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 Noob needs R50 Help PLEEZE

 Created by: randyrf
   Forum Width:     Forum Type: 

 Posted: Aug 14, 2017 08:53AM
Total posts: 2271
Last post: May 23, 2023
Member since:Dec 29, 2004
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Quote:
Originally Posted by randyrf
Ok, first of all, Hello all, this is my first post here so please be gentle with me   Although I've been a long time member over at Miata forums, Mini's are a little new to me.

Anyway.. 

Short version... My car (2002, manual trans, non S)  Cranks, but no start.   Car dings when key is in (or near ) the key slot, so I believe the IMMO is working.. but here's what led me to this point...

a week ago the wife came home with the car running quite hot. and making a terrible noise.   I tore into it and found the Harmonic balancer had separated, so I ordered a replacement, along with a new main front seal as long as I was there.

Replaced everything, and also replaced the iffy looking rad cap, and thermostat just for good measure.

Started and purged the cooling system, and started to drive it around.   Running great, no codes,     Ran it all over town (Las Vegas... 110 degrees)  no problem UNTIL !!   I was idling at a light and all of a sudden steam from under hood, and temp gauge pegged.

Trailered her home and began the diagnostics..   it seemed as though the fan had stopped (I didn't hear it running when it overheated).
at home everything checked out... relays, fan ran with 12 applied.  low speed resistor was replaced a while back, and still good.   

Refilled coolant, checked coolant system pressure (fine).  Swapped relays around just to see if one was intermittant or something.  and went back out.

Again... driving great... no OBD2 codes...  Top temp was around 119 ..    fan running fine.    I go to Pizza hut, and while I'm pulling in the A/C goes warm.    When I re-start it I have 8 OBD2 codes, including no signal from CAM sensor.  No signal from CRANK sensor. Shorted Evap purge, etc ..  BUT IT STARTED and ran fine (except no air now)

Got home and let it run for a bit and it died.  won't restart and that's where I'm at now.

**** JUMP TO HERE ******

So, I'm thinking at this point the ECU is flakey /  bad.   Several times over the past month or so my wife says the temp gauge goes all the way up, but then comes down in 30 seconds.  It also left the fans running once until the battery was dead.

I have removed the connectors and cleaned / re-seated them. no luck.   

Is there anything I can do to VERIFY the ECU is bad or not ?  I'd hate to pay for a replacement and find I still have a problem.
If you've mad it this far, thanks for reading.  I appreaciate any suggestions.

Thanks!
s
s
 
If you suspect an issue with the ECU, a simple re-flash by the MINI dealer 'may' correct the issue.  We have seen cases where the software in the ECU gets corrupted and a re-flash fixes some of these issues.  Sorry, not aware of any DIY test to check the health of the ECU...

Cooling system issues 'can' be caused by:

faulty temp sensor
low fluid / air in the system
faulty thermostat
faulty fan module / relay / fuse (low speed and high speed modes)
engine running too lean
clogged radiator
faulty power steering fan (early models had the ps fan and the radiator fan in the same electrical circuit)


Does the radiator fan turn on when you activate the ac?

Puzzling - the Cooper non-S crank pulley is a single piece pulley unit that rarely fails.  The Cooper S vibration damper had the rubber interface that deteriorated and separated over time...  

Ken

 Posted: Aug 12, 2017 05:22AM
Total posts: 9528
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CA
I'm not familiar with BMW MINIs, but have some basic ideas to suggest.

Thermostat: did you put it in right way around? Heat rise all the way up, then sudden drop suggests it may not be opening properly. Usual way to test is to start cold and let the engine warm up while monitoring the rad hose leaving the t'stat. It should stay cold until the engine approaches the t'stat opening temp, then warm quickly as the coolant flows.

Rad cap: Right pressure rating?

Sudden change in operating and multiple codes from seemingly unrelated sensor readings suggests a loose gang plug somewhere. What might you have unplugged or disturbed when making your repairs?

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Aug 11, 2017 08:28PM
Total posts: 1
Last post: Aug 11, 2017
Member since:Aug 11, 2017
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Ok, first of all, Hello all, this is my first post here so please be gentle with me   Although I've been a long time member over at Miata forums, Mini's are a little new to me.

Anyway.. 

Short version... My car (2002, manual trans, non S)  Cranks, but no start.   Car dings when key is in (or near ) the key slot, so I believe the IMMO is working.. but here's what led me to this point...

a week ago the wife came home with the car running quite hot. and making a terrible noise.   I tore into it and found the Harmonic balancer had separated, so I ordered a replacement, along with a new main front seal as long as I was there.

Replaced everything, and also replaced the iffy looking rad cap, and thermostat just for good measure.

Started and purged the cooling system, and started to drive it around.   Running great, no codes,     Ran it all over town (Las Vegas... 110 degrees)  no problem UNTIL !!   I was idling at a light and all of a sudden steam from under hood, and temp gauge pegged.

Trailered her home and began the diagnostics..   it seemed as though the fan had stopped (I didn't hear it running when it overheated).
at home everything checked out... relays, fan ran with 12 applied.  low speed resistor was replaced a while back, and still good.   

Refilled coolant, checked coolant system pressure (fine).  Swapped relays around just to see if one was intermittant or something.  and went back out.

Again... driving great... no OBD2 codes...  Top temp was around 119 ..    fan running fine.    I go to Pizza hut, and while I'm pulling in the A/C goes warm.    When I re-start it I have 8 OBD2 codes, including no signal from CAM sensor.  No signal from CRANK sensor. Shorted Evap purge, etc ..  BUT IT STARTED and ran fine (except no air now)

Got home and let it run for a bit and it died.  won't restart and that's where I'm at now.

**** JUMP TO HERE ******

So, I'm thinking at this point the ECU is flakey /  bad.   Several times over the past month or so my wife says the temp gauge goes all the way up, but then comes down in 30 seconds.  It also left the fans running once until the battery was dead.

I have removed the connectors and cleaned / re-seated them. no luck.   

Is there anything I can do to VERIFY the ECU is bad or not ?  I'd hate to pay for a replacement and find I still have a problem.
If you've mad it this far, thanks for reading.  I appreaciate any suggestions.

Thanks!
s
s