Help R53 still no start! possible EWS

[Chili02s]

So long story short my mini hasnt started in atleast 2 months. Car has fuel but no spark. Replaced everything ignition wise and still nothing. I am starting to believe it is a problem with the factory security or ews.

Does anyone know the symptoms of a mini cooper with the ews out of alignment. Also will a bmw dealership reprogram ews on a mini or will only a mini dealership. Just been hesitant to go to the dealer because of the price and being close to 100 miles to the closest mini dealership without a running car

[techlab2k]

Hi, apologising for the anecdote beforehand have you tried a new key or reporgramming the old one??
<<bore alert>>
I doubt if this will help in any way but it's a tale worth telling. My wife came back from work in her new (to her) 04 S JCW. The Mini dealer said that it needs a new key and reprogramme to get the remote opening working. Not standing for that kind of bill I had a lightbulb caption going off in my head. It could be the key battery. I got my 02 JCW(awaiting a front end rebuild) key and swapped the battery with hers. No joy but my key still worked - disproving a faulty battery. Everyone into the car for school sports day and a complete no start in her Mini. Everything worked, even had fuel, but it wouldn't start. Dealer baffled but agree to take it in. Called breakdown and he was baffled too. Key and transponder interogating fine with the black box on his truck. Mini and me are hauled off to the dealer. The guy in service dropped the key in the key reader and printed off the job card. When I read it, it had my cars registration number so we assumed I had given him the wrong key. I gave him the other key and that had the correct number etc so off we went. 5 mins later there's a call from the dealer as the car key wouldn't turn in the ignition. It was then, 3 hours later, that it dawned on me. I had mixed up the backs of the two keys - the right key blades with the wrong transponder in the fob. A red faced me as I returned to the dealer swapped the backs and drove the car away.

<<bore alert end>>

[saint2000]

Quote: Originally Posted by techlab2k (original)

Hi, apologising for the anecdote beforehand have you tried a new key or reporgramming the old one??
<<bore alert>>...<<bore alert end>>

deffo a bore but had to read it! ohwell, S**T happens! If I was in the position of having a dead car, I would check the power is getting to the sparks, and the engine is actually turn, e.g. provide direct power to the starter motor (used to be able to do this in the olden days!)

[techlab2k]

used to be able to do this in the olden days!

An imobiliser then was taking your steering wheel into the pub

Chili02s , have you had any luck fixing it?

[saint2000]

Quote: Originally Posted by techlab2k (original)

used to be able to do this in the olden days!

An imobiliser then was taking your steering wheel into the pub

...either that or the Stop Lock which reached both sides of the car! :-) Thieves were quick on that one, usually brought their own steering wheel with them!

[Chili02s]

Hey guys thanks for the responses. No luck with starting the car. I tried my spare key and the engine is definitly turning. It cranks and cranks but no fire.

[techlab2k]

Quote: Originally Posted by Chili02s (original)

Hey guys thanks for the responses. No luck with starting the car. I tried my spare key and the engine is definitly turning. It cranks and cranks but no fire.

Exactly the same problem as I had in 'The case of the swapped key backs'. Have you spoke to the dealer? I looked at the TIS but it wasn't that helpful. It seems easy to replace the module but it would still need re-programming.

Other alternative anti-theft devices... Classic Mini - unscrew the gear lever and take it with you. (or just park it somewhere damp)

[Chili02s]

Plan on calling the dealer today. Tired of driving my dads wrangler at 15 mpgs ! Sure its a simple plug into their computer type deal that cost $300.

[techlab2k]

Quote: Originally Posted by Chili02s (original)

Plan on calling the dealer today. Tired of driving my dads wrangler at 15 mpgs ! Sure its a simple plug into their computer type deal that cost $300.

So how did it go?

[Chili02s]

I dropped it off at the dealership yesterday. Haven't heard anything yet from them. I will say im not very impressed with the way i was treated at the dealership and they seemed very unorganized.

[Chili02s]

So dealership just called and said it needed sparkplugs. I put ngks irodiums in it less than 10k miles ago

[techlab2k]

Plugs? Bizarre to say the least. But a cheap fix. Get your old ones back and have a good look at what caused them to fail - even better, get NGK to explain exactly why they failed.