Ok, It seems the only problems I ever really have with this car are the batteries. In September 2005, bought the car new in March 2003, the first battery died. A few months ago, the car started to have starting issues, that seemed to be resolved when the battery was recharged. Finally after a couple of bad days where the battery died, I went to Sears and picked up a new battery. Worked great for a couple of weeks. Then the weather (winter) weather started getting bad, and the MINI sat in the garage for a few days so, Sunday I get in the car, and the battery is 100% dead. I charge it up, and it took a full charge, and the car started this morning perfectly. I know I didn't have anything left on in the car... so why did the battery go flat? Has anyone heard of a leakage issue with these cars? It seems hard to imagine that a brand new battery has gone bad.

Help.

jc

 

Get it to a shop or a parts store that will do in-vehicle testing. You may have a shorted diode or two in the alternator which allows the battery to drain when the key is off.
Other possibilities are a rear light that doesn't go off with the hatch closed or something similar.

 

Take a listen for any activity in the speedometer. Mine occasionally goes nuts and clicks against the bottom post - if not caught it will do that all night. I just figured out it was draining my battery when my 2003 MCS didn't start this morning. Battery is totally dead. Maybe this is your problem too?

 

Interesting; the battery in my 2004 MCS with about 75K was fine until I stopped driving it for a few weeks. Battery was dead next time I tried to start it. A jump start got it going, and it held enough charge to start thereafter, but the monitor eye never returned to green and so I replaced the battery, not wanting to be left stranded. No problems since, but I now drive it most every day.

 

I captured this on video!

Also, do you drive only short distances? It is possible you are not driving long enough to let the battery charge (less than 10 min or so)

 

You captured exactly what my car was doing before it died! I thought I was the only one, though perhaps entering 'speedometer clicking going nuts' was not the best search term!

I used to drive 62 miles per day back and forth to work. Last May I started a new job in the city that permits me to commute most of the distance by bus. The pickup point is 7 miles from my house, which takes about 10 minutes. So yes, indeed, I am only driving short distances except perhaps whatever I add on weekends.

Time to search out the best local battery option. I think it is going to be an AutoZone Duralast. Thanks for posting that video!

 

Dang it the video is blocked at work. I will try to remember to look at it at home!

I have just started hooking up the battery charger at least one time a week. I usually drive 15 to 20 minutes at a time.

jc

 

Problem resolved. It was definitely the battery, as so many other people have indicated. I went to AutoZone and put in a Duralast Gold series 47 and it simply dropped into place. It was expensive at $130 but what can you do? I did not care that it has an 8 year warranty or whatever since by the time the battery goes the Mini will either be gone, or it really will be time for another new one.

Not that anyone not subscribed to the thread, but thanks to everyone for the help. JC, good luck on your problem. I think it is only a matter of time before your car, like mine, simply will refuse to start one day. No matter how much charging I did, the battery simply would no longer take a charge.

 

I've had very good experience with Autozone batteries.
If you do not drive you MINI for an extended period of time I would recommend a battery tender. They work great. I have a 2000 M-Roadster that I don't drive in the winter and it has the original battery. I just put the battery tender on it when I'm storing it for the winter.