Happy New Years Everyone!!

I am wondering if anyone has experienced this little thing I call Driveway Whine. I parked my MC in my grandmother's driveway, but left it running as I ran up to her door. As I was standing there waiting for her to open the door, the MINI was making this little whine sound, very similar to the power steering noise. It only continued for about 4 seconds, and then it would stop. Another 30 seconds later, it did it again. This happened three times. No one was in the car, and the driveway was flat, so the wheels wern't turning at all.

Maybe, the MINI was just crying for me to come back and motor!

 

Electric cooling fan.

X2

 

>>Electric cooling fan.
>>
>>X2

I didn't think of that. It didn't sound like the cooling fan though, but maybe since I was about 30 feet away, I wasn't able to hear the sound of the fan, but the whine.

 

Probably the cooling fan for the power steering.

 

I'd say it's the power steering MOTOR. The Mini has an electric motor for this task and if you roll down your windows you can really hear it.

(shrug)

-Jim

 

I think that it's the whine that the neighbor is making because he doesn't have a MINI. Check for sobbing sounds also...that would be a dead give-away!

 

Is this the same small fan that is pretty exposed to ground debris?

 

>>Probably the cooling fan for the power steering.
>>
>>
>>

Why would the power steering motor make a noise when I'm not in the car? I understand that it makes a noise when i'm turning the wheel at low speeds. I enjoy that noise...but this sounded similar, without the wheel turning.

?????

 

I've noticed the same little noise. I had no idea what is was.

 

You didn't happen to have the AC/heater on, did you? Could have been the HVAC compressor or something along those lines. Otherwise, I'd say it was probably just the rad fan or some other fan, but if it really makes you nervous, go have it checked out! The MINI (unfortunately) has its share of problems, and while this is probably nothing, better safe than sorry. Besides, the peace of mind of having them tell you it's nothing could be worth the trip (unless your dealer is prohibitively far away. In that case, just keep a sharp eye and ear out for any other signs of a problem, and enjoy the car).

PigLick

 

> left it running as I ran up to her door.
>>
>>Maybe, the MINI was just crying for me to come back and motor!

It pollutes and with the handbrake problem you're going to have fun with the cops if it should roll into the street and the motor's running.

 

It's purrring, like a feline....

 

>>Your MINI was crying to tell you to switch it off when you are not in the car
>>
>>It pollutes and with the handbrake problem you're going to have fun with the cops if it should roll into the street and the motor's running.

Thanks Mom, I'll try to remember next time.

 

ditto on the power steering motor