I thought I would get some answers from people on here. I got up this morning to find out that Fred (my MCS '03) won't start. All the lights and everything in the car still able to turn on but when I tried to start the car, it just made a click-click noise.

Any thoughts on what might be the issue here? I know that if the battery is dead, I wouldn't be able to use the lights or the radio in the car.

Help?

 

I've had other cars where the battery went semi-dead and although the car wouldn't turn over, the lights and radio worked. depends on just how drained the battery is. 3 years (36 months) seems to be a typical life for an OEM battery... at least in my experience.

If you've had starting issues in the past weeks that got worse and worse until today, it may not be the battery. But if yesterday you started and drove the car and everything was fine, chances are, this is a simple case of dead battery.

Let us know what the outcome is...

-boognish

 

It has been 5 days since I drove it. I am not sure if I left any lights on in the car but I usually see all the light turns off when I lock the car.

I thought MINI has the auto-lights-off fuction, doesn't it?

 

If you turn the lights on and blow the horn and the lights noticably dim, you need a jump !! I think your hearing the starter solenoid clicking, not enough juice to turn the engine over.

I noticed a check box about charging the battery on a service sheet in the past, I don't think the MINI's battery has a ton of extra capacity. It was likley chosen more based on size and weight.


As always, Be careful, use the + plug under the bonnet (even though the battery is obviously in the boot) and find a good ground.

 

Also, 2 other things, try other key and if jumping don't work, I hear there have been issues with the MINI not knowing the clutch is fully depressed (might need some therapy). Seriously though, there has been a problem with the sensors in other's MINIs goin bad.

 

Thanks for the tips. I am going home now to take care of the baby. Can you freaking believe this... I am taking an afternoon off from work to take care of the car. If that doesn't say how much I love the car... I don't know what else will.

C—

 

I would be willing to bet it's the battery. Even if it's showing a full 12V, as most batteries put out 14V when fully charged. My wife's Beetle did this: showing 12V, all accessories working, and clicking. It was the battery. I would start there.

 

Mini Roadside Assistant (AAA) came 15 mins after my call. 3 mins later my car was up and running again. I am still curious to know what causes the battery drained.

Well at least it is up and running again.

Thanks for all the feedback.

 

If it happens again it could be a weak or bad cell in your battery.

 

It happend to me, but the battery was old (2 years). I replaced it and everything is perfect since then. And that click-click noice is a protection that the MINI have.