Hello fellow NAM members,

I'm in a bit of a pickle and could use some help.

Here is some background, I have an 06 r53 manual and bought it used with 9k miles last year. Mods include Alta intake, exhaust and sway bar.

A few weeks ago I got in my car after work and it wouldn't start. My friend came over to help me jump start it and nothing, just a clicking noise, radio working, windows working and lights working. I was able to get it started by pushing it. Took it to Pep Boys and replaced the starter since that's what they recommended.
Picked it up next day and drove it for a couple of days. Until I tried to start it and it wouldn't start. Only way was to push start. Took it to Pep Boys and had the battery checked and got a 0 volt read and they figured the alternator needed to be replaced so they replaced it and they also replaced the battery.
I thought I would have my car back to normal since I picked it up and drove it for a few days, everything seemed okay.
Nope. Last night it wouldn't start again. Same symptoms as before. I spent over 1k now and I am right back where I started a few weeks ago.
The car only has 20k miles now and it shouldn't need so much work.

Any advise will be appreciated.

 

i'm pretty new to minis, but i would have to say you should check whatever kind of ground strap the engine has. just a thought.

 

The clicking noise, lights and radio working, etc. are a sign of a failing battery (I would have said a dead battery, but it's not dead, actually). I think you can just replace the battery and should be OK.

 

I'll check the ground strap.

 

I already replaced the battery, alternator and starter.

I'm thinking it could be a relay or short.

 

Do you hear a fan running after you turn the car off? Sounds like something is killing your battery and the power steering fan is a common battery draining failure.

 

Gotta love pepboys...spend $1000 on parts (usually low end rebuilt parts), and vola, still s problem....they are nothing but parts changing monkeys...and seem to believe if you throw enough $$ at an item you will fix it someday...
what i would do...
Check the grounding straps, both under the hood, and then go to the rear battery compartment...check connections there...then look in the box that sits next yo the battery...it is the battery disconect...it is fired if there is an airbag deployment..look to see it is generly free from major corrosion(a leaky trunk could get it wet).
i would also check for the above...when it does click check the voltage ...
both at the battery and up front...
If that is ok...i would look under the car...check to see if the +battery cable (there are 2 in the s), and make sure it is intact, and not partially cut/corroded etc).
if all else fails...get the car to a pro...$120 for a hour or two of diaganosis might have saved you tge trouble if the free pepboys advise...
And caution, this advise is free too, but ee all mean well, but i am a firm believer in check the simple free+easy stuff first...then spend $$ when you need to.
Good luck.

 

My guess is something draining the battery as it was working fine for a few days. Still can't hurt to check all the easy stuff first.

+1 on avoiding pep boys... Where are you located? We can probably recommend you a MINI mech in your area.

 

Thanks for all the advise.

I wish my dad and I had waited on these big purchases from Pep Boys. These guys really had no clue what was wrong and went ahead and advised us to get the parts replaced anyways. Like the previous dude said they keep on replacing parts until they get something right. Except that they didn't get it right.

Hopefully we can finally get this all figured out. And that it's not too complicated. I haven't checked the grounds until tomorrow.

I am in the Hawthorne, CA in the South Bay.

 

If you can't get it sorted, give MINICorsa a call and see if they can help. They are right up the road in Hollywood and seem to have a decent reputation.

http://www.minicorsa.com/index.html

 

My pops said the battery was kinda weak but was able to get the car started. He took it this morning to the Pep Boys and tells them to fix it. They checked the battery and said that it needed a charge and that it was defective and would change it.

I called my pops and told him what you guys said that something seems to be draining the battery and to check the engine ground straps and all battery cables. I also mentioned to him that Pep Boys has no idea whats wrong and that we basically spent all that money unnecessarily.

He said he would call the tech and tell him something was draining the battery that it wasn't the battery itself.

I just got the call from him saying that they figured out the issue. It was a loose cable in the front of the car where you check the battery. Now I am not too sure which cable exactly but it was loose and that they guarantee that the battery will now work properly. They are charging it and I can pick up my mini today.

Does anyone know exactly which cable it is?