Today after driving home from work I stopped at the store for shopping, then at the apt. complex I stopped to check the mail. After trying to start the MINI back up after checking the mail, the car would not start. It acts like it wants to. After the engine won't start the SES, Oil, and Battery lights all come on.

This is a 2003 R50. Please help with suggestions as to the cause/fix...

Thanks,

movieman

 

Battery is dead.
Fix...new battery

 

Battery seems to be fine. It isn't just clicking. It's trying to turn, but won't start.

 

Mini's are pretty power hungry @ start up, check the actual voltage in the battery, could be "just low enough"

 

Battery indeed... It's not because there's still some life left in your battery it's still OK. The symptoms you described are those of a battery which is about to die out on you completely real soon.

 

Hope its not the alternator...

 

Ok, replaced the battery, no-go. Any other suggestions?

It almost sounds like the car isn't getting gas.

 

Have someone test the current draw while trying to start the car, starter could be going out, another way to check this is of course trying to pop start the car if it's a stick, will tell you if it's something "start" related or more seriously "engine" related.
Odds are that it is only start related, but doesn't hurt to know for sure.

Good luck,

 

I don't think it's start related. At 5ish, it started fine, drove to eat, started fine after eating, drove to walmart and shopped for an hour or so, started fine after that. Drove home, stopped at mailbox, then it wouldn't start. It almost sounds like it isn't getting gas.

 

Lose or bad ignition wire connecitons?

 

When you turn the key to the on position, but not turn the engine over, do you hear the fuel pump prime the system for about 5 seconds? Do you smell raw fuel after attempting to start it over all those times? if yes then you are getting fuel, but maybe it's on it's way out/is not building enough pressure.

I would get a can of starting fluid, and see if the car fires over and then dies out, if so it's most likely fuel related. If nothign after that, it would be electrical. Pull a plug out, stick it in the end of the boot, and ground it on something steel, turn it over and see if you see a spark. If yes then I'm out of ideas. If no, then it may be anyhting from a bad coil pack, to Crank/cam sensor not reading.

 

Check to see if you have any codes posted. This might help you as to where to look.

 

You have an 03.
They run rich, brush the soot off your plugs, be sure plug wires are clean and connected.
Have you ever change your fuel filter? As Noir2005 said, check the coil pack. The starters/alternators are pretty good on these cars, but you may want to check all your wire connections.