Limp Home Mode - MINI Cooper Forum

Zippy · #1 (**permalink**) Jun 5th, 2002, 08:20 AM

I was driving down to the South Coast (in the UK) in my MINI Cooper over the Jubilee Weekend, when overtaking a truck my MINI suddenly lost all power, so I pulled over to the hard shoulder. The Engine fault light had lit up as well as the EML light, though the engine was still running. I turned it off . It re-started, although the Engine fault light stayed on. I called MINI emergency service, who arrived promptly in a 5 Series touring. However, when I started the car the light had now gone out. The BMW chap suggested that he follow me off the motorway and we check it out. My MINI drove the five miles to the next junction without hickup or complaint. We stopped in a car park for the chap to check it over. He couldn't find anything wrong, although he didn't try any diagnostics or anything, and suggested that I contact my Dealer, (Specialist Cars in Luton).
After another five miles, once back on the motorway, it did the same thing again!! So I limped it at 40 MPH to the next services and once again called up MINI emergency service. They called a low loader this time to take me home and arranged me a hire car in the meantime. They should be picking my MINI up today.
I wonder what Specialist will find wrong?! At least BMW have been very helpful and polite..so far! More than could be said of Rover when my old Mini Cooper Sportpack kept going wrong!!

chiph · #2 (**permalink**) Jun 5th, 2002, 09:55 AM

I had a similar experience with my VW Jetta - turned out to be a loose knock sensor. All of five minutes to re-tighten it, once the dealer queried the computer to find out what the problem was.

Hope your problem is as easy to fix!

Chip H.

Zippy · #3 (**permalink**) Jun 5th, 2002, 11:39 AM

yeah, hopefully I'll find out in the next couple of days. I can't take driving the bland Nissan hire car they've loaned me any longer!!
Thanks for the advice. Mind you I thought Vdubs never went wrong - my old Golf GTi never let me down once

MINI's are much more fun though.

nickheatheruk · #4 (**permalink**) Jun 14th, 2002, 10:59 AM

Zippy, can you shed anymore light on solving the issue with the EML light coming on. I had the same problem occur last night - loss of all power as the car drops into safe mode. The engine continued to run. I stopped and restarted the engine, for the light to come back on again within 2 minutes.

I just wanted to know if the dealer identified the problem successfully. I'm going to take it to garage in the morning. I know my local dealer has never experienced any similar problem in the past.

Any help you can give me will be much appreciated.

Zippy · #5 (**permalink**) Jun 17th, 2002, 03:59 AM

Nick,
The problem was traced to a faulty throttle body sensor.
my MINI is now running fine.
Hope they don't take too long to fix yours!

Smiffy42 · #6 (**permalink**) Jun 19th, 2002, 09:03 AM

I had exactly the same problem, faulty throtle mechanism. Four times it happened to me before I got towed in by Mini service and the garage took 48 hours to find the problem. Aparently the EMS does not show what the fault is. I have done 2,000 miles since it last went with no problems!! But then again I have done that before and then wham!!!! With mine it did n't happen just on the motorway it happened on a B Road, in the rain and dry, accelerating and cruising.

Still it is reassuring to hear others have had the same problem and seem to have it fixed.

I wonder what the link between the cars is? Mine is a Cooper registered in Feb 02, with loads of bits but no engine mods at all? How about yours??

Richard

nickheatheruk · #7 (**permalink**) Jun 19th, 2002, 12:27 PM

just picked up my car from the garage - the infrequent spluttering turned into a complete reluctance to run properly last Saturday (before I could get it to the dealer!), with the EML light constantly on. 4 hours after calling BMW assistance, I eventually had a technician come out to look at the car. Turned out it had a faulty throttle body sensor too, which causes havoc with the mixture settings, and causes the engine to run very rough, if at all. It seems quite a few owners have experienced the same fault. Apparently the fault is clearly visible through the dealers diagnostic machine, so if you experience similar problems get it checked out by the dealer. My Nov 2001 Cooper seems fine now though

foxcasper · #8 (**permalink**) Jun 23rd, 2002, 11:42 AM

I am dissapointed that the BMW roadside guy didn't check the fault codes stored -whenever the EML or Check Engine Lamp come on a Code will be stored for 40 driving cycles minimum to indicate what is wrong.

Smiffy42 · #9 (**permalink**) Jun 24th, 2002, 07:01 AM

BMW Roadside, nor the dealer did this with mine so by the time I or they had got the car to the garage the EML system had "cleared " the fault.

Richard

MINIFY · #10 (**permalink**) Sep 6th, 2002, 03:25 PM

Another EML problem.
Yesterday the EML light and service engine soon light came on when the Cooper was started. Was unable to go over 20 MPH. NW MINI had it towed in (100+ miles) and fixed it on the spot. The computer read out pointed to the Throttle Body Sensor and it was replaced and I was on my way home in 2 hours. The theory is that the robot on the assembly line is not pushing the plug all the way in, causing intermittant shorts and/or a poor connections. It is a long plug and hard to push on to click connect. I suggest checking your plug. It should have to be squezzed to remove. Push on hard and listen for the click.

[quote]Originally posted by nickheatheruk
[b]just picked up my car from the garage - the infrequent spluttering turned into a complete reluctance to run properly last Saturday (before I could get it to the dealer!), with the EML light constantly on.

KenL · #11 (**permalink**) Sep 6th, 2002, 04:19 PM

"Yesterday the EML light and service engine soon light came on"

What's the service engine soon light?

MINIFY · #12 (**permalink**) Sep 6th, 2002, 06:36 PM

IT'S THE ORANGE WARNING LIGHT ON THE TACH AND INDICATES THAT YOU NEED TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR A CHECK UP BECAUSE SOMETHING IS WRONG. CHECK IN THE FIRST SECTION OF THE MANUAL.

Quote:

Originally posted by KenL
"Yesterday the EML light and service engine soon light came on"

What's the service engine soon light?

NYCguy · #13 (**permalink**) Sep 9th, 2002, 03:08 PM

Quote:

It is a long plug and hard to push on to click connect. I suggest checking your plug. It should have to be squezzed to remove. Push on hard and listen for the click.

Can you tell us more about the location of the sensor?

Thanks.

MINIFY · #14 (**permalink**) Sep 9th, 2002, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NYCguy

Can you tell us more about the location of the sensor?

Thanks.

My MINI mechanic said the sensor is actually inside the electronic fuel module. They took the whole assembly off and replaced it so it could be sent to Germany for inspection. So far the only problems have been with not pushing the plug all the way in so it clicks and makes a good elctronic connection. No real problem with the electronics itself. The plug is black and about three inches long and 3/4" in diameter and is the wiring harness going into the carburator or electronic fuel module.

mailewan · #15 (**permalink**) Sep 10th, 2002, 02:45 PM

i had the same problem happen to me twice. my mini is still in service. the first time they changed the electronic throttle control. this time they said they need to replace the main computer. oops! hope this will solve the problem. don't want anymore breakdowns.