Not sure if it is working for powering the car, but after the battery was charged, as soon as I connected the battery to the car I can hear clicking from the bottom of the car (ps area) but it could be alternator area as well I suppose. I checked the alternator 2k miles ago when I serviced the supercharger.

 

The PS pump does move if the power is to it, but when they fail the PS pump will just not work. It will go to the olden days of no power steering cars like my old Pontiac Fiero. Have you driven a car with no power steering, you have to muscle it around.

Sounds like the alts on it way out and its on/off on your pump. Like its trying to work but cannot get the juice from the alt.

 

I have driven cars without PS and with PS disabled (and failed). It happened on the highway, then 2 minutes after the light show happened, car cut off with RPMS still showing 2k or so and my speek at 60 mph ( I started to break as soon as I saw the light show)

 

Yea, Its most likely the alternator. I pulled off the road as soon as mine did that. The battery light was like the first and the radio was like goodbye for now..

 

the ps pump runs directly off alternator, if alt fails ps is first thing to quit working

 

I'd have to check the wiring diagram to verify, but this may not be correct. When my alternator went out last year, the power steering pump still worked normally. I was also able to drive the car normally for a few miles. I have a voltmeter gauge and the voltage was at 12V instead of 14.2V when it failed.

 

The power steering motor/pump will work as long as there is enough current from the battery or the alternator to power it. There is no such thing as running directly off the alternator. There is no switch that separates the alternator output and the battery.

 

my PS pump wont run if the battery is fully charged and I unhook the belt, I know this because I did this diagnosing engine noise

I would guess there is a relay that turns on power to the pump that's fed off the main line, there's a giant cable running to a harness off that PS pump

 

Sometimes one has to eat humble pie despite of one's confidence. I have never look closely on how the electric power steering is wired until now though I have browsed thru most of the Mini schematics.

Indeed, the alternator, unlike most alternator has a dedicated output just for the electric PS's control unit. It is a BLK/YEL wire which connects to the PS control module and the instrument cluster. The best that I can infer is this is the signal to indicates when the alternator failed and also lights up the indicator. The PS motor however, still get the power from the main B+ that is the alternator output which is always connected together with the battery. Hence it supports the observation that when the alternator is disconnected there will be no worky of the PS. Far out!

 

Mini is safely parked and given this cold weather we are having it might be a week or so before I get under it to inspect it. would alternator make whining type of noise when the car was off? I will update with pictures in my thread once I am able to get under it. Thanks for all the help!

 

For what's worth. I think MINI has the alternator signal going to the PS controller for safety reasons. I infer this yellow wire which also goes to the instrument cluster is the alternator warning light. As the electric motor is a very high current consumer, MINI wants no one to continue to drive the car when the alternator is not charging. The DC motor will deplete even a healthy and fully charge batter in no time if the alternator is not charging.

 

You can hear the PS pump if the ignition is turned on as have been there when I did my retune. I removed the pump fuse when I did the tune so that the voltage would not decrease too much and crash the tune. Would think the relay system is set up so that if the engine is running and the alternator fails, the pump stops.

 

Hi


I have the dreaded pump leak, two hoses are going to be replaced first intake and return lines $700 (CDN), but they also want to replace the pump I said lets just do the hoses first clean up the pump since it's still working and see if the pump is actually leaking when running.


I had a wet covered pump for the longest time but never had leaks or puddles on the floor until just a couple weeks ago, car was sitting in airport parking for a week in freezing cold weather, car is usually a summer only car and rarely driven in the winter.


tried calling mini Canada to get Goodwill on the pump they said there was nothing they could do... so disappointing yet I still pay through the nose to keep this car... 2005 Cooper S only 127K km on it.


the mini brand is losing my loyalty very fast.

 

Can you do it yourself or find a MINI Club members up there that can help you, I know in Toronto there are a bunch of members.

 

I didn't change the pump, I had them do the two hoses intake and return lines, and after the mechanic cleaned it after road test there was no immediate leak from the pump so I'm monitoring it I believe the majority of the leak was coming from the hoses because I was driving with a oil covered pump for over a couple of years and thought nothing of it since it was not leaving any pools on the ground and was not failing. At least for now I saved the $1450 on new pump, but still cost me under $1000 for the hoses and also was in for the annual oil change. I don't drive the car on a daily basis so to me it was not worth changing the pump at this time since it still works.


Thanks

 

I too have been battling this dumb PSP. Dealership replaced the pump. I replaced the hoses. I replaced the 3-pin connector connecting to the PSP. Checked under hood, and 100A fuse is good. F39 in cabin is good. I get power coming out of the 2-pin connector that connects to PSP. Pretty sure alternator works since I get ~14v at battery when car is running.

What else to check!? I'm going crazy. Could the signal wire (yellow) be bad and where does this yellow wire come from? Is it connected to the harness on the alternator?

 

Here are three excerpts of the wiring diagram that are relevant to the PSP and its cooling fan. Per the diagram there is a control unit built into the pump.

 

Check F38 also.

 

Thanks! No F38 for me though.

 

I have had those 100 amp fuses test good with a multi-meter but were in fact failed, just happened again on my 540i air/emissions pump

 

I just checked my yellow wire- 13.3v with the car on. I'm stumped.

 

Hi, I noticed my pump has a label EHPS R50, my mini is a 2005 R53 Cooper S, do all OEM original pumps say R50? I had hoses replaced due to leak from the hoses and I am monitoring the pump which doesn’t have a leak but some slight stains. Just curious as I noticed the label upon inspection

thanks

 

Same part used on the R50, Part Numbers:
32416778425
32416769963
32416769759
32416760567
32416758147

Motor On!

 

so what you're saying is all pumps have the EHPS R50 label for all minis that are R50,52,53 not designated labels EHPS R52,R53, etc? if you have a cooper S that is R53 and look at the OEM pump label yours will say EHPS R50 as well?

 

All the pumps are the same, the manufacturers (like ZF) sometimes use the R50 as the generation code meaning like R50-R53


AAE rebuilt pump:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-atlantic...-parts/v-mini/



Power steering pump line fix and DIY here: Post # 7

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...placement.html