Hello folks.

I've got a potential problem with my 04 MINI Cooper w/ Automatic & Step.

When I'm in park, the car tends to rev up a little bit, then shake. And subsequently the EML and service engine soon lights come on. And the car shuts down. I have to turn it off and restart it to make the lights go away.


Has anyone heard of this problem before? Or even experienced it? I've taken it to my dealership, Tom Bush MINI and BMW of Jacksonville, FL, and they ran it through the computer to PUMA, and MINI Cooper says there's nothing detectable with it....

Something's fishy about that to me. I can't reproduce the problem, but it can't be good. If they can't fix it, I don't think I should keep the car.

I left the car with them on Friday (yesterday), and they said MINI Cooper PUMA should give a definitive answer on Monday or Tuesday.

Can someone offer any advise?

Thanks in advance

-Michael Thomas

 

does the car stall?
does this happen every time?
if not....how often does it happen?
Does it happen only in Park?
does it only rev once or do the revs bounce up and down?

 

1. The car shuts down, after it happens, I've never put it back into drive to see if it works. I've only turned it off and restarted it.

2. It does not happen every time. maybe 1 out of every 3-4 times I put it into park.

4. From what I've experienced, yes it only happens in park.

5. When it shakes and shuts down, the Tach bounces up and down

 

get yourself a scanner, and find out the code BEFORE you to your trick to get the lights to go off and make it drivable.

But it will surely get worse, and be more easily diagnosable...

Matt

 

Well, I don't want to be somewhere and not be able to get home.

Chances are, if they tell me they can't fix it, I'm getting rid of it.

And where do I get one of these scanners?

 

and they sell them as well. If you get a little fancier, you can get some OBD-II logging software for a Palm or Windows CE handheld. With a mount, it can become an auxiliary gauge.....

Matt

 

snip: "Something's fishy about that to me. I can't reproduce the problem, but it can't be good. If they can't fix it, I don't think I should keep the car."



I do not understand this: "I can't reproduce the problem..." "It does not happen every time. maybe 1 out of 3-4 times..."

sounds like you have reproduced the problem...have the dealer try it a few times until it does it.

Earl

 

I meant I can't make it do it on call.

And that is probably about 1 out of 15

sorry

 

So I went to the dealership today, and they said I needed to speak to their Service Manager, Brian N.

He proceeds to tell me, Mr. Thomas, you're a bold face liar for coming in with these "problems" that no one can reproduce. I think you like bringing your car in to harass my service staff, Now get out of my office and we will have your car to you by the end of the day.

I almost jumped the desk and hit him in the mouth, but I value freedom outside of jail and / or the hospital....

Anyone else had a service experience such as this?

I turned around, and called MCR (MINI Customer Relations) and filed a formal complaint and told them even if my vehicle wasn't fixed when I picked it up, I was getting rid of it.

Chances are the person who had it before me had the same problems,a nd got rid of it for the same reason. I've bought in to someone elses problems, that aren't regular enough to be fixed.

Just my luck.

-Mthomas

edit: I removed a double set sentence.

 

tbonecopper I am sorry for your problems and even more for the crap your dealer is putting you through. Most of all I am shocked at your last post

 

Doesn't the ECU/DME store codes? The last time I hooked up my Auto Enginuity there were some stored codes along with engine state information. If all those lights come on, I'd have to think that there are codes being stored that the service people should be able to access and see.

 

Well apparently, the codes that are supposed to show this problem aren't remaining in the computer.

So if it happens again, what I was told to do, was turn it off and have it towed to the dealership via MINI Roadside Assistance.

Hopefully they will be able to fix it after that.

 

Your kidding right? if not, man, this guy needs some schooling.

I suggest to get his full name, position, address of dealership; emails of the Owner, general manager, mini usa. I suggest a mass email from NAM members to these people would take care of this MR. BRIAN N.

I would have been on his side of the desk in a second!!!!

 

No, I wasn't joking. And believe me, Tom Bush Management will hear of Mr, Brian Noell.