Wow, I have alot of Mini problems right now:
1. Car sometimes will not start. Dealership said it was a dead battery ~ wrong!
Before battery changed sometimes no problem, other times the car did not start and I'd have to have help jumping it. There sometimes was a clicking sound, sometimes no sound just dead. Sometimes a car could start it, other times a truck had problems jumping it. Last time a truck finally got it started. Went down the mountain and lights flickered, radio faded in and out and the car felt like it would just die.
I changed the battery as instructed. Tonite I got in the car, turned it over and nothing. Waited a couple of seconds, did it again and it started right up. What could this be and how can I troubleshoot it?

2. Engine Cooling Fan -When I first got this car it overheated and the dealership fixed the problem. Since that time I notice that the engine cooling fan runs excessively. Doesn't overheat. It's just loud and stays on a little awhile after I turn the car off. This has been happening since the car had the orginal problem. Now it has 50k. Recently when I took it in for the starting problem, the dealership told me I needed a new thermostat, t-stat sensor, new engine cooling fan. They wanted a huge amt. of money. Got a friend and we decided to change the Thermostat and the T-sensor.
The cooling fan doesn't appear to be on unless I have been driving the car awhile the the high temp fan on. So I guess I will have to change that fan assembly out too?

3. Again since before 31k miles I have complained of the car having a knocking sound. This happens mostly when the air conditioning is on and it doesn't matter if I just started it or have been driving around for some time. Sometimes it is rhythmic. It is always when I am waiting at a light in neutral or when I am driving in a low gear. The dealership told me they don't hear this but they just aren't listening. Finally, had someone at the dealership sit in the car with me and asked does this sound normal? He agreed no, popped the hood and said hmmm but had no idea what it is. Have any of you had this problem and how did you fix it?

4. I have had all my service at the dealership and while we were taking out the filter box to put in the thermostat stuff I noticed the air filter was filthy. I just had my car in there before taking a trip a few weeks ago. They did the oil change and they also found the thermostat, cooling fan, and dead battery issues which may or may not be a real problem. Did they mention that my filter was horrible and probably never had been changed? Nope! Could this be killing my car? There was all kinds of dirt in it, could not see any light or anything. Silly me I trusted they were checking it and never even thought to look at it with my own eyes. What gives with Mini and the world class inspection team?

I'm thinking of getting rid of it because I cannot have a car I cannot depend on. I have always been up to date on my service, have now sunk some more money in it and the exact same problems continue. If you have had any of these issue or know about Mini's and have any advice please share it with me. I can't afford to not the car start when it doesn't feel like it. I don't know how to troubleshoot these issues without starting to just pull it apart and replace everything.

Thanks for any help in advance. I'm not a happy Mini owner.

 

Sorry to hear about your problems. I've only had my '04 S for a few weeks and have already fixed a noisy driver's side window and the low speed radiator fan (corroded factory resistor). There is a good thread on how to replace the low speed resistor without having to replace the entire fan unit. Cost is about $20 for a new external resistor and you'll need a few electrical connectors as well. Pretty easy fix for someone handy with tools and you don't have to mess with the cooling fan at all, just the wiring harness which is easily accessed. Afraid I can't help with any of the other issues but I'm sure someone will have advice for you.

By the way, I just love my Mini and find that I'm enjoying it far more than the 2000SE Miata I owned for 4 years.

Eric

 

It sounds like no matter what is said you have given up...
It is a shame cause the mini is one heck of a fun car... It just sounds like you have an subpar dealer!!
The fan does run antime the ac is on, and after the car is shut off for a short time..."hearing it alot" usually indicates 2 things, the coolant is often low, so it may run lots after shutdown cause it is warm, and the low speed fan has failed, so you simply hear it...the low speed is barely noticable, but the high speed is obnoxiously loud!!
The starting..to me it sounds like you need more info...the saying even a truck had trouble starting it could mean lots of things....
Was it slow to crank, did it fail to crank, did it only click...what was the battery voltage when this happened, even a new battery can be weak from something staying on...if it is only 10v and fails to start with the new battery, then you need to find what is draing the battery...ps pump, ps fan, or a light left on perhaps?
Y

