The wife thought the battery light was also on before she pulled off the road. After I traded cars out, I drove the MINI home about 2 miles. Just the SES light at first, but we ended up in Limp mode the last few blocks with the EML light as well. Not the battery as it was changed last weekend. Of course, now I wonder if the old battery was actually bad as it seems we have an alternator issue. Or a bad belt. Didn't find any fuses out. Faint rubber smell under the bonnet near the alternator, pulley. Looks like a tow to the dealer tomorrow.

Any thoughts? Considered buying a code reader but with only one car and wife and kids in four different directions the last few hours, it didn't happen.

 

sounds like a torn up belt. the ses light will come on for many many reasons. the battery light if the alternator isn't charging the battery and the dsc if theres a throttle or intake fault. But the eml light goes on only when you use more than a 1/4 throttle or when your suppose to starting to boost the s/c isn't spinning. My best guess is the belt ripped off. the eml will most commonly come on when there is no boost or very little boost at open throttle. when you press down the throttle the by pass closes when there is no vacum in the intake tube and the supercharger pushes air in the manifold when the map sensor realises there is no boost it will cause the eml light to come on.

if you have an aftermarket pulley the dealer will charge you for a belt replacement diagnosis and probably a belt tentioner.

try to see if there's a belt on the pulleys

good luck

 

Thanks for the quick reply. The belt is still on, one of the first things I checked, but the rest of your diagnosis is spot on. Unfortunately, you are also correct about the aftermarket pulley. (Maybe they won't notice!) The tow vehicle is on its way as we speak.

tm

 

Quick summary in case this happens to someone else and they run a search. MINICORSA was on the right track. (Ain't NAM grand? ) The harmonic balancer had destroyed itself resulting in no belt tension. Not enough rpms to run the alternator, supercharger, etc.

Dealer pulled the codes indicating a bad alternator so it was an extra day or two waiting for parts that were ultimately not needed. Once they actually tore into it, they found the real problem. As a bonus, however, got some O2 sensors replaced as they were throwing a code also.

And the best news, all repaired under warranty.

tm

 

WOW now I should look atht ecrank pulleys more often to make sure theuir not going bad thanks for the follow up and letting us know what fixed the issue.

Thanks,
Danny D
MINICORSA
818-994-0338