1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Electrical problem

  1. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #2 Nathan, Oct 28, 2009
    The ghost of Joseph Lucas is visiting upon you.
     
  2. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    #3 BlimeyCabrio, Oct 28, 2009
    Make sure you always carry some of this, lest all yours leaks out unexpectedly while on the road:
    [​IMG]
     
  3. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    #4 BlimeyCabrio, Oct 28, 2009
    BTW... I would suspect a water leak induced short in the BCM in the passenger footwell panel.
     
  4. moreorless

    moreorless New Member

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    #5 moreorless, Oct 28, 2009
    Are you still on your original battery?
     
  5. Dr Obnxs

    Dr Obnxs New Member

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    #6 Dr Obnxs, Oct 29, 2009
    OMFG!!!!!

    I'm with Blimy on this one. (Whoda thunk it?) Wouldn't be the first car it's happened to!

    Mat
     
  6. Deviant

    Deviant Banned

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    #7 Deviant, Oct 29, 2009
    Actually yes and I'm thinking it's nearing the end of its life but it still shows around 12.5V with the engine off and charges at 13.8-14.2V while running so I didn't think that could be responsible for the problem.
    I was afraid someone would say BCM, I guess I'll have to tear in there and see if it's staying dry down there.
    Blimey, I prefer to use original equipment smoke, you never know if those cheap imitation smokes are going to cause more problem down the road or not.
    [​IMG]
     
  7. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    #8 BlimeyCabrio, Oct 29, 2009
    LOL

    We agree on *almost* all things MINI related. As long as neither Keith Olbermann or Glenn Beck is driving the MINI.
    :cornut:
     
  8. moreorless

    moreorless New Member

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    #9 moreorless, Oct 30, 2009
    That's my story and I'm stickin' with it.

    Wagers anyone?

    :smilewinkgrin:
     
  9. Deviant

    Deviant Banned

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    #10 Deviant, Oct 30, 2009
    It's been raining non-stop since then but the problem didn't resurface, not even when I gave Glenn Beck a ride or when I drove out to Keith Obermann's place. It stop raining tomorrow so I can check the BCM then and if not I'll drop in a new battery next week.
     
  10. Dr Obnxs

    Dr Obnxs New Member

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    #11 Dr Obnxs, Oct 30, 2009
    Maybe...

    you have to drive Beck OUT TO Obermans place for it to happen.

    Batteries aren't cheap. Hook up a volt meter to live source and watch your voltages. When the car is running you should get a nice high voltage cause of the alternator. Check what the batt puts out after you stop (just charged up) and right before the next time you drive (after some parasitic discharge). If it's a bunch lower, either the battery is weak or there's a current drain that's abnormal. IF it's the latter, getting a new battery won't fix it.

    If it's intermittant, then maybe it's gone for good! (One can hope....) But if it's not gone, I don't think a battery would be an intermittant problem like this.

    Matt
     
  11. Deviant

    Deviant Banned

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    #12 Deviant, Oct 30, 2009
    I use my radar detector to measure voltage day-to-day since my battery's stuck under a subwoofer in the back and I don't currently have a volt meter. The readings there seem normal still but there's been other little clues like the car seems to crank just a tad bit slower and longer when I start up, that make me distrust the battery. Sure they aren't cheap but this is the original one in an April 06 build car and the car sat with the battery disconnected for 15months while I was in Iraq (but still started the car right up when I hooked it back up. Add in the small aftermarket amplifier and the fact that I frequently would sit and listen to the radio for a bit with the car off and my battery's had a decent life. With it getting colder it's something I don't want to be leaving to chance.
     
  12. Dr Obnxs

    Dr Obnxs New Member

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    #13 Dr Obnxs, Oct 30, 2009
    Voltage good, current bad

    doesn't sound like a bad battery. It sounds like corrosion on some of the high current lugs. Check the grounding strap and the battery posts.

    Matt
     
  13. moreorless

    moreorless New Member

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    #14 moreorless, Oct 30, 2009
    Corrosion!? That is a good call. My John Deere was like that. A wee bit of corrosion but once cleaned up it was just fine.

    Heheh.......he's still gotta get access to the battery tho.
     
  14. Dr Obnxs

    Dr Obnxs New Member

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    #15 Dr Obnxs, Oct 30, 2009
    That'll be a pain...

    But general decent voltage operation and slowed cranking is most likely corrosion in the high current contact surfaces, then the starter, then the battery....

    But then if he buys a new battery, he's got to get to it as well! If it's the engine ground strap, he's lucky!

    Matt
     
  15. Deviant

    Deviant Banned

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    #16 Deviant, Nov 2, 2009
    BCM seemed to be pretty dry in there, no sign of moisture getting there or having been there. The lugs on the battery look good but I haven't checked the starter or any of the other underhood wiring yet.

    Getting to the battery isn't so hard, it's trying to hold a subwoofer enclosure/amp rack out of the way while dealing with it that gets tough. :D
    How long do most of the factory batteries last for people? I always figured in a daily driven car three to four years was about the norm, it has been for me in the past and I remember a friends 03 Cooper having her stock battery die in March of 2006
     
  16. moreorless

    moreorless New Member

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    #17 moreorless, Nov 2, 2009
    I just replaced my Sept '05 build '06 with a RedTop........

    [​IMG]



    I wasn't experiencing any weirdness, just being a bit proactive.