 

The filter issue, it kinda explains alot....they are not gonna just toss a new one in unless you ask...or it is in for inspection...you saw it, toss a new one in, it will cost you 25% of what the dealer would charge!! They did you a favor!! They do/can get pretty filthy, but it is like saying the oil looked dirty when they checked the level, but did not do an oil change!! Unless it is so dramatically bad, they will "mention" it to you, a hint to do it, but just won't do it! I mean come on, take some responsibility for YOUR CAR.

 

One thing...it sounds like you are out of warrenty, so why not give an independant mini shop a chance to look it over, and find the issue?!
Many independant shops will not only fix the car, but take a few moments to explain to you what is going on, and educate you a bit if you seem interested...the experance is much different than the dealer experance where you kinda mention something, and they just replace the flux capacitor for some $$$$, and say enjoy!!

 

Zippy...You seem to be very knowledgeable on Mini maintenance as I have followed some of your responces in other posts.I was able to take your advice and it worked...Are you a Mini mechanic or just very experienced in Mini Maintenace?Thanks for all your good advise

 

Clicking sound is probably the battery (Just like they said)

The fan should stay on when you turn off the car engine to cool the Turbo (Working OK)

If you are using regular gas it will ping ( Use Hi-test like you are supposed to)

If the filter was dirty it was doing just what it is supposed to do ( Filter out the dirt)

When you take your car into the dealer for service they will only do what you ask of them. The next time give the service guy a list of just what you want done.

Go to Walmart and they will check your battery if possible. I just had to put in a new one in my Samuari because it was doing the same exact thing you describe. (one bad cell)

There are plenty of venders on this forum that sell the filter. You can get one and replace it yourself.

You can get a new battery at Walmart much less expensive then at a Dealer.

I suggest you look to see if there is a Mini group in your area. Most places have a group of Mini owners that get together once in a while for eats or just to have a breakfast drive to nowhare.

The mini is a very good car and you will really like it when you replace the battery and it starts every time.

Check on line for a Mini group in your area. Here in Florida we have Sunshine Mini's. I don't know where you are living or I would try to find a group for you.

 

1)Has anyone checked ur crank pulley,my 06 'S had a similiar problem and the crank pulley came apart also the belt.All the things broke and my alternator wasn't charging the battery and also the dealer replaced that.at first is caused a knocking noise in the engine!!!
2)As for the fan also already replaced mine, is has 2 speed a slow and a fast and they explained at the dealer that if the slow speed doen't work the fan stays on longer on fast speed to try cool the car off.

 

i get mine at the dealer and replace it every oil change!.

 

One possible idea on the knocking/tapping sound: I have an '05 MC and last year I experienced the same sort of hard-to-pinpoint noise. I thought it might be a bad valve lifter. The noise sort of came and went depending on the ambient temperature and how warmed up the engine happened to be. Sometimes it was almost imperceptible, sometimes quite evident.

When I had it in for a scheduled oil service at the dealership (Motorwerks in Minneapolis) I decided to say something about this noise. The lead tech couldn't really put his finger on it initially but agreed to investigate once they had it back in the maintenance bay. I was figuring they would at least need to pull the valve cover and who knows what else. As it turns out, they didn't need to do any of that. The tech discovered that the accessory drive belt was missing a small section of the drive surface. They replaced the belt and the offending noise disappeared.

Perhaps it's something you should check out on your MINI.

