Engine Bay Wiring Harness & EML light

[SVGeorge]

Hello,
I suspect our 2002 MINI Cooper is displaying the symptoms where bad connections or faults in the engine bay wiring harness are causing the car to go into "limp mode" with the EML light on.

When the eml light comes on & car goes into limp mode we can usually get it going again by either stop/start car or wiggling around the connectors either at the throttle body or the pre cat 02 sensor.

I have looked at a few other possible causes reported on the forum:
* Chaffed wiring from pre-cat 02 sensor - the outer insulation was chaffed for sure but doesn't look like any of the individual wires were damaged.
* Chaffed wiring coming from the throttle body - it looks ok although I can see where it rubs up against the air intake tubing
* Chaffed wiring where harness wires pass close between the cylinder head right front corner & the water filler - seems ok on our car
* cleaned the throttle body

Every time I try something with the wiring or throttle body the problem seems to clear for a while but always comes back - some days the car drives fine, other days it will go into limp mode regularly.

So starting to suspect the wiring harness as it seems from posts here it is the most likely culprit. Problem is the cost - just rang Frank Keane MINI in Dublin and wiring harness will cost approx €350 supply & €640 supply & fit.

My queries are:
* Is it a diy job to replace the harness (saving the labour part)
* could I get a harness anywhere else (maybe used from a scrapped MINI that had the newer type harness fitted)
* is there a workaround fix for the harness fault - e.g. has anyone found a way to fix the throttle body connector without changing the whole engine bay harness.

Any help appreciated.
George

[SVGeorge]

Anyone online that can help me with this query? I thought the wiring harness issue was well known so hopefully there is someone who can help.

Thanks,
George

[marque]

Hi ya

Have you had the car plugged in to a diagnostic tool yet ?
if so was here any codes stored ?
It could be a lot of things causing the problem. If you can borrow a diagnostic tool or you have one see if you can get any codes from it. failing that if you are a member of a motoring recovery service like AA or RAC get them round to pull the codes down.

[norfolk cooper]

Hi there,
read your post with interest as we are having identical issues with our 2002 Cooper .
18 Months ago we had these symptoms occur , local garage diagnosed it as the throttle pedal ! new one fitted - all good for a few months then same symptoms ,had diagnosis done & it req'd the throttle body to be replaced with new - had it thoroughly cleaned instead - lasted a while then same symptoms, had the throttle body replaced & all good again- best part of 10K miles all good - until last week .
had same symptoms , garage plugged her in and it came up with the following codes : P1125 & P1229 .
They subscribe to a company for up-dates to their diagnostics and manuals ( online) , apparently the early throttle pedals were a known problem and once replaced ( new ones have some bits upgraded they tell me ) won't be a problem again , same with the throttle bodies .Common faults now report the engine wiring harness is a known issue .At £200 + vat from Coopers of Norwich ( supply only ) the advice i was given by the local garage was to take it to the Bmw Mini main dealer for a more detailed diagnosis before buying a new loom and paying the labour to fit it -
lets just say that i'm saving up to get enough money to pay the main agent for a diagnosis . . . they aint cheap!
P.s. my local garage asked the main dealer if they sold many engine wiring looms and they said they have sold about 6 locally in the last year .

[bunsenburner]

Hi Norfolk,

I'm interested to see how you fare with your EML troubles.

I am having exactly the same issues with my 55 MCS.

Garage has replaced the throttle pedal sensor (£150), and the day we got it back the EML came on and it went into limp mode.

I get the horrible feeling that I may end up shelling out more cash for something else that doesn't work.

If you get the harness and fit it perhaps you could give me some pointers. I am also on a bit of a budget.