Hi, i'm a quite newb for mini clubman.

Last week, while i was teaching my cousin parallel parking, she said 'the wheel is too heavey!'. And when i tried it, it felt like there was no power assistance to the steering wheel. (felt like a grandma's car.) (it was less than 30 minute practice.)

After taking some rest, then the power was back on but went out again.

I know current model works with electric motor driven power steering system. And those kind of low speed and too much handling can bring up the temperature of the motor and eventually the thermostat in the motor could shut the motor off.

But can this damage to the power steering motor? (if so, or if there is a chance, i won't let anyone to drive my car for parallel parking practice.)

Or anyone experienced similar situation?

 

Uhhhh, I'm not a MINI expert -but- if I experienced that, I'd get it to the dealer pronto before I could possibly get into an accident due to poor steering/steering failure...
be safe.

 

I would get it to the dealer ASAP. Doubt it is a life threatening problem but it does need to be fixed. And I also doubt that it will really be a problem that will cause anything more that a very minor accident as it is really only used at low speeds but still it needs to be checked.

 

Sounds like steering pump failure. A known Gen 1 issue, happened with my 04 MCS. Sorry to hear about it with Gen 2 s. Should be replaced by dealership under warranty, just be aware they may need to keep the car. They won't repair (at least this is how it went with me) until it occurs for them, and since it's intermittent, well, it took a while for the problem or repeat for them.

Not related to parallel parking practice at all.

 

There is no steering pump.

Get to the dealer and have them look at the fault memory of the EPS module. They may also update the car's software, which will update the electric power steering computer.

 

well, ruh roh, they have made some changes.


Interestingly, both seem to go south in the same fashion.

 

I just encountered the same problem with power steerting, teaching my daughter to parallel park. How was yours resolved, designeer?

 

As you may know, different from the 1st gen, the 2nd gen uses electric motor for the power steering.
And in general (including your washer, electric fan and such) any electric motor has thermostat to prevent the motor burning.

I guess practicing parallel parking is harsh environment for the power steering.
So only remedy is just to wait for the motor cool down.

It's already 3~4 year passed ever since, i have no problem with the driving wheel nor the power steering.

Hope this can help.

 

.

 

Thank you. After car cooled down - no problems with steering