Well here is what happened to my trusty steed hope someone can help.

1. Driving normally and suddenly died, no missing, sputtering hesitations, etc. Basically like someone turned off the key.
2. Will not restart had it flatbedded home.
3. With the ignition switch on the temp gauge pegs and the high temp warning light comes on. Temp was normal when running. Even the next day with the engine cooled to ambient the gauge still pegs high with the ignition in on. (I really think this is telling me something but don't know what)
4. With the ignition on but obviously motor not running the SES light is NOT illuminated as it should.

The only other odd thing is the passenger window stopped rolling up or down about three days before the car died. Don't think this is related unless it is the computer, over the past few years the window had been intermittent a few times.

Computer, coil pack, thoughts? Trying to avoid an expensive trip to the dealer.

Anyone know of a good service place for MINI's in North Tampa, FL?

The car is an 04 MCS with 80K. Thanks for the help, been using the info on the site very much just don't post all that often.

Larry

 

More than likely you have a bad battery.
MINI's are very tempermental when it comes to amperage and voltage.
Battery may check out fine but if it's a OEM over 5 years old it is probally toast.
With a bad battery, MINI electrics go berserk.

 

Bad Battery? Would that cause it to die while driving, I would think the alternator would hold it and it cranks fine just won't start. Battery is easy so I guess I could check it out before taking it to service.

 

Bad battery is one of the first trouble shooting things to do to these cars. Is it the cause? I don't know, but it is way less than totally crazy to give it a try, especially if you can just put in a known good batter for a tester.

It sure could be a bad alternator taking out the battery, but that is mo-money, so working your way up the $ ladder is not a bad plan.

 

With a bad battery, these cars will die while driveing.
Take our advise, it's the battery.

 

Um, I am old school... Yes my battery died (PS pump would not shut off I didn't know it at the time, and it killed my battery)... I managed to turn the key, pop-start the car, and it ran JUST FINE. Battery flat as a pancake. I replaced the battery, and later found the PS pump would not shut off.

That being said, these guys are spot on, a dead battery does WEIRD things to these cars. My headlights flashed, turn signals flashed (I mean flashed, like a strobe)... very odd cars. But I take these guys at their word.

If you have a manual, I disconnect the bat, and try pop starting to see if that is it (will at least allow you to drive down and get a new bat). Most parts places have the bat. I think I spent $75 for an exide.

 

Thanks for all the info so far. Will get a battery after work today and see. Hope that is it and I don't have to chase more expensive parts. Will post results. If anyone else has any ideas keep them coming, just wierd with the temp gauge, I guess that may be one of the wierd electical things caused by a battery.

 

[quote=knockld;3283927]Well here is what happened to my trusty steed hope someone can help.

1. Driving normally and suddenly died, no missing, sputtering hesitations, etc. Basically like someone turned off the key.
2. Will not restart had it flatbedded home.
3. With the ignition switch on the temp gauge pegs and the high temp warning light comes on. Temp was normal when running. Even the next day with the engine cooled to ambient the gauge still pegs high with the ignition in on. (I really think this is telling me something but don't know what)
4. With the ignition on but obviously motor not running the SES light is NOT illuminated as it should.

The only other odd thing is the passenger window stopped rolling up or down about three days before the car died. Don't think this is related unless it is the computer, over the past few years the window had been intermittent a few times.

Computer, coil pack, thoughts? Trying to avoid an expensive trip to the dealer.

Anyone know of a good service place for MINI's in North Tampa, FL?

The car is an 04 MCS with 80K. Thanks for the help, been using the info on the site very much just don't post all that often.


Don't have anything more to contribute, except if you need a good place to service your car outside of the dealer, I would recommend Vortex Motors, on Hillsborough ave.

Cheers

 

New battery had no effect. The old one was actually a BMW ship dated May 07. The indicator eye still indicated it was good as well. Any other thoughts out there before sending it off to the shop?

Thanks for the support thus far.

 

Check all fuses. Check for spark, Check for fuel.

Check distributor lead, if that wiggles loose it would do that. Fuel pump would kill the car too.

Really you need to check all the usual suspects.

 

If something is wrong with the temperature sensing equipment and registering extreme temp. the computer will shut down the engine. (These heads will warp if they get too hot.) The fact that the SES light does not come on during the start sequence means that something is outside paramenter from the "get-go" or the computer is fried. Borrow an OBD from someone and see what error code is being thrown.

 

Ihoboy,

Like your thinking with the temp sensor, I would think pulling the connector to the RTD should cause the system to revert to a low temp reading (i.e. high resistence). Where is the connector located?

 

This is just one small thing but check the grounding strap and make sure that it did not break off. If it did, the car will not start. I had this happen while I was driving and the car slowly died until I pulled off the road and turned it off. After that, it wouldn't restart. Replaced the strap and all was well.

 

Where is the grounding strap, I am assuming you are talking from the engine block to the chassis?

 

Passenger side near the motor mount. A metal strap.

 

Ended up being the fuel pump. Went bad blew the fuel pump relay causing the engine to stop and not start (duh). Wish I had time to have chased this a little bit before having to send off to be repaired but so is the current time in my life. Repair bill after tow and diagnosis $843.10!!!!!