Recently my 2007 Mini Cooper S (Automatic) has been having some issues starting in the morning. For the past couple of days I've had to park outside (Michigan weather - sub freezing nights) since my wife got a new car and I didn't want to leave the lease turn-in outside.

Anyways, the past couple of times when I went to start, I would push the button, and it would not turn over. It generally takes 4-8 pushes to get it going. Once started, it runs fine.

I have 70K on the car. I already had the Timing Chain Tensioner replaced at around 45-50K miles.

Is this a Cold Start Issue? I don't have that loud knock once started. I'm wondering if my car needs a new battery and/or new plugs? Also reading that it could be the High Pressure Fuel Pump (which Mini extended the warranty on). I just want it resolved, I know if I bring it to the dealer they want like $125 just to look at the car.

Suggestions?

 

Has the battery been tested? Here is why


People only tend to think about their car battery in the winter. The fact is, summer heat can be even more damaging than winter’s cold temperatures when it comes to car batteries. And yet, few people give batteries a thought during the heat of summer. The cold hard truth is that:

• When the mercury rises, a car battery's strength goes down.
• Extreme heat, like 95° F outside combined with high temperatures under the hood, accelerates corrosion of car batteries.
• Heat causes the water to evaporate out of battery fluid, breaking down the battery grids.

Weak batteries can struggle on for months, turning over the engine while it's easy to start and generate a charge. The real test comes when temperatures drop. A weakened battery has to overcome cold temperatures and a harder-to-crank engine because the cold thickened the engine's oil. The heat's attack lowered the battery's starting power, meaning someone's going to have to call for a jump-start and a replacement battery -- unless you get there first.

 

You say "it would not turn over"? I would replace the battery. While my '07S didn't make it to 70k miles, it would always turn over even with the original cold start issue. This includes some really cold winter days in northern VT. But that was the ice-cube that would form in the intake manifold and it would stumble and stutter when it started. Once the dealer change the intake manifold it was fine. If you haven't had that problem by now, I doubt it would start now.

 

I'll get the battery tested. Maybe "turn over" was the wrong choice of words. It would turn over, but not fire. I would have to give it some gas and then it would eventually fire up.

Getting the battery tested should be easy and I planned on doing that first. After reading other posts, most seems to go back to the Fuel Pump.

 

May be both. If its original battery you need one for sure I would think.

 

Definitely possible on the fuel pump. Seems mine got to be hard to start and it didn't seem to have power. But the dealer caught it before it became a real problem.

 

It really could be something as simple as needing a new battery...don't expect the worst until you have too.

On my last mini I was having start up issues and swore it couldn't be the battery cuz it wasn't old. After stressing myself out reading the boards about all the things that it could have been. The issue was a simple fix...the battery connections needed to be cleaned and tightened.

 

+1

 

Just had to do the fuel pump in my 2011 with only 20k miles. When the motor was cold it would turn over but wouldn't start. Took about 15 min to start but it would idle rough for a min sometimes stall if I didn't feather the throttle. No check engine light?

 

The past 2 days now it has fired right up on the first push. This week will be telling since the weather will be sub 20 degree F has a high in Michigan.

 

Could I interest you in a nice Condo in Tampa perhaps???

:-)

Kind regards,

Charlie (being an unhelpful wise-*ss)

Ps: I am looking at a week of sub-zero nights up here in Massachusetts, so at least I shall also be shivering.

 

Sure, if someone buys my house for what I owe on it

 

Have not had any issues the past week now.

Took my car in to the local Mini guys (Detroit Tuned) to get an oil change and they told me I had a few other issues. Feed line is leaking going to the turbo and a valve cover gasket leak. Also noticed my tensioner bolt was loose, but luckily I'm still under warranty on that since I had it replaced in 2011 May.

 

Cool good luck.