Picked up my new 2006 MC at the dealership yesterday. Promptly went on vacation, drove 250 miles to see my family. Driving moderately, nothing crazy.

1. I noticed the engine is very loud--like a blow dryer on crack when the car is idling. It is LOUD and has a high pitch/high frequency just like a blow dryer. It is so loud that a person walking out of store said it sounded like a blow dryer.

2. Pushed in the clutch, down shifted, turn corner slowly and the car went limp. Started back up just fine.

3. 4 and a half hours after turning the car off, the bonnet was still warm, not hot, but very warm on the inner side of the head lights on the actual bonnet and chrome ring of the head lights.

4. This morning I start the car to see if its making the noise, and it is. Also the RMP's in idle kept going up and down like I was pressing on the throttle..but wasnt.

Any thoughts? Aside from going limp, is bonnet being warm, the loud noise (sounds like a fan, not the engine) and the flux in rev's typical? It is a new 2006. I'm totally freaking out at this point. There are no mini dealers anywhere near me. Now I'm thinking I have a lemon and am really paranoid about getting back on the road with this vehicle and being stranded.

Please help with thoughts

 

If it's loud like a hair dryer, look at the intercooler boots, it sounds like you have the air leak there.

 

The OP said MC... So I don't think it would be an intercooler issue.

The blow dryer is probably the cooling fan kicking on as mine sounds the same at full speed. Unfortunetly I have no words of wisdom other than get it back to the dealer asap.

 

Good catch on the MC part, my brain is in slow mo today

 

Both the noise and the up and down of the idle point toward a vacuum leak. Have you opened the hood while idling to see if you can find the source of the sound?

Do this and report back.

YD

 

You and me both... I had to check it twice!

It is hot today here in Germany and without central AC it kinda sucks!

 

The electric cooling fan will sound like a hypercharged blow dryer when you are standing at idle if the engine is hot. However, if it is making this noise when the cart is cold, something else is making the noise. The rev fluctuation is not normal either. As mentioned above, either could be the result iof a massive vacuum leak. Squirt some carb cleaner at variuos places around the intake manifold. If that causes the engine speed to vary, you have your answer.

 

Have you checked the oil and coolent levels? Thats the first thing I would do in the event the fan is coming on excessively due to over heating issues (and fwiw the fan is very loud, when I get home after driving for a bit it runs quite awhile).

As for the going limp and rev fluctuation I guess all you can do is take note of when and how it occurs. If you at all think it can be unsafe you should call the dealer where you bought it and they just might flatbed it to the closest dealer using Roadside Assistance no matter how far it is; ask them about trip interupption payouts and car coverage. Better safe then sorry IMHO.

 

Ok, its the fan making the noise. Lets put it this way, it sounds like a shop vac is on in the garage. that is how LOUD it is. And yes, from a cold start it begins. Once the car is driven and turned off, the fans dont run when the car is off.

There are no warning lights coming on (yes they work at first start, but turn off immediately). I also looked at engine temp and its completely normal.

Lets see what the dealer says. Will keep you posted.

 

Whats the outside temp where you are at?

 

I'm thinking it would have to be the Gobe Desert for the fan to turn on first thing in the morning. Could be the fan relay or thermostat. My thermostat switch failed in the off positon. I had to short out the relay on a long trip to keep the fan running and engine cool on a long trip in hot weather back in May.

 

I'd call roadside assistance. let them worry about how far away the nearest dealer is. You don't want MIni hanging any of the problem on you for driving it when it was not right.

 

I'm in north central Florida. Its about 90 degrees, but the car is in the garage. I called the dealership and they said "as long as the engine warning lights are not coming on it fine to drive...sounds like a potential vacuum leak...get it to the nearest dealership on your drive back home". Nearest dealership is Orlando about 90 miles from me.

I'm not a happy camper right now. I'm sure Orlando service is not going to take my car right on in, fix it, and I'm on my merry way. I also have my dog with me...ugh! I cant leave the car in Orlando, and I have to be back at work on Wednesday in Miami.

I'm not exactly sure how this works, but if they cannot fix my car on the spot do I get a loaner or do I end up eating the cost to rent something? I have not even had the car for 24 hours yet.

I will call Orlando service in the morning and speak with one of their people...see what they say. gggrrr

 

did you do any serious boosting prior to this occurance?

 

True true.. I wasn't tihnking about the morning...

