Random Start failure

[Barbados Mini2k2]

Hi,
I recently bought a 2002 Mini One. About a week after I bought it, I took it to a dealership for servicing. When I parked it, it died me. I tried to restart it, but when I turned the key, nothing happened!! The battery wasn't dead or anything, but the Engine temperature guage and the fuel tank gauge stuck in place, and wouldn't move even when I took out the key.

I went in to the dealership to arrange the servicing, and handed them the key, I handed over some documents etc, then when I looked outside, they had moved my car. IT STARTED...it was random. I asked them to check it, since it wouldn't start b4, but they didn't see anything wrong with it.

Now a week later, I tried to move the car so the guy could cut the grass, and it wouldn't start, the needles stuck in place just like b4. I opened the hood (for show, because i didn't know what i was looking for) and closed the door. I closed the hood, then opened the door and tried again. This time it worked RANDOM!!!

The thing that calculates the distance traveled had reset though.

Any suggestions?
Has this happened to anyone?

[pepsicola]

what do you mean it stuck in place? Does it mean it doesn't move at all?
Also when you say it doesn't start, do the lights on the dash come on?
If they do, when you turn the key to start the engine, does it make clicking noise or no noise at all.

If lights turned on, but no starting sound on engine, then it might need a new key.

[pepsicola]

Better bring it back to the dealership and get it check again.

[Barbados Mini2k2]

No lights, nothing....absolutely nothing happened when I turned the key, no sound nothing.
The fuel and temperature gauges in the speedometer...you know how they go from the bottom, then to their normal places...they just stuck/froze in the center, even when i took out the key completely.
Then when i tried a few minutes later it worked, the radio presets reset as well.

[MINIMANIAUK]

Start with the easy things first -the earth leads and battery connections worth checking/tightening

[littlekitty]

we are having the same problem with our mini (2003 s). it won't start, no lights will come on and the computer won't fire up. it usually will start after we open and close a door. and we also have replaced the battery just last month. we are thinking maybe its the starter/key cylinder since we had a buck that used to have the same problem. please keep us up to date and see what you can find out. thanks.

the tech at mini said it's computer issue. we have a diag appointment next thursday. will let you know

p.s. both keys have the same issue.