[LJFowler]

This AM my 03 Mini-S with climate control(970 miles)started as usual but the "Climate Control Center" was "dead" (not lighting up with the rest of the dash, no air flow, no response to buttons and dials..and most importantly no AC).
I was thinking blown fuse until I got 12 miles down the road and it came on all by itself functioning properly (lights and all). So then I was thinking loose wire connection. No response from dealer service person or official Mini email tech however I discover several other 2003 Mini owners with climate control have posted similar problems recurring repeatedly. They have been "solving" the problem by turning off their vehicles then restarting which seems to then set the climate control into operation.
Now I'm thinking must be a sensor problem related to engine temp?
Anyone else here of this or know the answer. (one person on the Official USA-Mini site states his eventually had major electrical repair and it has still cut out since).
Thanks!

[rablock]

I am having the identical problem with my 3 day old mini. The system sometimes does not start up with the car. Once it went on a few minutes later. Another time, restarting the car got it online. The service manager at my dealer has never heard of this problem, but it is clearly not an isolated case. Has anyone found a straightforward, once and for all fix?

[Grinder]

Sorry to hear about your problems, both of you. And welcome to MINI2!! Fortunately, my climate control seems to work pretty well (except for a howling noise). Have you tried checking the wires on the back of the in-dash control panel? It's hard to say where the problem might be, cuz if turning the car off fixes it, the problem would seem to be software (as LJFowler said). But if turning the car off doesn't change anything, then it might just be hardware (like rablock described). Does the problem seem to surface on particularly hot/cold/dry/wet days? Has the climate control ever started fine, and then turned itself off?

[minitech]

i need to know how many owners have has this problem.iam a tech at a dealer and the info you give me can help my customers and probly you. i have had 3 cars come into my shop with complaint of the AC shutting off.every car i looked into the isue was not there.i want to find the failing part so we all can enjoy the MINI.

[GRNSTRK03]

Many dealers have become aware of this. I had the same problem. Service pulled the whole AC head unit and put in a new one. Haven't had any trouble like this with the new one.

It's a warranty item - hye yourself to your friendly MINI dealership for service!

[LJFowler]

Thanks for the replies. Since my original post the climate control has yet to "fail" again and I am now at 6,600 miles (following a road trip from San Antonio to Montreal and back)during which the Mini-S has performed beautifully (including at some points getting 3 mpg better than the EPA Hwy estimate of 34 mpg).
I tend to keep it on automatic control between 72-70 and turning it off when windows and sunroof open. So though others with frequent repetative failures may be hardware or wiring problems I would tend to believe mine was related to some other "computer setting or software glitch" that has "reset" itself for now. If it returns I will re-post and I will mention it when I take it in for the 10,000 mile check-up.

[GRNSTRK03]

Mine only did it twice, after I had had it about a month or so. Two too many times!

[font]

This may be unrelated, but my auto a/c on MCS (which I usually leave off) sometimes, despite being off, blows hot hair through the front and lower registers.

I used to just twist the fronts to not let the air through (thinking this was normal behavior), but a few days ago I found that playing with the auto, a/c, and recycle buttons can get it to stop after everything is off again.

I haven't figured out what causes it but it's been two days since it's last occurred.

[GRNSTRK03]

You know, my new one does that, too. I just noticed it about a week ago. And if I push the off button again, the A/C turns on, but not the Auto part of it. If I push it again it turns off all the way. But it is rather spontaneous and turns itself on. I am going to log the next few occurences and probably take it in again.

[rablock]

I hope I won't jinx myself by reporting that the problem of the DOA climate system on start up, resurrected on restart, has only happened twice. I, too, hope it was just a new car glitch that self-corrected. I have forwarded this string to the service manager at my dealer, who has sent it, in turn, to the technical support people above him. If anyone has learned anything about this, please share it.

[nervous]

I, too, had this problem on my 14 day old MCS - auto climate control completely dead - turned-off the car - restarted - auto climate control now functioning

[NEMINI]

One time I have had to 'restart' the car but other then that its worked beautifully

[dmholmes]

Has ocurred once when the wife was driving the car but I have not personally had it happen yet. 1 year old, 10,000 miles, and knocking feverishly on the wooden door frame in my office

[whitleyone]

Not that this helps but my '01 3 series BMW used to have the same problem. I would get in, crank up, realize that I had no climate control, turn off the car, and start over. Always worked and never developed into a serious issue. BMW and MINI both have quirks I suppose that endear them to us while at the same time infuriating us.