I'd just take it to Orlando. Explain that you can't leave it since you don't live there. I'm betting they will take care of you. When I worked in the service center for a dealership we bent over backwards for travelers. We'd move everyone down the list and get to you first. Just keep smiling! It'll all be better soon!

 

Sounds like two problems.

One - the fan bearings are gone so it is screaming.

Two - the t-stat or the relay is keeping the fan on when it should not be on.

YD

 

i'm sure that DTM will take good care of you. if they can fix the problem w/out having to order parts, you will be on your way soon. my guess is a vacuum leak. just a guess, but i'm entitled to one. if not, they should send you down the road in a loaner, so that the rest of the week isn't shot. i have a buddy who is a MINI tech at Vista (are you viewing, greg?). there are several known problems w/ the R56's. the dealerships and techs know what they are. you and the dog should be home soon.

BTW: check out http://www.sunshineminis.org/ when you get this sorted out. or sooner if you are having any problems.

good luck and keep us posted...

 

No crazy driving...well, except for one and that was merely to get out of the way. I bought the car technically new, but it was on the lot for 8 months and it had about 800 miles on it. I guess I am now paying for my great deal. haha.

Well, if Orlando cant help me and they say its fine to take home, I will heading over to Vista. Wish me luck...well check back in once we are back in home Tuesday.

Thanks again everyone!

 

MINI should get you sorted. Don't let them blow you off.

As for the fan, mine comes on first thing in the morning if the AC is turned on. In fact, it was about 72 this morning and as I pulled out of my garage I got out to shut the door and the fan kicked on for a few seconds. Yes, it is loud, but it is a small fan trying to move a lot of air. When you cram an engine into a small area, things tend to need cooling. (and yes, all my levels are good and the MINI is running right.)

 

I would think that if the thermostat or fan relay had failed, the fan would keep going long after the car had been shut off. I believe the power source for the fan is constant +12V, not switched +12V, since the fan is designed to be able to run for a while after the car is shut off.

 

Agreed! I have heard some MINIs run that fan long after being cut off. The one guy this happened to checked his coolant to find it low.

Mine has not done this and usually cuts off after I kill the ignition.

 

Yep - being just a little low on coolant can cause a LOT of problems, especially depending on where the thermostat pickup is. Here's a common sequence of events that caused a lot of engine fires in the later MGBs:

1) Owner lets the coolant get just a little bit low.
2) Since the thermostat pickup for the electric choke is mounted high in the radiator and gets uncovered even with a small drop in coolant level, the carburetor thinks the engine is always cold and keeps the choke fully engaged all the time, even after the engine is warmed up.
3) All the excess fuel from the choke being constantly open makes the exhaust manifold glow cherry-red.
4) Since the carburetor is only a few inches above the exhaust manifold, the seals and gaskets in the carb start to bake from all the excess heat.
5) When the seals fail, raw fuel is dumped all over the red-hot exhaust manifold.
6) FWOOSH!!!!

All this from being just a little low on coolant...

 

Can be ugly....

 

Ok, we made it home. Are you ready?

Orlando ran diagnostic...said everything is fine, no faults showing. The fan is "supposed to be that loud...its because its hot outside". When I asked why it was that loud after sleeping in the garage overnight...same response "its because its hot outside".

So on my way home I stop by the dealer where I bought the car...I was told yeah, the fan should be that loud and "its ok that its stalling in neutral...its because the car hasnt been driven in a few months...stop driving like a grandma and give it some throttle and that should keep the RPMS up so it wont stall around corners...or stop running the ac because its draining the engine and the engine cant hold the RPMS". Then I was told "these cars are meant to be driven redlined..." At that point I asked them if they were just trying to get me to void my warranty and left.

OMG. Who knew NEW cars were supposed to stall out in neutral for NO reason. WOW. I feel so stupid. (rolls my eyes). So on the drive down, the car went limp 2 times. It seems to happen when the car is stopped at a red light or stop sign, when its in neutral, and then goes limp. Doesnt happen all the time though.

The car wasnt driven for a few months...and all the techs keep insisting I put the wrong gas in it which I know I put the right gas in it. Could this be being caused by water in the fuel line? I mean, since the car was sitting for months, could it be possible?

I really am at a loss over this. How on earth is a service manager going to tell me its ok for the car to be stalling???

So other having a very loud mini that sounds like a shop vac rolling down the street, and the occassional limp mode, I love it. The car handled great on the highway.

 

Questions:

1. In the morning when you start the car, does the fan stop when you turn off the AC?

2. Does the stalling stop when you have the AC off?