MINI2

jetstar1 · Jul 3rd, 2005, 08:30 PM

I took delivery of my 2005 MCSC on June 21st. About two days later, I heard a squealing/grinding noise under the hood. Car sat in the driveway until I could take it back to the dealer on June 27th.

The dealer diagnosed a bad idler pulley. They ordered the parts and replaced them on June 30th. I picked the car up, drove home and the noise returned.

I took the car back and the dealer replaced the belt which they said was burned. Drove the car, noise still there. Returned the car for a third time! Same problem.

We got MINI USA involved. Now the dealer is trying to fix it again, and they promise the car won't be returned to us until it's completely fixed. (We got a 2005 MINI Cooper Convertible loaner.)

Has this happened to other MINI Cooper/Cooper S owners?

I'm shocked that the idler pulley went after just 394 miles. Everything the dealer does is not fixing the problem. I'm petrified that we got a lemon. (We'd qualify under the NJ Lemon Law.)

The MCSC was my birthday present, and the color/options my hubby picked out are perfect.

Any advice/reassurance would be most appreciated. I can't believe this is happening to us.

Malin Dixon · Jul 3rd, 2005, 08:36 PM

It sounds like the pulleys are out of line. There is nothing particularly special about the pulleys on the Mini, but it could well be that the dealer isn't diaganosing the real problem.

Paul · Jul 5th, 2005, 01:39 PM

Idler pulleys have been known to be a problem, but not something that often comes up, but the same problem coming more than once like that might suggest there's something else wrong, not the pulley itself?

jetstar1 · Jul 6th, 2005, 12:54 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

Idler pulleys have been known to be a problem, but not something that often comes up, but the same problem coming more than once like that might suggest there's something else wrong, not the pulley itself?

The first time the Idler Pulley was replaced, but not the belt. The second time the belt was replaced because it had burned. The third time...well, they still think it's the pulley, but the shop foreman was going to do more tests.

It's so fustrating. Only 394 miles and the car is in the shop.

Hartge · Jul 21st, 2005, 03:40 PM

jetstar1,

Have they rectify the problem?

Threat · Jul 21st, 2005, 04:45 PM

They did (she was updating the saga daily in the June production thread).

On my second day with my MCSC I had the dreaded pully problem show up (delivery July 7). I am still waiting for the part. I can live with the squaling for a bit longer but they are hoping to have the part sometime next week, a 2.5 week wait. I guess the problem is pretty prevalant and they have a run on the new parts.

It stinks to have the problem but its fixable.

Hartge · Jul 21st, 2005, 05:18 PM

So, what was the actual problem? Not the belt, not the idler........ then?

Threat · Jul 21st, 2005, 07:12 PM

They think mine is the belt, but they haven't pulled it apart yet, they are waiting for the part(s). I'm not terribly mechanically inclined

Jetstar's post is here

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...age=36&pp=1 5

Hartge · Jul 22nd, 2005, 03:39 AM

So it's either the belt tensioner or the belt..... so the forman change the belt and the tensioner on jetstar's car.

Jul 3rd, 2005, 08:30 PM	#1
jetstar1 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Central New Jersey Local Time: 07:15 PM Posts: 137 Offline	Idler Pulley Failure after 394 Miles I took delivery of my 2005 MCSC on June 21st. About two days later, I heard a squealing/grinding noise under the hood. Car sat in the driveway until I could take it back to the dealer on June 27th. The dealer diagnosed a bad idler pulley. They ordered the parts and replaced them on June 30th. I picked the car up, drove home and the noise returned. I took the car back and the dealer replaced the belt which they said was burned. Drove the car, noise still there. Returned the car for a third time! Same problem. We got MINI USA involved. Now the dealer is trying to fix it again, and they promise the car won't be returned to us until it's completely fixed. (We got a 2005 MINI Cooper Convertible loaner.) Has this happened to other MINI Cooper/Cooper S owners? I'm shocked that the idler pulley went after just 394 miles. Everything the dealer does is not fixing the problem. I'm petrified that we got a lemon. (We'd qualify under the NJ Lemon Law.) The MCSC was my birthday present, and the color/options my hubby picked out are perfect. Any advice/reassurance would be most appreciated. I can't believe this is happening to us.

Jul 5th, 2005, 01:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 12:15 AM Posts: 41,220 Offline	Idler pulleys have been known to be a problem, but not something that often comes up, but the same problem coming more than once like that might suggest there's something else wrong, not the pulley itself? There aint no party like my nana's tea party

Jul 6th, 2005, 12:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
jetstar1 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Central New Jersey Local Time: 07:15 PM Posts: 137 Offline	Pulley, Belts, etc. Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett Idler pulleys have been known to be a problem, but not something that often comes up, but the same problem coming more than once like that might suggest there's something else wrong, not the pulley itself? The first time the Idler Pulley was replaced, but not the belt. The second time the belt was replaced because it had burned. The third time...well, they still think it's the pulley, but the shop foreman was going to do more tests. It's so fustrating. Only 394 miles and the car is in the shop.

Jul 21st, 2005, 04:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
Threat Vrooooooom Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NW Suburbs Chicago Local Time: 05:15 PM Posts: 82 Offline	They did (she was updating the saga daily in the June production thread). On my second day with my MCSC I had the dreaded pully problem show up (delivery July 7). I am still waiting for the part. I can live with the squaling for a bit longer but they are hoping to have the part sometime next week, a 2.5 week wait. I guess the problem is pretty prevalant and they have a run on the new parts. It stinks to have the problem but its fixable. Last edited by Threat : Jul 21st, 2005 at 04:46 PM. Reason: correction

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Jul 3rd, 2005, 08:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Malin Dixon MINI2 Senior Join Date: Apr 2004 Local Time: 11:15 PM Posts: 363 Offline	It sounds like the pulleys are out of line. There is nothing particularly special about the pulleys on the Mini, but it could well be that the dealer isn't diaganosing the real problem.

Jul 21st, 2005, 03:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
Hartge SuperSoniC Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Malaysia Local Time: 07:15 AM Posts: 282 Offline	jetstar1, Have they rectify the problem?

Jul 21st, 2005, 05:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
Hartge SuperSoniC Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Malaysia Local Time: 07:15 AM Posts: 282 Offline	So, what was the actual problem? Not the belt, not the idler........ then?

Jul 21st, 2005, 07:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
Threat Vrooooooom Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NW Suburbs Chicago Local Time: 05:15 PM Posts: 82 Offline	They think mine is the belt, but they haven't pulled it apart yet, they are waiting for the part(s). I'm not terribly mechanically inclined Jetstar's post is here http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...age=36&pp=1 5

Jul 22nd, 2005, 03:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
Hartge SuperSoniC Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Malaysia Local Time: 07:15 AM Posts: 282 Offline	So it's either the belt tensioner or the belt..... so the forman change the belt and the tensioner on jetstar's car.

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