[Zipperblues]

I'm having my first real problem with my '03 MCS.

Today as I was driving the steering suddenly felt rough and heavy. I thought I had a flat tire. When I got home and shut off the car it continued to make a noise. It didn't sound the the regular power steering noise, but louder, and somehow more rough. The power steering fan was not spinning, and the sound did not stop until I unhooked the battery.

The good folks at MINI of Peabody said it sounded like I need a new power steering pump, for the bargain price of $850

I've heard of this before. Please, share your experiences before I go in for my appointment tomorrow.

[Richard22b]

Well worth talking to Paul at 1320autos.

He may have a few suggestions or a cheaper option.

[sharkie]

Hi Zipperblues

I've a 04 MCS same thing happened to me 10 days ago luckily the car is sill under warranty !

Seems to be a very common Problem,

Maybe you could try ring MINI up and see if they will make some sort of allowance as this seems to be a common manufacturing flaw with the steering pump.

Good luck

Sharkie

[Root Ginger]

Yep common problem. Most are dealt with under warranty but some survive the warranty period unfortunately.

[roland2003]

Hi Guys, interestingly Ive run my car for nearly 3 years with the electric cooling fan for the steering pump completly removed from the car, without a problem. This would indicate it isn't needed or doesnt do very much.
There is a very pretty 'GTT PAS Fluid Tank' coming very soon. Its all alloy and features a baffle plate inside to prevent possible airlocks on the track. Weve got it on the GTT300T already.-Pics and thread coming soon.
Best Regards Roland GTT

[Andy P]

See hear as well

Andy

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...g-failure.html

[Root Ginger]

Quote: Originally Posted by roland2003 (original)

Hi Guys, interestingly Ive run my car for nearly 3 years with the electric cooling fan for the steering pump completly removed from the car, without a problem. This would indicate it isn't needed or doesnt do very much.
There is a very pretty 'GTT PAS Fluid Tank' coming very soon. Its all alloy and features a baffle plate inside to prevent possible airlocks on the track. Weve got it on the GTT300T already.-Pics and thread coming soon.
Best Regards Roland GTT

Hi Roland,

I have actually had my PAS overheat and cut out even with the fan. This was on an over 30 degree day though and I was stationary in my Cooper Works for about 30 - 45 mins with the A/C running. Once the engine was off for a while and it cooled down all was ok again.

[Tica]

Hi
I just went on a Mini test drive. I was at the dealer for 4 hours and drove a 07 basic Mini that was automatic.

I drove a basic Mini and because I live in NYC wanted to test parallel parking (I was in Long Island, not Manhattan). I found 3 different spaces to park in. The only thing is--a little bit the 2nd parking attempt but really 90percent of the time on my 3rd attempt--the steering wheel became completely rigid and I had to use all my strength to move it at all. Like it must have lost its power steering. I was trying to maneuver into a tight spot so I was turnign back and forther repeatedly trying to squeeze in.

It was like I was wrestling a bear, I could barely move the wheel. Occasionally it would give a little but something was definitely wrong.

Has anyone had or heard of problems with power steering on the new cars or even 06's? I've been googling and searching hte forums and they seem to have occurred in earlier cars...but I wonder if it's been resolved and if my one car was just a fluke?

This is a MAJOR deal breaker for me because I live in NYC and parallel park every day ! I've never experienced htis on any other car before.

The dealer was a little silent. Thankfully he wasn't trying to pretend it wasn't anything but he was sort of speculating that perhaps it was the fact that I parked 3 times in a row...which I don't think should matter.

Anyway, when we got back to the dealer he said that I should call the service people in Manhattan and see if they were getting complaints of it. He did say that if it was a problem then Mini would fix it in the next round of cars.

I spoke to the used car dealer who happened to be around and he suggested that if the car was 'idling' then...then maybe that does something to the engine and the power steering fails..he set that the idling could be set to higher...

then he later said it could be a 'belt'.

Now I don't know if what he said made sense. My dad said that setting the engine to go faster or whatever wasn't nec. good and would use more gas, too.

does this make sense to anyone? I will call the service guy

any comments welcome!

thanks!

[Vitesse]

My first MCS had this, it was a 2003. Steering got louder and louder and heavier, but did it gradually so it wasn't really that obvious, until it did start to get really loud.

Went to the dealer and he opened the reservoir up for the PS and there was very little in there. Put it up on the ramps and found it was leaking. They topped it up and it was fine but they booked it in and replaced the pump and the rack, just to be safe, as it was being carried out under warranty.

[Mini Perry]

My 03 Cooper S power steering failed too, and it was the Pump. Over a period of time the whine got louder and louder and eventually the pump failed all together. Lucky for me Mini replaced it under warranty.