MINI2

joplus · May 20th, 2007, 12:05 AM

I drove my 2002 MC to a friend's house today, about 25 miles by freeway. Everything was fine on the way over, and the temperature gauge never went above 1/2. When I arrived I noticed the radiator fan was on - LOUD - after I'd stopped the car. I had never heard the radiator fan before. I checked again after 15 minutes and the fan was still going, and still loud. Checked the coolant and it was bone dry. Put the key in the ignition and was able to start the car. I decided to let the car cool down.

About 90 minutes later the fan was still going, and still loud. I put coolant in, tried to start the car but the battery was dead, probably from that fan going. We tried several times to push-start it, but the engine would catch and then die.

We decided to have it towed to my house; I caught a ride home while my friend waited for the tow truck. An hour later my friend showed up, in my car; he had charged the battery (which was so dead the radiator fan had finally stopped), gotten the car started, and then driven it to my house, 25 miles by freeway. He said it was fine except the Service Engine Soon light was on.

I haven't tried driving it yet, but I've started it a few times and each time it started right up, but the SES light remains on. The coolant remains at the same level since I refilled it. I have not heard the radiator fan.

I know the coolant ran out and the battery drained, but what really happened? The car ran fine right up to the point where I parked it and the fan came on, and my friend reports that it drove fine after he got the battery charged. The temperature gauge - and all other gauges, for that matter - gave no indication of a problem. What could the SES light mean? Is the car in a lot of trouble?

Thanks in advance for any insight or advice.

West9 · May 20th, 2007, 12:31 AM

I would imagine if your coolant ran out, your engine would have to work harder to cool the engine down once idle.. also just incase its been like that for a while, id reccomend taking it to your dealership because you may have unseen engine damage... thats backed up by the EM light being on!

I topped mine up today as im doing a long journey (60+miles) so the moral of the story is, if its a long journey always, ALWAYS check your fluids!

Sorry which of your yellow lights is it? is it the one Labled EML or the other one, if its the other one and its staying on constantly, get it to the dealer asap

May 20th, 2007, 12:05 AM	#1
joplus MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2004 Local Time: 02:07 AM Posts: 1 Offline	not really overheating, but I drove my 2002 MC to a friend's house today, about 25 miles by freeway. Everything was fine on the way over, and the temperature gauge never went above 1/2. When I arrived I noticed the radiator fan was on - LOUD - after I'd stopped the car. I had never heard the radiator fan before. I checked again after 15 minutes and the fan was still going, and still loud. Checked the coolant and it was bone dry. Put the key in the ignition and was able to start the car. I decided to let the car cool down. About 90 minutes later the fan was still going, and still loud. I put coolant in, tried to start the car but the battery was dead, probably from that fan going. We tried several times to push-start it, but the engine would catch and then die. We decided to have it towed to my house; I caught a ride home while my friend waited for the tow truck. An hour later my friend showed up, in my car; he had charged the battery (which was so dead the radiator fan had finally stopped), gotten the car started, and then driven it to my house, 25 miles by freeway. He said it was fine except the Service Engine Soon light was on. I haven't tried driving it yet, but I've started it a few times and each time it started right up, but the SES light remains on. The coolant remains at the same level since I refilled it. I have not heard the radiator fan. I know the coolant ran out and the battery drained, but what really happened? The car ran fine right up to the point where I parked it and the fan came on, and my friend reports that it drove fine after he got the battery charged. The temperature gauge - and all other gauges, for that matter - gave no indication of a problem. What could the SES light mean? Is the car in a lot of trouble? Thanks in advance for any insight or advice.

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May 20th, 2007, 12:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
West9 Sam Sam the Ambulance man My Classifieds Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Norton Canes, Staffs Local Time: 08:07 AM Posts: 134 Offline	I would imagine if your coolant ran out, your engine would have to work harder to cool the engine down once idle.. also just incase its been like that for a while, id reccomend taking it to your dealership because you may have unseen engine damage... thats backed up by the EM light being on! I topped mine up today as im doing a long journey (60+miles) so the moral of the story is, if its a long journey always, ALWAYS check your fluids! Sorry which of your yellow lights is it? is it the one Labled EML or the other one, if its the other one and its staying on constantly, get it to the dealer asap

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