can see that that a leaky thermostat is the only one that could drop the coolant level. But what is causing the radiator fan to continue so long? Is it just that the leak has caused the coolant level to go below 'min', or do y'all think I have a second P0128 issue?
Did it on my car before i replace the thermostat housing .
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#11
I had this same issue last month. CEL, P0128, radiator fan running for 15 minutes after shutting off car. I replaced the thermostat, and everything has been normal ever since. Thermostat and housing and coolant temperature sensor are all one piece, and cost a little over $100. My guess is that the coolant temperature sensor had failed, making the car think it was hotter than it really was, so causing the thermostat to stay open all the time and the fan to run after the car was shut off. The JOY of an electronic thermostat.
#13
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#14
11537647751 KT
Follow the same install as the one linked for the N14.
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#15
OK. I just got home after snowboarding all winter, and I'm ready to tackle the mini problem.
If P0128 is thrown when the coolant temperature is too low, why does the fan stay on so long after shutting down? If the system thinks the engine isn't hot enough, the fan should shut down right away.
Any chance that the fan is running too long, and that is what is causing the code?
If P0128 is thrown when the coolant temperature is too low, why does the fan stay on so long after shutting down? If the system thinks the engine isn't hot enough, the fan should shut down right away.
Any chance that the fan is running too long, and that is what is causing the code?
#16
OK. I just got home after snowboarding all winter, and I'm ready to tackle the mini problem.
If P0128 is thrown when the coolant temperature is too low, why does the fan stay on so long after shutting down? If the system thinks the engine isn't hot enough, the fan should shut down right away.
Any chance that the fan is running too long, and that is what is causing the code?
If P0128 is thrown when the coolant temperature is too low, why does the fan stay on so long after shutting down? If the system thinks the engine isn't hot enough, the fan should shut down right away.
Any chance that the fan is running too long, and that is what is causing the code?
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#17
OK. But why would either of those make the fan run on? If I have a low temp and/or stuck open thermostat, shouldn't the fan shut off immediately?
On the other hand, if there was an issue with the fan control, and it was on when it should be off, that would cause a low temperature, and trigger the code.
I'm with y'all that the thermostat housing is most likely the problem. I just want to completely understand why that fan is on.
On the other hand, if there was an issue with the fan control, and it was on when it should be off, that would cause a low temperature, and trigger the code.
I'm with y'all that the thermostat housing is most likely the problem. I just want to completely understand why that fan is on.
#18
OK. But why would either of those make the fan run on? If I have a low temp and/or stuck open thermostat, shouldn't the fan shut off immediately?
On the other hand, if there was an issue with the fan control, and it was on when it should be off, that would cause a low temperature, and trigger the code.
I'm with y'all that the thermostat housing is most likely the problem. I just want to completely understand why that fan is on.
On the other hand, if there was an issue with the fan control, and it was on when it should be off, that would cause a low temperature, and trigger the code.
I'm with y'all that the thermostat housing is most likely the problem. I just want to completely understand why that fan is on.
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#19
OK. I just got home after snowboarding all winter, and I'm ready to tackle the mini problem.
If P0128 is thrown when the coolant temperature is too low, why does the fan stay on so long after shutting down? If the system thinks the engine isn't hot enough, the fan should shut down right away.
Any chance that the fan is running too long, and that is what is causing the code?
If P0128 is thrown when the coolant temperature is too low, why does the fan stay on so long after shutting down? If the system thinks the engine isn't hot enough, the fan should shut down right away.
Any chance that the fan is running too long, and that is what is causing the code?
When the coolant level is low in the thermostat, the fan kicks on because the sensor is out of range and it think there is a overheat because the engine was on. No , the fan 99% does not cause the code, its a leaky thermostat housing or a leak somewhere else that cause the low coolant level, Get it changed or check out asap, you dont want to overheat the engine.
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Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
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#21
Yep, Its very low on coolant, mine started to come on with long runs and then short runs, then all the time, I knew it was leaking ( pooling on the transmission, my own quick MINI insider find I talked about in back 2013 on the MINI forums ) , that was right before i changed it. Been good ever since.
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Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
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