So my gf loves European cars. Before her 06 s she had a jetta. That car proved to be finicky, this one the same. I hate the stupid little things that go wrong with this car so much. But I have to admit, I love this little car. With all the things that have gone wrong,I have learned to be a better mechanic. I appreciate the technology that goes in to and it's involved with these things cause they are little beasts. I hope we can get many more miles out of it as it is a blast to drive.
Welcome to MA I agree these little MINIs can be touchy buggers, but they are so damned much fun. Any other car would have been kicked to the curb for what my MINI has done. None has given me so darned much pleasure so I put up with my cheekie touchie bugger.
Welcome to M/A! I'm assuming your g/f still has her '06, right? Is it an R50 or an R53? Pics would also be a great help....
Welcome to M/A! Give us a little more detail about the car and its issues and you're sure to get loads of advice from the many long time enthusiasts on this site. Cheers!
It's an r53. Charcoal gray. She has had it for a little over a year now but surprisingly I don't have any pictures. It's stock though. I used to be into modding cars like crazy but so far with it's issues I don't want to create more reasons for things to go wrong. So far I have replaced the crank position sensor, clutch slave cylinder, crank pulley/shredded belt (I put the super damper on), battery, and now the seat mat went out so I put the emulator in.
I must be unlucky or something. Now we are having an issue where when we turn the car off the brake lights stay on. Gonna look around for a resolve to that now. Doesn't help we are 35 miles from home just getting to a concert.
How old is the battery? Take it to a parts store and have them test the battery. Minis do very odd things when the battery is going bad.
It's actually a brand new battery. It has been raining quite a bit here, maybe a short. I read the diode for the brake switch is pretty touchy, could have gotten wet under the carpet. Who knows.... Just gotta start eliminating probable causes starting with the relay. Even the guage cluster wouldn't go off at one point though. This car was in and still is in dealership condition. Sucks they have these flaws.
Never had any issues like your having. Just a tip, your "flaws" might be you jumping to conclusions. What diode, the brake switch is a simple mechanical switch screwed into the transmission, on a 6 speed anyway. There isn't any brake wiring under the carpet for two. Brand new battery doesn't mean anything, follow the suggestions if you want help, take it. Think i"ll wait and see what your up to on here.
I have had new battery's go bad so don't rule it out. But let's start simple. Check that your battery post and connections are clean and tight. As a matter of fact undo them and clean them and then reconnect them. Under the hood next to the air cleaner is a small box with a + on it. Check to make sure the bolt inside it is clean and tight. This is a known problem aeria. Then take the car to a parts store and have them do a load test on the battery. Let us know what you find. Please start here before you look at more in depth reasons for the problems your having. Good luck, we are here to help.
I had them test the battery before I bought it. 680 cca, only one month from production. No corrosion on any terminals, all very secure. I'm not trying to jump to conclusions, but pretty much have been spot on each time I have had an issue with this car.
Sounds like the same problem Blake's 05 R53 had while at the Dragon last year. Marzo from Helix found the ABS harness had rubbed through at the firewall and was shorting out. Another check is to remove the interior hatch panel and see if the license plate light module is corroded from water leaking in. That will cause a short in the brake lights as well.