Ok, I am getting tired of this. This is the second time in one month this car has had to be towed to the dealer. Not two weeks after it was in the shop for 9 days getting a new transmission, the Service Engine Soon light and the EML light came on. When this happens the car goes into a limp mode and will only produce about 2500 rpm or 30 mph in third. The EML light went off but the Service light stayed on and then the car ran ok. As sson as the EML light came on again it went back the limp mode. I called the dealer and made an appointment then all the lights went off and it ran ok for several days. I figured maybe some winter moisture got in somewhere but no luck. Yesterday I was out and about. I stopped for lunch and when I started the car, there where both lights and it was back in limp mode. I tried to get it home but it couldn't go up the hill so I left it a few blocks away and called the R.A.P. They hauled it on the truck and drove it to the dealer. I was hoping it would fall off. I think this is the end of the MINI for me. Anyone else had this problem? I am so discouraged because I loved the car but I don't trust it now. What to do.

 

Has it been raining hard lately? Do you park outside? There were some people with problems from moisture getting into the ECU control box. The box design was later changed and so the problem was fixed. What's the build date on your Cooper? We might be able to diagnose if we knew when it was built.

Good luck!

R

 

It has been raining A LOT (San Francisco), especially the day it started altough it wasn't raining yesterday. I park inside day and night but was driving in heavy rain. My Cooper was built in early Feb of 2002. I got it the first week the dealer opened so it is one of the first on the road in the US.

_________________
Mr. Bridger

BRG Cooper

 

Hey Damon,

This *REALLY* seems like the problems some early build Coopers were having with the ECU box getting moisture in it. So far all your problems with the lights and all are the same problems others have indicated with the above referenced problem.

R

 

Hmmm... about to jump into my early-build MC and drive home in the rain again.

A couple of questions for you, Davbret, since you seem to know something about this:

1) When exactly did the new ECU box design hit the production line?
2) Is the fix to the 'above referenced problem' simply to have the dealer upgrade to the later box?

Thanks. Hope I make it home

 

I had the moisture problem in my '02 Cooper & the dealer was able to fix it. Check faults section on Mini2.com for info.

 

here it is...http://mini2.com/forum/showthread.ph...threadid=17264

 

Actually, my bad. Not the ECU, but the steering angle sensor. I'm pretty buddy buddy with the local MINI service advisor. Don't know what builds were affected by this. If you are not having a problem, no worries. But after a hard rain or carwash, if you see your lights flashing and such....have the steering angle sensor box checked out.

R

 

Well they fixed it in a couple of hours. Turned out to be the throttle-valve potentiometer (whats that?). They replaced it. It came up as a sporadic power output. I am surprised they had this part in stock. They must be getting better at having parts on hand. My service advisor jokingly said she didn't want to see me again until next year. I said at the rate we are going that will be about right. I am averaging once a month to the dealer. She confidentially told me that I might want to consider getting rid of my "early build" Cooper for a 2003. She3 must know something.

_________________
Mr. Bridger

BRG Cooper

 

I had the exact problem you did. Would go on the blink and then be okay again for a few days. I took it in to the dealer and they had to order a new "throttle body" and installed it a week or so later. All was fine for a few weeks and then it all started happening again!!! Arrrrgghhh. I took the car in again and they did some fix received from BMW and told me that a bulletin was going to be going out to the dealers for this fix. All has been okay for two weeks since then.

I hope yours is fixed for good.

 

I had the same problem today. EML and Service Engine Soon light on and engine in limp home mode. Luckily I turned off then started the engine a few times and the EML light went off. I drove home 18 miles without incident, with the Service Engine Soon light on. I dropped the car off at the dealership. I hope they can fix it before the weekend.

I'll call them in the morning to ask about the Throttle-valve potentiometer and steering angle sensor theories.

I'll keep you posted.

By the way my car is a 2003 Cooper delivered on 12/21/2003.

It hasn't rained here for two weeks so I don't think it's a wet ECU. Wait, I did use the windshield washers on the way home yesterday...could that have caused the wet ECU??

retroom

 

The Dealer found a fault with a circuit in the engine wiring harness. The whole harness is to be replaced. The part's on order I might get the car back before the weekend.

retroom