Any Mini Cooper experts?

[Crusher16]

I just swapped power steering pumps for a new pump on my friends '03 Mini Cooper S.

Everything is hooked upm and added fluid, but the pump still doesn't function. Not sure where to go from here. I've rechecked all the connections, it has fluid, all the fuses are good.

I'm leaning towards a DOA pump, but can't really diagnose from the get go since the car arrived without a working pump.

 

[Crusher16]

No power going to the power steering pump harness. Looks like we get to dig around for the alternator. Joy.

 

[old_man]

Don't know if Grant frequents the boards at all anymore but he has raced Mini's for years and knows them inside and out. Might try a PM to him.

 

[GSequoia]

If I remember I can check my Clymer's manual at home. I'm not expert with those little pieces of junk but I do have the book for Holly's broken Mini.

 

[kcjeep6]

I’m not sure of what they are but there is a bunch of inputs and conditions that will shut the fuel pump down! You will need a manuel and scanner to find the issue.

 

[87manche]

I’m not sure of what they are but there is a bunch of inputs and conditions that will shut the fuel pump down! You will need a manuel and scanner to find the issue.

not a fuel pump, new minis have electric power steering.

I'd start here:
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/

 

[kcjeep6]

Oops, I don’t know why I was thinking fuel pump. My wife has a 09 Clubman, I told her to buy the service and extended warranty, I will not be working on it!

 

[Crusher16]

Oops, I don’t know why I was thinking fuel pump. My wife has a 09 Clubman, I told her to buy the service and extended warranty, I will not be working on it!

Extended service and warranty is a VERY good idea for these things. Not the easiest things to work on, that is for sure.

We figured out the problem though.

The main power harness didn't have any power running through it. Turns out that whoever installed this motor pinched one of the power cables between the frame and the motor mount right below the fuse box.

Fixed that and put it all back together last night. Good to go.

Fun little car to drive. I could see myself getting into a decent amount of trouble in it, but not sure I'm up for working on it again anytime soon.

 

[87manche]

Fun little car to drive. I could see myself getting into a decent amount of trouble in it, but not sure I'm up for working on it again anytime soon.

make sure the battery cable in the trunk is not corroding, and if it is, prolong it's life as long as possible.

they're quite expensive...

 

[K.Hess]

just to fair warn you on my dads 05 cooper s the block cracked at 160k and was told that is typ of this car. he was also told the peugeot builds the block and that is why they are having issues, I also hope you have a manual trans other wise it wont last long with the the s

 

[GSequoia]

just to fair warn you on my dads 05 cooper s the block cracked at 160k and was told that is typ of this car. he was also told the peugeot builds the block and that is why they are having issues, I also hope you have a manual trans other wise it wont last long with the the s

Actually the non-S model CVT auto is much worse. Those are pretty much useless.


That said Holly's '05 S model Aisin Auto is blown at 79,000 miles. In my opinion Aisin built a good transmission (as they always do) but Mini under-engineered the cooling system, all it has is a small oil filter-sized stacked plate coolant to oil cooler.

 

[87manche]

Redheep has an 02 or 03 S model.

whatever the first year was. It's not had any of those problems.

It eats tires
the power steering pump failed. (put a screen over it's cooling fan intake to keep it alive)
the battery cable in the truck corroded off, which is expensive, cause BMX stuf an explosive bit in there that disconnects it in a crash.

other than that, it's been reliable and hasn't needed anything other than maintenance.

 

[GSequoia]

FYI the superchargers are also pretty known to fail around 100k.