 

I only know about cars because I discovered the DIY section here and now whenever anything goes wrong I google and watch anything related on You Tube. Last night I was really frustrated. Okay, I stayed on here and searched and searched for answers to what are to the problems I'm having. Zippy you helped me on all the posts I read. Thanks for that!
1. Yes my warranty is out.
2. Yes I changed the air filter. I guess it irritated me because I paid them a hundred bucks to do a 'world class inspection' (their words) and change my oil. I've taken it there for that type of service since I bought it so 5 years ago and I'm just realizing that alot of things that were little issues before are now bigger issues. That being said I also realize that I can do alot of things myself and can find a new mechanic.
3. Yes my friend and I changed the Thermostat and the Thermostat Sensor.
4. Yes I changed the battery. It is brand new. The car still will not start at times so that actually is stressing me out. Like last night.

Sometimes it cranks and sometimes not. Last night it was light noting was happening. Could not hear or more for me 'feel' anything.

However, after reading for a few hours I got some insight that renews my hope a little.
1. I'm thinking I might need a fuel pump. Could I maybe just need a fuel filter? Looking into that.
2. I definitely need to change the engine cooling fan. It is not working at all on the low speed. Just the high speed which is really obnoxious. Are you still happy with yours Zippy? I found yours and it is a great price.

Anyway, thanks for the responses. I was not as frustrated when I awoke this morning. It will be alright. I can do alot of this myself.

 

My fan is still working great. No problems, and my local mini guys stopped using the oem ones...the same failures kept happening, but so far so good with the TYC fans....he has installed a boatload!!
My gut says you could save a few $$ doing the fan, but the start issue might need a mechanic with some tools and skills to do some trouble shooting.
The issue as I see it could be any one of a number off things....maybe a computer or wiring issue, or even a voltage or grounding issue...it needs to be narrowed down before you spend money tossing parts at it or you are just shooting in the dark...feeling Lucy about the fuel pump? I would expect it to work or not work..intermitant working at start-up is odd...but pulling the spark plugs after a failed start to see if they are wet, or even smelling for gas might help. Then again, I know somebody who had a start issue last week...it happen a few months ago, went away, then just stopped, was the ecu.
As far my background, I am a pilot, but be trained in systems quite a bit...so when I read this stuff, then look at the schematics, it makes lots of sense, and the fact I have spent many hours at "greesy's garage" with another member well versed in mini modding hangging out, it is hard not to pick up. The Mini is different, but basic trouble shooting principals still hold true.

 

You make alot of sense. This week I'll try to find a mechanic not the Mini Dealership who can help me run it down on the starting problem. My friend doesn't have a shop. We just did the repairs we did here at the condo.

The starting problem is making me crazy because it doesn't do it all the time making the car not dependable and I don't want to go somewhere like the mountains and get caught there without being able to get it to start and have to be towed out. It would cost a fortune. I've had to leave it and call a friend for a ride a couple of times.

Anyway, I'm going to get the fan and that will tidy up those issues. I've got Rockauto parts pulled up on the computer and am crossing fingers I have the correct fan. Seems there is some stuff around that.

Thanks for all your advice guys. Sometimes you just need to run it by another person when your head gets too confused. I'm good with getting people's hearts to restart but not cars.

 

The starting problem screams loose connection. If the battery is good, and it isnt a computer issue (always possible), I would check and make sure the positive jumper cable post is tight. If that is good then check the grounding strap on the passenger side of the engine bay, thick black wire about 6-8in long. Both the bolts holding it should be clean and snug.

If those both check out then that only leaves the connection to the starter itself, but that is quite the ordeal to get to and is unlikely. It doesnt take a lot of resistance in the starter motor circuit for things to go all out of whack. The greater the resistance in the circuit the greater the voltage drop for a given current draw. Starter solenoid doesnt draw a lot of current (compared to the starter atleast...), so it almost always works, that is the clicking sound you hear. Starter will draw over 100 amps, all that current needs a clear path. When the lights flicked (headlights, interior?) did anything else happen?

I may have left a couple connections out, I would have to look at the schematic again. The fuel pump wouldnt cause the car to do nothing at all, unless the ECU looks for a current draw from the fuel pump before it does anything, but the fuel pump would have to be completely dead for that to come into play (at least that is how I would implement such a system if wanted it to completely prevent cranking). The ECU probably doesnt do that though.