I have a 2002 Mini Cooper, 58K miles, and the power steering pump failed yesterday, finally and completely, after working intermittently for a week. My mechanic has quoted $1200 to repair; he can't find a refurbished pump. I called the dealer to try to get some of this "goodwill" help others have gotten, and they referred me to Mini corporate. Left a message there, but I won't hold my breath, since they seem to have backed off of the goodwill stuff on the older models.
I did file a complaint with the NHTSA, and I see there is a class action pending on this issue. Unlikely much will come of either of those things. I just wish I had sold the damn thing after I replaced the transmission last year. The transmission. On a manual transmission car with 55,000 miles on it. Good lord. I had no problems with this car for eight years, but it's really making up for lost time now.
No idea why you are being quoted $1200! (£800) The pump is available refurbished from BBA Reman (UK and USA) amongst others and is approx 1 hour labour job to replace at any good garage/auto-shop, many home mechanics even swap it diy not really a big job. More Details here: Power Steering Pump replacement - Forums
My MINI Cooper 2003 sometimes encountered steering heavy for around 30 seconds. After I pushing the accelerate faster a bit, then it back to normal.
I only encountered the heavy steering once a while only, around 2-3 weeks once. Any idea? Does the power steering pump or anything need to change soon? :-(
I'm not very good at navigating round these forums so I hope I've done this right
I'm looking to buy a 51 reg mini later this week and have just discovered all this info on the steering faults :O
I'm now really worried and it's putting me off. Will it always give a warning it's going e.g. become noisy?
Does replacing the pump (is that what fixes it?) fix it for good or could it happen again?
Should I be put off by this? The seller said it had a clunk on the steering which was being fixed ready for the MOT tomorrow which I didn't worry about until I read all this!
Don't worry, most cars have problems of some kind but car forums always tend to concentrate mainly on them because thats what many use them for...........not as many owners of the thousands of trouble free cars ever post to say everything is fine!
If the ps pump should fail it is not really that big a job in a good garage or for a good DIY mechanic to fix.
I know what you're saying - the bad issues spread faster than the good points
I think I know people who could fix it at a reasonable price if it went, but I'm most worried about it just packing in while driving at speed round a bend / roundabout?!
The steering does not fail completely, it just gets heavier to turn.........this can and does happen in any modern car with electric or hydraulic power assisted steering not just a Mini and is why it is not considered a safety recall. In the same way the servo power assistance on any modern cars brakes can fail........the brakes will still work they just become much harder to press which can catch you out.
This is a price we pay for convenience over the simple old style cars of the past but at the end of the day anything mechanical or electrical can fail without warning and does not work for ever. The idea of MOT's and service/maintenance checks is to spot problems developing before they happen, so maybe have your Mini checked over before you buy by the RAC/AA or someone who knows about cars.
Is there anyway i can be sure it's my PSP that's at fault and not my steering column. MINI have offered to pay for the repairs and labour IF it's the PSP at fault?
What is your fault? The steering column cannot affect your power steering unless you have a later Mk2 Mini 2007 onwards with fully electric power steering. The earlier Mini's can have a clicking/clunking steering column bearing but this is nothing to do with the pump.
Despite the fault being obvious to a good mechanic BMW like most main dealers will charge you for a diagnostic investigation to confirm fault before doing the job. This is really just a further money making exercise but is impossible to avoid to get the free replacement!
Well I'm still planning on going ahead with it if everything checks out. Do you think it would be noticably not as nice to drive being an old 51 reg or should it be near as good as a newer one to drive? I am having it checked out before purchase and then a full service shortly after buying to make sure everthing is good with it but I'm expecting there to be some wear and effect due to the age.
We have 02 reg and a 51 reg Mini both on around 50-60,000 miles and both drive near as good as new, but of course there will always be some wear and tear due to age and depending on how well it has been cared for by previous owners.
I have owned my mini since October, 2001 (it is a 2002 MCS) and I have not had a power steering pump failure.
I don't know if the year/model info. helps, but there it is.
I love my mini - but this steering issue is a huge conern for me ! My car is now almost 7 years old - however I have owned and used older cars in the past and never has the PSP been a problem. What is the usual life of these pumps ? Is 7 years a reasonable life?
It should not be a huge concern......if it really worries you have the pump replaced, it is only a 2 hour job in any good garage to replace, the existing one may last for years or it could start failing tomorrow but you usually get an intermittent warning of occasional heavy steering usually while parking.
We have 2 MINI's in the family, both 10 years old with 60,000 miles one had the pump replaced couple of years ago, the other is still going strong but has always had a louder whining noise!
Thanks for response. I am having it checked out next week. Power Steering did not function one day last week - but was back the following day!! As a result I am nervous driving long distances in it ! Ya gotta have faith in your car !
LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-generation-faults-fixes/49527-important-have-you-had-power-steering-pump-failure-please-vote-yes-no.html
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First the transmission, now the PSP 
The pump is available refurbished from BBA Reman (UK and USA) amongst others and is approx 1 hour labour job to replace at any good garage/auto-shop, many home mechanics even swap it diy not really a big job. 
