After not driving my Mini for 4 days, the first start on the 4th day, the service engine soon light lit up, as well as the engine pulsing a little hard and the "power steering whine" was very loud. After a minute the engine returned to normal but the light was still lit.

So I drove the car a around a bit and went on an errand thinking the engine might have froze. After I went to the store and got back into the car again, the service light had gone out.

Has this happen to anyone else? I've never had this problem. I'm calling to schedule my Mini to be serviced tomorrow anyways, but I wanted some feedback from others.

 

i think your ECU just needed to get use to the environment around it.
it's possible that the last time you drove it, it was dry and today it was
raining or really humid. The ECU will take a moment to relearn the
environment. If that's the case, after the irregularities are returned to
normal, the CEL will turn off.

you may also had some bad gas. i wouldn't get too worried about it.


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03MCS IB/Blk: 123, Aerokit, R90 17x7, TK5 16x7, 6CDMP3, and a few more.

 

I had same thing. The manual says it is probably an emissions problem. Loose gas cap is what the dealer people always check for. In my case it was thermostat, which they did not have in stock and ordered. I had noticed that the car heaater was slow warming up and my temp. gage did not get to mid point of the dial and suspected something had changed. It is not an emergency like no oil or anything like that.
Steve

 

>>I had same thing. The manual says it is probably an emissions problem. Loose gas cap is what the dealer people always check for. In my case it was thermostat, which they did not have in stock and ordered. I had noticed that the car heaater was slow warming up and my temp. gage did not get to mid point of the dial and suspected something had changed. It is not an emergency like no oil or anything like that.
>>Steve

My Service Engine Light went on while I was driving upstate NY today. Had 200 miles on the tank, so it was not a loose gas cap. Was driving down a steep mountain in 3rd gear, never exceeding 3,300 RPM, drove another five miles on the flat, and it went on.

Drove 130 miles home and it is still on. Guess it's back to the dealer (4th time in 5,000 miles) to have them take a look.

I did fill it up, and went through 3 start and stop cycles to see if it would go out.
Any advice?

Thanks.

Regards,
Red

 

Same thing happened to my new 2004. The fifth day I had it, I started it up and the service engine soon light came on. I only had 480 miles on the engine & had been very careful about making sure the gas cap "clicked" whenever I got gas. The dealerships in Germany were all closed for the Christmas holidays so I haven't been able to get it checked. null

 

Check engine light covers so many funtions it is a wonder it stays off :smile: NO CEL

 

>>Check engine light covers so many funtions it is a wonder it stays off :smile: NO CEL

I dearly loved all my classic sports cars too. But even thought my CEL is STILL on, it starts when it is raining and does not leak oil! That counts for something.


Regards,
Red

 

It went off today. Just like they said. No more angry light.

Guess I have to be more careful with the gas cap, but I thought I was........



Regards,
Red

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<IMG SRC="https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/albums/album04/fyy.thumb.jpg
">Life is better MINImized CWFAC 03

 

I went to my dealership today for an the new v36 and to check out the 'Service Engine Soon' problem. Turns out that they recalled the Diode for the Power Steering Fan. Which causes the Service Engine Soon light to appear as well as an impulsive Brake Light to appear. Thought I'd let everyone know who's experienceing the problem.