OK, before I start looking for a new car I thought I ask here if anyone has a clue what's going on. The dealer is as confused as I am (and I don't have a clue about cars), so that doesn't sound so good.

I have a 2004 MINI Cooper S with about 67K miles on it and until about a months ago I had no problems (or none that I would have noticed). When I had my tires checked the guy there pointed out to me that my power steering hoses are leaking. Oops... so I got those replaced and that's when the problem started... I think.

On the way out of the dealership, about 7 miles into my drive home the engine overheated as I was standing at a red light. Prior to that I heard some noises, one sounded like a fan spinning out of control, getting stuck, then unstuck. That happened once or twice and then everything sounded normal. The other sound was more like a whining noise that got worse under acceleration and stopped when I stepped on the clutch or had to stop.

I had the car towed to the dealer where they couldn't find anything wrong. They said it might have been an intermittent short causing the cooling fan to stop or something got stuck in it and then unstuck and shrugged it off.

I was a bit nervous driving my car after that but all seemed fine until I started hearing a whining noise last week. It seemed to be coming from the AC (AC compressor). Also it's similar to what I read here. But in my case the noise only kicks in after the engine heats up, after driving for about 15-20 minutes. I brought my car back to the dealership on Monday and that's where it's been since.

Tuesday they replaced the harmonic balancer which apparently was on its way out, but that didn't stop the noise. Yesterday they said it's the tensioner that is torn and replaced that. They kept my car overnight to test it when its cold and hot and still no luck. I just got a call that the whining noise is still there once the engine is hot and they have no clue what's causing it. They are keeping my car over the weekend and I am really not too hopeful.

So, anyone ever heard of anything like this? What could it be?

 

Symptoms sound like a few different problems. If it's not the compressor, or alternator, and belt shows no signs of rubbing, could be the belt tensioner. Intermittent sound could be the Power Steering Pump Cooling fan.....they often become stuck and unstuck, and when debris gets into the shaft area, they can make a racket too.

It will also come on automatically exactly 30 seconds after turning on the A/C, along with the low speed radiator cooling fan.

 

Thanks. I'll ask them Monday to check the power steering pump cooling fan in case they didn't do that. Who knows.

 

I'll keep an eye on this post.
I've noticed the same thing ...whining sound when it's hot out. I think it's coming from the A/C compressor because I don't here it when I turn it off. But it doesn't always whine, only after 30 minutes or so. Even then not always.

 

I was quite sure that it's the AC compressor as the noise goes away when I turn off the AC and that was also what the mechanic suspected when I brought my car in last Friday, but then all of a sudden "it wasn't the AC compressor".

By now they have checked "everything" BUT the AC compressor and say they don't know what it is. Arrgh! If it would be up to me I'd change that compressor and see if it makes a difference.

 

At first I was afraid it was the transmission, but turning off the A/C and the noise going away relieved me of that fear.
To be honest, I'm kind of waiting until it gets worse or something happens so I know for sure. I'm pretty sure it's related to the A/C so it shouldn't be catasrophic (famous last words ).

Not big on mechanics changing things they "think" may be the problem.

 

Probably silly, but the reason why I went back to the dealership is because they said it's the AC compressor, and that would have been under warranty (be a day or so). Hmmm...

I am pretty sure it's something with the AC, especially as it doesn't cool so well either. It still cools, but nowhere near as good as it used to. And just saying to me it's hot outside and that's the reason is bull cause I am freezing in the loaner I am driving right now.

Update 6/28/10: Just spoke to my service advisor, they actually changed the AC compressor Friday, but it was still making the same noise. So today they are putting another one in to see if the one they put in had a fault too. And I asked them to check the power steering. Just in case.

 

Claudia,

My 06 MCS has very similar symptoms. (I even posted a $1 reward a few days ago for anyone who could figger it out). I am now sure that I owe Gray Raven a buck and a beer.

I drove my Coop up on a ramp and sure enough the Power Steering Pump fan was buzzing and chirping away like a Guinea Hen. Also... On my MCS.... the Power Steering Pump fan comes on EXACTLY SAME TIME AS A/C Compressor rather than 30 seconds delay. Which led me to believe it was also A/C related........ WRONG.

I have had it in to 2 shops so far...... and they were really horny to change idler pulley and tensioner. One suggested possible A/C compressor.

Power Steering Pump Fan is easy to locate but you can't get to it unless you are below the car (lift or ramp). It is exactly middle of the car...

If you listen CLOSELY under the car..... you can tell if it is LEFT-MIDDLE- or RIGHT.

IF IT IS MORE MIDDLE - IT IS LIKELY YOUR STEERING PUMP FAN MOTOR.


THANKS RAVEN

 

I wouldn't mind buying somebody a beer or two if they could figure it out...

I hope when I asked my service advisor to have the power steering checked they'll also check the fan. Haven't heard back from them yet.

Will I take the 2010 MCS loaner home for another night? That's the nice part about it... although I want mine back eventually.

 

The best part is that after buying a ramp ($39)..... I took me 5 minutes and a shot of lube spray to fix it.

It's possible that I might need a new fan motor somewhere down the line - I'll monitor it and see. But ANYTHING is better than having some numbknocks replacing idler pulley, tensioner, belt, etc..... all for the wonderful price of $999.99.

Yep. I was quoted just under a $1,000 for something I fixed in 5 minutes!!! My daughter (4) helped me and coulda done it herself.

 

I may have to resort to something like that, kurschat, although I am not very good when it comes to cars.

After one week of testing and allegedly changing the A/C compressor twice and checking everything else the mechanics at the dealership gave up.

I haven't really drive too far, so maybe the noise went away. I doubt it though. Will be blasting the stereo from now on...

 

OK... as an update (or not)... I am really fuming right now... I got my car back two days ago after the dealership guys couldn't figure out what's causing the noise I was complaining about. I kept telling them it's the A/C. They said "no it isn't", although allegedly they changed the A/C compressor (doesn't say anything about that in the work order I got). And guess what?! My A/C just stopped working! The noise is gone, but now I don't have A/C. Arrgh!

 

That's weird mine stops the noise when the AC compressor comes on. I feel like its a pully or bearing that switches over to the AC. Any suggestions ??

 

My noise stops when the AC compressor is on. It's making me nuts and my warranty is up