Any help is greatly appreciated! My 2006 MCS is only 2 months old with 1660 miles on it. I was a block away from my sister's house at a red light and all of a sudden all this steam started coming out from the intake and from underneath the hood, er, bonnet. My gauges read fine, no rise in the temperature and the steam only lasted about 10 seconds...after the light turned green, I went one more block and got to my sister's apartment just fine.
I popped open the bonnet and everything looked ok...there was no radiator fluid leaking. Just some steam condensation...

I know nothing about cars or how to troubleshoot...does anyone have any idea what just happened???

I actually have to leave here (in my sister's car) but I'll be checking back soon...

 

First thing to check would be the level of the coolant in the coolant expansion tank. However, the coolant must be at ambient temperature before checking the coolant level. This may mean that the car has to sit for a while. If you open the coolant expansion tank before the coolant has reached ambient temperature, you will have coolant all over the engine compartment, you may get burned in the process and your car's engine may suffer damage. If the coolant level is below the MIN mark on the coolant expansion tank (with the coolant at ambient temperature), you may indeed have a leak in the coolant system. If that is the case, you need to have the car towed to a MINI dealer and let them sort out the source of the coolant leak.

Hope this helps.

 

Did you just wash the car? If so, then it was probably just some left over water under the IC that finally got hot enough to boil away. I love watching people look at my fire breathing dragon as I pull away after washing my car....LOL

 

Were your headlights on?
Did you wash your windshield...... The first time the headlight washers sprayed my headlights, I thought my radiator may have blown up!

 

Thanks, I will check the coolant!!

BUT YES!! I washed the car yesterday and I actually thought about that as I was wondering what it could've been. I didn't drive it after I washed it until today when I was going to my sister's place...I am hopeful that's all it is...and not a leak somewhere...I'll go check on that now.

You all ROCK!! thanks for the replies...

 

No problem Tuten06 !

 

My vote goes to a blown A/C hose or fitting and what you saw was freon. Please let us know what it turns out to be.

YD

 

A local MINI club owner had what sounds like something similar happen. She was idling in a parking lot after driving for some time (by an interstate entrance waiting for several other MINIs to form a caravan heading for a "track day" event). When, without any warning lights or unusal gauge readings, her 2005 MCS (I think) did what sounds like the same thing. A "steam geyser" out of the whole frontend. Dealer found the fan relay had failed. I guess with a small, high-power engine and a small, electric fan only, coolant system, it can overheat fast without any air circulation through the radiator. If you can not find a ruptured hose or something like that, have your fan/fan relay checked.

 

Check to make sure that the radiator cap is on as tight as possible. If it is slightly loose, or if it is not sealing, the pressure will release out of it. then make sure the coolant is at the full line on the semi-clear bottle under the bonnet(hood). if all looks ok, then take it to your dealer asap and have them check it over. It is possible that your electric radiator fan relay may not be coming on. This has been a concern on several minis I have seen. Keep an eye on your temp gage (if eqquipped) and listen for the radiator fan (sounds like a running hair dryer) to make sure it is not staying on after you turn off the enigne. Also, everytime you turn on the a/c or the enigne temp gets to half way, it should also come on. Make sure all of thease things are happening, and get it to your delaer just for safty sake. I have worked in the service dept at a dealership for 9 years and have seen some bad things by people just "blowing" things off. need anything else p/m me. k :impatient

 

Alright I checked the coolant and that doesn't seem to be leaking. But then I noticed that the A/C isn't working anymore so I think you may be right YoDad. I'm calling the MINI Center tomorrow to get that fixed ASAP. The temperature in TX is still HOT!

 

While an a/c leak is inconvenient, it is good news that your engine's cooling system is not leaking. A blown engine would not be the best way to start your MINI ownership experience.

 

So I took my car in yesterday and they said it needed an A/C hose replaced. Whew!
I gotta go pick her up today as soon as they call me.

 

YD=1
Everyone else=0

Just kidding, glad is was simple.

YD