Check the jumpstart terminal under the hood. It is located on the drivers side firewall in a small plastic box. These are known to come loose and corrode.
If you verified the jumpstart terminal is clean and tight..... I'm going to suggest a bad battery. The jumping speedometer is a classic example..... MINI's and their electronics need a good battery.
I'm starting to think it may be an issue with battery quality. About a year ago I replaced my OEM battery that died with one from NTB, the price was right...or was it?
Once it got cooler out the speedo dance started. The car started every time save for one when I had let site for 4 days and it was about the coldest 4 days we've seen this winter. Put it on a charger for about 15 min the locks suddenly did something, don't remember if it locked or unlocked itself. Figuring it meant something was right with the electrical system so hopped where in turn it fired right up.
Took the car up to NTB to have them check the battery, they said all is good, it's the alternator. Drove it around a for a bit to charge things up thinking maybe all the short trips I take took the battery down some.
Called/texted a few MINI techs to discuss, since there is not alternator light lit up on the dash and there are no electrical codes the alternator is not the culprit.
A friendly MoM person lent me a warm place and a battery charger over night. With a full charge the next morning here was no speedo dance.
Over the next week or so my tiny dancer returned, first it was just a wiggle, then a bit more of a shimmy. Eventually it was back to a full break dance feature.
This was a long way to get to ...
What brand of battery is in there that checks out? I'm having thoughts that what looked like a good value might be turning out to not be.
Any one else use a cheap battery and see weird stuff?
That won't always work, electric fuel pumps ya know.
I concur with, it sounds like the battery is a goner. I had one (THE OEM) that tested at 12.5 volts with a Volt ohm meter but wouldn't spin the engine, just click once and that was it.
Did you pull the battery and have it load tested?
My educated guess would be the battery has failed, and can give you a bit of voltage, but not enough amps to start the car....bet when you are trying to jump it, the surge of power is going mostly into the battery...some cars with a bad battery (bad cell) might not be jumperable...with typical thin consumer cables...big heavy ones,maybe...
Bad ground would be similar symptoms, but a 4 year old battery (oem) in a mini is a dead car eaiting to happen....the fact it will not push start may/maynot be useful....the computer/fuel pumps need power enough to boot/run/pump....and push starting a modern car is ill advised at best. One bit of automotive trivia..
A generator , which makes native dc current, (like on an older car can make power on a dead car if pushed, but an alternator REQUIRES a few volts of power in its field to excite it, and begin to amplify it...it than make what is called wild A/C power....it is then filtered into dc with blocking diodes...
My suggestions ....temporarily swap the battery with you buddys car, see ifit starts (even if it does notfit right), and it would seem based upon your level of automotive expertise, it might be time for a tow/pro help. Sorry to be blunt,but once the most basic items are ruled out, you need a bit expertise to effectively trouble shoot an issue...anything is possible...from a failed computer to a bad ground wire, too loose plug....all need a bit of knowlege/expertise. Good luck!! Please be sure to post you findings so we help somebody else!!
ut::rolleyes5:
