The car is now starting it's third day in the shop. Mini engineers involved now (?). Will let you know of outcome.

 

I'm having the exact same problem in my 03 S, do you have the new software (I think its version 41) ever since they updated my car its had problems, but this is the worst. I really does feel like its misfiring or running on 3 cyclinders, the car would barely start and then not run and it wasn't driveable. Got it towed to the dealer and its been there for 2 days. They said they replaced some parts and wanted to drive it for a while to see if it helped. They haven't told me yet what they replaced. I love the car but mines been in the shop at least 15 times, somethings always wrong with it, and it only has 12,000 miles. I'm really going to hate when a few months from now the warranty runs out because it will be three years old.

 

Sorry to read of your troubles.
A small light at the end of the tunnel - your warranty is *four* years (50,000 miles); only the free maintenance runs out at three years.

 

You are SO right, I keep forgetting that one is three years and the other is four thanks for the reminder. Still I'd rather the car just worked, it wouldn't be so bad if it was easy to get the service, but the dealer is at least 45 minutes away and thats with no traffic.

 

Car was in shop for 3 days and pinched wires found to left of CAI box causing faults. All fixed.

 

So mine got towed to the charleston dealer on monday. Called tuesday no word as yet, "maybe we can get to it on wednesday, will call you". Well no word as yet. This has caused me to wonder about the car as a whole. Last time it was on a flat bed it stayed in charleston for 2 weeks. They were nice enough to gove me a loner after they said it is ready and I got a ride 120 miles to thier dealership only to find out they installed something wrong and would have to take my dash out, again, which by the way rattles like a tin can now. SO another 5 days goes by and they deliver my car, which was nice of them since that drive to charleston is kind of boring. They told me they updated the computer when it was in that time, so when asked "to what version of the software", they were unable to disclose this to me. So maybe it is the dealer, maybe it is the car, maybe it is the program, or maybe... who knows, but this sucks.

I did all of this work on the suspension and only touched the intake, now I am not so, shall we say gungho about the car. Maybe that will wear off when I hear a solution has been found.

here is a link to a picture of the car, when it was moving without the check engine light on, I am the first mini.

http://www.jscspeed.com/rides.htm

 

My light came back on today. The O2 sensor must not be the problem. The light didn't even last a week, since they 'fixed' it on saturday. I will have to call again. So it looks like another trip to scottsdale for me.

 

today is friday- still no word from dealer......................

 

Re: "Service Engine Soon" light on.

Ditto for me today at 1200 miles. D--n! Hope I don't have to leave mine overnight at the dealer's. Sounds like a software glich for sure. I raised the issue in the Mini USA forums tonight. Everyone should know.

Mine's a 2005 MCSa.

 

I am having a similar problem. Mine is a 03 MC-CVT. This all started about 2.5 weeks ago when I was in the manual mode. I felt the car mis-fire and both the DSC and Service Engine Light came on. I pulled over the side of the road and restart the car. The DSC light gone but the SEL light stayed on. I called my service dept. and brought my car in. They changed the O2 sensor and the steering angle sensor thought that would solved the problem. I got my car back and couple days later it did the same thing. The car mis-fire kicking both lights on. My car now has been in the shop since last Monday and they don't have a clue as to what's causing the light to come on. I am still waiting for them to let me know what the problem is.

 

I called Friday night and they said Oh your car is ready... So I got a lift two hours up ti the dealer. When asked what was the issue, the answer was nothing? What?.. "There was nor error codes so we reset the ECU and everthing looks fine. But you have a squeaking noice in the left rear" That is my sway, I think, yet to determine the cause of the noise. I drove the car home with no issues. So I will wait and see. I am determing though from the posts on this subject that it will not be long before it happens again.

joey

 

i went to so cal over the weekend and check engine light came on (friday night) until sunday morning and then shut off. then i got the GIAC software downloaded, then all of sudden the light came on again.

also the power steering will give out, then come back and it would do this for a while. and this is just driving in a straight line.

and my warranty is up

oh yeah i'm f***ed!!!!

this really sux

 

Hmm...for some reason I don't really believe what the dealer was telling you. You mean they had to kept your car for a few days just to reset the ECU? That don't seem right.

 

These dealers need to hire some mechanics. The old "no code = no problem" is not acceptable. I have seen mechanics sit with a car in their bay that is obviously malfunctioning; missing, poor performance, hard to start, whatever. They tell the customer - with a straight face - "there is no code so it must be normal". Codes are just a tool. The code tells a mechanic what diagnostic procedure should be followed to figure out what is wrong. The code does not indicate a part that shoulkd be replaced. When they get a code that indicates that there is a problem in the 02 sensor circuit, they will often just replace the sensor. This is playing the odds that the sensor is bad, usually it is not. But doing the diagnostics takes time and work so the mechanic takes the gamble. He does not care that you will have to come back. MINI will pay him to replace the sensor, and when you come back he will throw another part at the problem and MINI will pay for that too!

 

My MINI has been in the shop for almost 2 weeks now and still no word on why the Service Engine Light keep coming on. MINI service had a bunch of techs already looking into my car but still can't figure out what's wrong with it. I'm at a lost. I want my car back

 

My Cooper S Auto 05 gives me the same message every time I start it up and I just got it yesterday when it first arrived on the lot.

I personally don't see it as a big deal.. It lights up when you first turn the car on then goes away. After seeing all the posts on here and other forums though I have to wonder: What's the problem? What could possibly go wrong with that light flashing? It doesn't really bother me.

 

That's not the issue.

The light always does a self-check as you say, lighting up for a few seconds then going out - correct operation.

Just way till it lights up and does not go out but stays lit, bright red warning, the whole time you are driving ...

 

The SES light stays on. My light has been on for a week now, after one so called "fix".

 

I think mine had some other issues associated with it. Couple weeks ago mine was misfiring and I took it in. They changed to o2 sensor and the steering angle sensor. But it was still doing the same thing after I got the car from the shop. It's been back in the shop for the last 2 weeks and all the techs are stumped and can't figured out what's wrong with it. Last I heard was that they located a bad fuel injector. They got that replaced and the car still doing the same thing with the SEL. I'm going to call them again tomorrow to see if they found anything else. At this point after having my car in the shop for 2 weeks with no solution I am beginning to explore the option of having them buy my car back and get another one.

 

My SES light came on this past Friday (at 14K miles)....no other warning lights or irregular engine problems...seems to be running great otherwise. One thing I wondered about is that I first noticed it sometime after going thru a decent size puddle during a rainstorm.

Its a '04 MCS with the Works package and recently (February) had the airbox upgrade. Will wait to see if it resets, but will probably contact the dealer in the next couple of days.

 

the link doesn't seem to be working?

 

Thank you ... sorry!
Just updated the Gallery to V1.5 this afternoon, and apparently forgot one step. Fixed now & the link should now work.

 

Thanks....and nice website you've got there!

 

 

well, after 4 starts, the SES went off yesterday evening, only to come back on while driving this morning......