hey guys,

got a question......my cooper was at the body shop and when i picked it up (last night) she had a dead battery. the shop jumped me and i drove her with a few shut off's last night.

today she cranked slow but started....over lunch i left my laptop plugged in (always hot outlet i installed) and she was dead.....gota jump and went on my way.

when i got to my afternoon cal...about a half hour after the jump i decided to let her run while i was inside for about an hour. when i came out she was still running but my battery light was on.

as i continued to drive all of my warning lights came on....abs, brake, tire press ect....i rolled into an auto parts store....shut her off and crappoo dead as a door nail.

put in a new battery.....she started right up but the battery light is still on.....normally that would mean the alt is not putting out. i'm still driving home and will throw the meter on it when i get there...

any ideas?

thanks
bobbyn

 

Try putting the key in Pos. #2 for 30 seconds. I have no idea if it will work for the battery light, but it works in resetting some of the other dash lights.

I assume you've checked the cable connections for tightness?

 

sounds like the battery's just drained. recharge it with a charger at 2A for 18hours and see where it takes you.

you probably need a new battery.

In the future, don't use the car battery to charge anything. the car
by itself drains a lot of power just sitting there while off.

letting your car idle for 1hr... not a good idea.

 

Car batteries don't like to be charged too much or drained and charged constantly. This is why Toyota only keeps a 70% charge on their Hybrids to avoid the charging too much part.

On the otherhand it could be the alternator, I have seen threads with just about every part of the MINI failing, I don't see why there would be any acception to the alternator.

 

i tested the alt....and it was ka-put. had the old one rebuilt 187.00...the kid's gona put in in tomorrow....then i shall go to the dealer to see what he'll give me for my 04 cooper on a trade. 04 cooper, sport seats, hk tunes, cold weather package...better air cond controls...
now on steel wheels and blizzaks for winter.

thanks for the reply

bobbyn