1st Gen R53 Cooper S Starting Issues, gremlin junk.

Discussion in '1st Generation: 2002–06 R50, R53 & 2004–08 R52' started by Boxman, Aug 14, 2015.

  1. Boxman

    Boxman New Member

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    #1 Boxman, Aug 14, 2015
    Last edited: Aug 30, 2015
    Bought Redstein (lol) back a month and 11 days ago. Had nothing but issues, not that I didn't see it coming. This problem has happened to me before, but only on occasion. And NOW it's every start-up.

    • Key in ignition, press clutch in, turn to start... nothing happens. Might start on the second try, might start on the 45th try. No crank.
    • Pump clutch 1-3 times, car starts.
    • Airbag light dulls and flickers, windshield wipers cycle once and even had the headlight sprayer attack me with my arm out of the car this morning, radio flickers on & off repeatedly.
    • Process lasts about 2-3 minutes, and stops, car runs fine.

    Don't know what the deal is. Found out about a week ago that the battery was submerged half way in the boot because the dealership I bought it from decided to... I guess... wash the carpet in the boot? Absolutely soaked. Drained it, cleaned it up, ran awesome for about 4-5 days. Then this happened...

    Anyone have any clue what's going on?
    For reference, I did check the ignition coil/wires, cylinder 4's prong was corroded but cleaned today. Issue still remains but no hesitation anymore at 2-3k rpms :lol:

    [ame="http://youtu.be/ypOKZOXlyAw"]04 Mini Cooper S starting problem. - YouTube[/ame]
     
  2. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    Sounds like a bad battery. Have the battery checked. Bad Battery's can do all sorts of odd things on Minis.
     
  3. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    Oh and Welcome to MA!
     
  4. Boxman

    Boxman New Member

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    Haha, so I've heard!
    I'm going to check the battery out today and I hope that's what it is because honestly... the last thing I need is to aimlessly throw parts into it.

    Also, thanks! :lol:
    I've been here awhile, had another '04 Cooper S (pepper white, pictures in 'my garage') and sold it. Came back again because I can't stand not having a MINI.

    I've had WAY too many answers for me to narrow it down.
    5 places, 5 different diagnostics.

    1: Bad Battery
    2: Dead FOB, unlock/lock hasn't worked since I purchased the car anyway. I figured since it was cracked, it was no big deal.
    3: Clutch switch relay
    4: Ignition coil/wires/plugs
    5: Starter solenoid/starter as a whole.
     
  5. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    Well it sounds like the dealer got it too wet to start with. But I would start simple. Check battery and all connections are tight and clean. Make sure and check the one under the hood, the one you use to jump the car.
     
  6. CHKMINI

    CHKMINI Club Coordinator
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    Let me add to your list. If they shampooed the carpets and filled the floorboards with water, you may have a Body Control Module (BCM) problem.
     
  7. Boxman

    Boxman New Member

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    Definitely, improper cleaning. Water smelled and looked as though it has been sitting for a long while...

    I'll have to check it, but the car was pretty filthy when I had picked it up. Maybe they shampooed it awhile ago but either way my locks never worked :lol: I'll look into it.
     
  8. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    If you have water in the trunk you probably have a leak somewhere....

    Check around the tail lights, check the rear sunroof drains and the radio antenna.....
     
  9. Boxman

    Boxman New Member

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    Alrighty so here we are. Just got home after tearing up everything I could think of up.

    Checked the battery, it's absolutely 100% good.
    Haven't seen moisture build up on the battery, and since we've had a couple storms recently, it would have a bit if there was some sort of leak.
    The ignition coil was cleaned of corrosion, misfire/hesitation when accelerating is gone but issue is there still.
    Cleaned all terminals, ground posts, etc, nothing changed.
    Checked all fuses, and all were good.

    Officially starts without pumping clutch but barely.
    Ghost electronics still going on.


    So! Where do I stand?
    Ignition switch?
    Rigged wires somewhere, maybe a live wire they messed with that I didn't catch.

    I'm kinda out of ideas...
     
  10. Batrugger

    Batrugger New Member

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    Sounds like you have might have resistance happening somewhere. Do you have a multimeter? if you do, google starter problem diagnosis. There are a few basic checks you can do. It is basically the the same for all cars. Did you check all of your grounds and the connections to the starter and solenoid. Unfortunately the starter is not easy to get too.
     
  11. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    Ok a bit of a reach here......but it's a used car? If so maybe the previous owner had a bunch of stuff on there key chain. Too much weight can mess up the ignition. Even though I worned my daughter she still keeper to much on her chain. So I got to put a new ignition on her car. I doubt this is your problem but does wiggling the key make a difference?
     
  12. Boxman

    Boxman New Member

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    It's a possibility, I'll check it out today but fingers crossed because the last thing I need is to try and replace a starter/solenoid on this thing. Hopefully it's something simple I'm missing.



    I mean it's a possibility, the current key I have is beyond damaged, obviously the last person who owned it didn't frankly care much about the car....
     
  13. Batrugger

    Batrugger New Member

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    I didn't mean that the starter or solenoid was bad, just that it was hard to get to the connections to check them and by resistance i meant in the circuit.
     
  14. Boxman

    Boxman New Member

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    No, I know. I'm just saying IF my solenoid or starter was bad, I'd be a bit upset.
    :lol:
     
  15. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    How did you test the battery? MINI's are very temper mental about their batteries.

    Gauges flickering, starting issues, etc.....are all signs of a wonky battery.
     
  16. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    Yea make sure you did a good load test.
     
  17. Boxman

    Boxman New Member

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    Tested the voltage, charge, and drain to see if anything was pulling while the car was off... Everything seemed normal.

    Double checked today at an autozone, confirmed it was good.
    Car officially starts without any clutch pumping.. But takes 3-5 seconds to start to crank...
    Airbag light and wipers still going mad :lol: More than normal.
     
  18. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    Either bad battery (could still be flaky, even with the tests you've done), or wet / corroded general module / body control module in the passenger footwell. Pretty confident.
     
  19. Boxman

    Boxman New Member

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    I'll drop a battery in it this week and hope it ends up not being the bcm.
    Don't they need programmed by a dealer?
     
  20. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    yea.......or a shop/person with the program.
     

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