I'm in the process of diagnosing a no crank issue on my 2004 Mini Cooper S. It was intermittent but now she won't crank at all. I hear the fuel pump prime & I've tried both keys, so I hope to test the starter and clutch switch this weekend. I can't bump start, as she's in the driveway & there's no room. In the meantime, I'm trying identify a hanging wire; it's brown and black, and it appears to be held up by zip ties. The wire doesn't appear to be loose but it is hanging down around the pedals. Any idea where it runs from and/or to - and if it could be related to the no crank issue?

Any suggestions are welcome!

 

Any help identifying the wire and issues above would be greatly appreciated!

Also, not sure why the pics are upside down in the post, they're right side up when I open them...

 

I can hear the clutch switch click + I tried the magnet trick; I also hear the fuel pump prime. I haven't had time yet to test voltage at the starter, given that it's not easy to access where it's currently parked; that's also why bump starting isn't an option. My scan tool won't connect but I didn't expect it to; there are no codes anyway.

Is there any other way to check the immobilizer and/or starter? Any other gremlins to check for?

 

is the battery good? did you jump start it? can you trace that wire to anything on either side of it?

 

My guess is that is the driving light wire going to the BC1. Normal for it to be ran like that. Nothing to do with starting.

 

Thanks for the replies!

Outstanding; the wire doesn't seem loose at all, so that makes sense. Unfortunately, I can't trace either end, as both ends go back under the dash; it looks like one side may go to the fuse box under the dash.

I pulled the battery and had it tested; it was good.

I may pull the Mini out of the driveway with my Nissan Frontier and try to bump start it; but it'll be a couple days before I have time. Is there an easy way to access the starter to test it? Any other suggestions or recommendations?

 

Update: I had a proper mechanic read the computer and it turns out that it's the dreaded immobilizer....