I've got a 2002 Mini Cooper s and ever since I've bought it it has had a bit of a starting problem and seems to be getting worse.

So let's say I get in push the clutch and turn the key to start the vehicle, sometimes it will start fine but sometimes it not turn on, the radio and climate controls don't turn on, but the wipers turn on all by them selves. I turn the car off and try to start it again and usually it's starts not it's taken me a hour today and finally got it.
Has any one had this kind of issue?? I live far away from a mini dealer and sure it will cost a fortune which I don't have at the moment. Any way to look and find what could be wrong

(I can also start the car without the clutch being pushed in sometimes)

Thanks a lot

 

Sounds like your battery needs replacing.

 

ok thats what i was thinking from other posts i read but the battery is new but I will try that but almost certain thats not the case, Thanks

Could there be wiring bad because when i bought the car about a month ago the 20amp fuse for the wipers was blown?

 

I'd look at the switch on the clutch if you can start without depressing clutch. Sounds like it needs to be replaced.

 

Ok I'm getting my battery checked this afternoon see if that's it....hopefully :/

 

Got my battery checked it's still good actually making more then rated so could it be the fuse box has moisture or something else...or am I going to have to resort to taking to a dealer.

Good bye money

 

Did you see the mention of the clutch switch?

 

check the main grounds

the neg off the battery and where it attaches

and both sides of the main engine ground strap

 

Yes I saw I will have to replace that if that's wrong....can that cause the not starting and wiper problem though???

 

Ok the negative from the battery is good and where would I find the main engine ground strap...sorry first mini

(But I love it!)

 

Check ignition switch, especially if you keep a lot of keys on the key ring (weight is not a good thing). Next time it happens, jiggle the key in the switch and see if any change.

Regards,
Jerry

 

I gave that a try same thing and I have nothing but the car key (don't know about previous owner)
But now the trunk hatch will not open and to my surprise....the release cable is missing and nowhere to be found....any ideas how to get the back open? Tried locking and unlocking the car and no luck

 

Ok I got the boot open don't worry about that....

 

But now the trunk hatch will not open and to my surprise....the release cable is missing and nowhere to be found.

A design booboo in the 02 .... the release cable was added later

and since it is not a SAFETY ISSUE ... no recall

on an 02 the engine ground strap attaches to the pass' side motor mount as I recall. The mount that leaks on later year GEN1. I've never traced the other side back.

BUT

when I bought my 79 it would start sometimes and turning the key did NOTHING other times. I eventually found that the main ground strap connecting bolt was loose. So SOMETIMES it made a good contact and the car started ... sometimes not ... and getting in and out of the car could shake thing enuf to make a difference . . .

If the engine ground is missing there is no path from battery to starter to battery ... aka NO STARTER TURN

 

Mine ended up being the battery, too, in a post that I had. Waiting to tow vehicle home right now actually. My optima battery showed fully charge, but still wasn't working correctly. Sucks that it failed two months past the warranty.

 

Ok looks like this is the problem, when i wiggle the key up and down I can get it to start and work almost every time. So first I will take it apart and try cleaning it and then if nothing else but a new ignistion switch,
Thanks this really helps and all the other posts helped me narrow it down.
Also that safety switch for the clutch must be bad since i can start it without the clutch. Have to change that sometime to but all this equals money.

 

So just for anyone in the future I got a replacement Ignition switch and this is what the problem was and this is what it looks like.