I just finished putting a new transmission into my R50 along with a new alternator. I started it up and the power steering isn't working and the battery isn't charging. I double checked that connections/plugs on the alternator and power steering pump, all the grounds are fine, and I can't seem to find any breakages or kinks in the wires come out of the power steering pump.

Anyone have ideas on where I should go from here?

 

When i did mine, you have to make sure the wire are back to there locations , its easy to mix them out and short out the ground which will then blow one of the block fuses under he main fuse on the driver side of the engine, check all of those first. Bet one blew out or something is not connected right.

 

Hmm, I'm reasonably sure that I got everything plugged back into its correct home but then again I'm the one with this problem. Do you mean the fuses by the battery or does the little housing attached to the engine on the drivers side that the wiring harness leads to have fuses in it?

 

Its right by the battery in the fuse box.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...e-failure.html

 

I checked out all the fuses and they looked ok. I can't think of any connections I haven't checked... It's starting to drive me mad.

 

Check those big box fuses sometime they have a hairline fuse crack / blown fuse.

 

Popped them out and they all look a-ok, at least nothing visible without a microscope and no discoloration.

 

Same issue here when the individual changed their gear box. Unfortunately, no real resolution, but a suggestion was to check your grounds.

 

Thanks! That definitely sounds like a similar issue. I'll get back insider her guts and double check all the grounds.

Edit: I'll also make sure to post an update here if/when I'm able to figure this out.

 

Thought you checked the ground and the terminals already . Fuses look ok in the box and the block fuses ? Also check the cables going to the altenator , did you change the alternator to a different ampage. When I switched to the factory 105 to the aftermarket or factory 110 amp i had to change out the cables.

12517534705

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...lternator.html

 

I did but at this point rechecking everything is the way to go. There's no discounting overlooking something.

I had absolutely no idea about the different alternators! This may be the problem... I'll have to wait a couple days before I'll have time to investigate (nightshifts yaaay).

 

Ok, maybe I'm being a bit dense here but where does this 105 and 110 amp alternator stuff come from? The alternator I took off is a valeo alternator that says 14v 120 amp and so does the one that I put on. I'm not entirely sure if the valeo one is the stuck one but I believe it is.

 

Depending on the year and options with each vehicle, there may be alternators with different amperage ratings. Depending on the alternator, there are different harnesses available to make each alternator work. You can use your VIN number to determine which alternator is needed for your car HERE.

 

It looks like it came stock with the 120A and the progression of R50 alternators was 105A -> 120A -> 110A.

Do you by any chance have the part number for the 120A alternator connecting cable? I'd like to start by replacing that while I try to find another multimeter to borrow. It's a rather thin cable that gets snaked around by the plugs so maybe it got bent too much.
The PN for the 110A cable is 12517534705, although I'm not sure if they are compatible.

 

Looking on real OEM looks like the 120A is Valeo. The 105A connecting cable is 12517534705 and the 110A is 12517534705, but it doesn't list one for the 120A for some reason. I did find 12427516214 alternator cable, but it's not specific like those other ones. If you have the Valeo 120A, it should work per MINI. (Called and checked).

 

Just wanted to say thank you for that info, it wasn't the issue but new parts never hurt! I haven't forgotten about this, just have some other things that need my attention. I'll be sure to not leave this thread hanging.

 

Welcome. Thanks for the update. So you have the 110A alternator 12517534705 . They cables will match the alternator. Did you check the grounds ?

Sometimes realoem does not show everything for the models and you have know by actually replacing the parts and doing the work.

 

You're welcome. Most of what I am stumbling upon points to the alternator or the ground strap. This thread here someone even noted may the p/s itself is failing, but most issues that individuals post about ended up being the ground or alternator. Did find this thread here on NAM with a different idea of a solution at the very last post. Maybe some of the advice given in those threads will further assist you.