[harrietb]

Hi everyone,

A few weeks ago, a noise started in my Mini Cooper every time I turned on the air conditioning. It really made the engine sound laboured and I actually felt the car pull back when the air con kicked in.

Took it to the dealers and they said that they thought it was the air con compressor - so they ordered a compressor and I took it in today. When I went in late they said they'd replaced that but there was still the noise and they weren't sure why.

They now think it might be the alternator or the belt and have ordered those. I asked if they could just keep my car, and me have a courtesy car as I was worried about it breaking down on me, and I'm also very busy with work to keep going in and out of the dealers. They told me that there wasn't any car that I could use anywhere in the dealership? Do you think they are fibbing to me?

I'm taking it in again on Wed for the alternator, but the belt is on back order and will be at least a week - do you think I should push for a courtesy car? I may be going up to Scotland on Sunday evening and I'm worried it will let me down.

I'm a little bit annoyed that a car that is less than 4 months old is having to have so much engine work done on it!


Thanks!

[mister.t]

Our engine sounds really deep and under labour when started up (warm) and thrashed with the AC on, but it goes after about 5 secs. I take it yours is permanent??

[harrietb]

My engine has got a continuous whining sound.. I had a Mini One 2007 for my courtesy car today and it sounded nice and deep - nothing like mine. When I put my air con on it whines even more and pulls back on the acceleration..

[JG.26]

Quote: Originally Posted by harrietb (original)

My engine has got a continuous whining sound.. I had a Mini One 2007 for my courtesy car today and it sounded nice and deep - nothing like mine. When I put my air con on it whines even more and pulls back on the acceleration..

Hi Harriet,

The whining sound that you mention, does it do this when you have the air con switched off and does it do this when changing up through the gearbox but dissapears when cruising? I would be interested to know please as my Peugeot 207 CC has a whining characteristic which the dealer says is normal, the Peugeot uses the same engine thats in the Cooper and the Cooper S.

Cheers

[harrietb]

Yes it does. It's most noticeable in 1st and 2nd gear but goes off then in higher gears. But its really noticeable with the air con on - which is why they thought it was the compressor - but they've changed that and its still doing it. I want a courtesy car as I'm really worried about it letting me down on long journeys but they tell me they don't have ANY cars availble at the dealership.... hmmm...

[JG.26]

Quote: Originally Posted by harrietb (original)

Yes it does. It's most noticeable in 1st and 2nd gear but goes off then in higher gears. But its really noticeable with the air con on - which is why they thought it was the compressor - but they've changed that and its still doing it. I want a courtesy car as I'm really worried about it letting me down on long journeys but they tell me they don't have ANY cars availble at the dealership.... hmmm...

Thanks for that, it sounds similar to mine although switching the air con on doesn't make it any worse. Unsure whether we have the same problem however my dealer said today that its normal ummmm. To be honest unless your having any performance or running problems then your car should be ok for a long trip.

[harrietb]

Thats the point. Every time I use the air con - which at the moment is quite often,it makes a horrible noise and the engine pulls back. It loses power.. It also seems to stutter on start up - thought it was normal until a drove another 07 Mini...

[mister.t]

That doesn't seem normal at all - Ours is fine, and even what I mentioned, the deep bellow, is only very rare, only 3 times I think its done it in all 6 months we've owned it. Our engine doesn't seem held back or anything either. Even the Grand Cherokee's Climate Control makes the same noise as our Mini, and thats fine after 120k miles and 11 years.

[caesar]

Could be a fault with the aircon compressor. It's driven by the engine, and if it is very tight i.e. difficult to rotate, then this would cause a problem especially at low speeds because the engine would be labouring.

[harrietb]

Quote: Originally Posted by caesar (original)

Could be a fault with the aircon compressor. It's driven by the engine, and if it is very tight i.e. difficult to rotate, then this would cause a problem especially at low speeds because the engine would be labouring.

They're already changed that.. And it's still making the noise.. It's got them puzzled that's for sure! I'm just worried about driving the darn thing!

[caesar]

Hi harrietb, sorry about my last post, but I did notice that they had changed the compressor.

If the problem only occurs when the a/c is on, then I would think it will be OK to continue driving provided you do NOT have the a/c on.

Hopefully, when the dealer gets the parts which are on order, they will put it right.

Would be of interest if you can let us know the outcome.

[harrietb]

I will do. If they dont fix it this time I'm going to have to think seriously about what I want to do.. As I am still within 6 months I could reject the car - as this will be the 2nd time it's gone in for the same problem..

[jamesbeaumont]

My cooper makes a similar noise which I mentioned before somewhere...it sounds quite like a supercharger between 2 and 3k rpm is when its most noticeable, in 2nd and 3rd gear. It could be air flowing into the engine, I'm pretty certain its not a fault, personally I really like the sound!

[harrietb]

It doesn't sound that nice on mine.. Its worse in 1st and 2nd and it feels like its something wrong with the air con as its when that kicks in, but they've checked that and changed the compressor but they can't work out what the problem is - but they've said that it isn't right...

[jamesbeaumont]

Thats a shame, hope you get it sorted out and dont have to get rid of your mini Harriet

[STU56]

Quote: Originally Posted by harrietb (original)

Hi everyone,

A few weeks ago, a noise started in my Mini Cooper every time I turned on the air conditioning. It really made the engine sound laboured and I actually felt the car pull back when the air con kicked in.

Took it to the dealers and they said that they thought it was the air con compressor - so they ordered a compressor and I took it in today. When I went in late they said they'd replaced that but there was still the noise and they weren't sure why.

They now think it might be the alternator or the belt and have ordered those. I asked if they could just keep my car, and me have a courtesy car as I was worried about it breaking down on me, and I'm also very busy with work to keep going in and out of the dealers. They told me that there wasn't any car that I could use anywhere in the dealership? Do you think they are fibbing to me?

I'm taking it in again on Wed for the alternator, but the belt is on back order and will be at least a week - do you think I should push for a courtesy car? I may be going up to Scotland on Sunday evening and I'm worried it will let me down.

I'm a little bit annoyed that a car that is less than 4 months old is having to have so much engine work done on it!


Thanks!

Make sure cooling fan works with a/con switch on,cooling fan fuse known to blow which would send a/con pressure sky high resulting in bad whine from compressor and engine to stumble when compressor goes in.Good luck stu.

[CC07ERS]

Guess what ive had mine replaced aswell lol if you dontt laugh you will feckin cry