Is it the Gear box?

[LizL]

Yesterday I lost the gears briefly while exiting the interstate, along with a rattling kind of noise. '04 Cooper, 15,500 miles, manual, DSC. The car was briefly hard to shift, but I got the gears back, and in the city, the low gears were fine. Back on the highway the car popped out of 5th a few times. I have driven cars with the original clutch until their demise, and there was no rubbery smell you get with a burning clutch.

The plot thickens, as I had a cold start problem in January after multiple nights of -20F and not driving the car much. when the tow came, I noticed a tacky fluid on the driveway where it had been parked. The dealer could not find a leak. But they couldn't tell me why the car wouldn't start either. ( I still think it was frozen fuel lines.) no problems since until yesterday, although I was mostly driving my winter car until mid- March, so I wasn't putting many miles on the MINI since the freeze until the past 4 weeks, when I have driven it a lot.

Thoughts please. I live a good distance from the dealer and would like some opinions before I go there.

[snid]

Both times I lost my 5-speed (same weather conditions as you as we live near each other) was during the winter. But, if you didn't drive the MINI much in the winter I suppose the seal could go in the winter and you wouldn't notice until now.

The tell-tale sound I had sounded like some plastic trim rubbing against the front left tire. Either that, or something small and metal inside a tupperware box. I'd hear the noise in first and second gear at low-ish RPMs, if I remember correctly.

When I actually lost 5th gear, it wouldn't come back. I still had 1-4, but no 5th or reverse.

You're still under warranty / roadside assistance. It may be worthwhile to arrange for a flatbed from VT to whichever dealer you use... The first time I tried to drive from VT to Mass, I lost fifth gear just south of Hanover and wound up waiting for a flatbed there. The second time, I got a flatbed ride from Burlington. It may be less stressful to be able to wait for a flatbed at home instead of wherever things give up on the road.

Umm... yeah... I'd guess you'r transmission is toast.

[snid]

I assume Keeler is aware of the cold weather 5-speed transmission seal failure. But, if they seem confused, it may be worthwhile to hit MINI of Peabody. I know they know about it. The first time, they did the transmission swap in one afternoon. But, that was back before they were really busy. The second time, it did take an overnite stay. But, that's still really fast in my book.

[pocketrocketowner]

Popping out of gear is a sure sign of imminent transmission failure. Deal with it before you are stranded.

[LizL]

Quote: Originally Posted by snid

I assume Keeler is aware of the cold weather 5-speed transmission seal failure. But, if they seem confused, it may be worthwhile to hit MINI of Peabody. I know they know about it. The first time, they did the transmission swap in one afternoon. But, that was back before they were really busy. The second time, it did take an overnite stay. But, that's still really fast in my book.

Where do you get service, Keller or Peabody ? Its just such a haul to Peabody! It seems like there are enough of these failures out there that there should be a recall. Did you report yours to the NHTSA, it has a place to report failures and defects, maybe if enough people reported, they'd do a recall. I assume the Gertrag shifter is more reliable.

On a separate note, wasn't the snow in March phenomenal?!

[snid]

Quote: Originally Posted by LizL

Where do you get service, Keller or Peabody ?

I got to Peabody. I think for me it's close to the same time wise to get to Peabody or Keeler, assuming traffic isn't an issue. I grew up kind near Peabody, so it just made sense for me to go over there.

I've heard that the faulty seal has been redesigned since transmissions #1 and #2 failed for me. Transmission #3 is supposed to have the redesigned seal. We'll see.

Quote:

On a separate note, wasn't the snow in March phenomenal?!

Yeah, but I cheated and headed elsewhere for better snow.

Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/snid/sets/192981/

[Boondox]

Quote: Originally Posted by LizL

Where do you get service, Keller or Peabody ? Its just such a haul to Peabody! It seems like there are enough of these failures out there that there should be a recall. Did you report yours to the NHTSA, it has a place to report failures and defects, maybe if enough people reported, they'd do a recall. I assume the Gertrag shifter is more reliable.

On a separate note, wasn't the snow in March phenomenal?!

Hmmm, all this talk of snow in March gives me the feeling that there is yet another Vermonter on MINI2.

I ordered from Keeler April 11th, and got my prod number the next day. We went into production last Thursday with a completion date of May 4th. Keeler said when I ordered it would probably be on their lot in early to mid-June. Sounds like they got it about right!

Anyway, back to the original post...sure hope I got the new seal!

Pete

[LizL]

Quote: Originally Posted by Boondox

Hmmm, all this talk of snow in March gives me the feeling that there is yet another Vermonter on MINI2.

I ordered from Keeler April 11th, and got my prod number the next day. We went into production last Thursday with a completion date of May 4th. Keeler said when I ordered it would probably be on their lot in early to mid-June. Sounds like they got it about right!

Anyway, back to the original post...sure hope I got the new seal!

Pete

Its true another North COuntry MINI, and said gear loss was on a trip to Montreal. I attempted to go to MINI Mount Royal, but their sale aren't even open on Saturday, never mind service!

The '05's are equipped with the Gertrag shifter, and I now see why they made the change. Off to call the dealer!

[GBMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by snid

I've heard that the faulty seal has been redesigned since transmissions #1 and #2 failed for me. Transmission #3 is supposed to have the redesigned seal. We'll see.

That's the odd thing ... you would think LizL's car, being an '04, should have the improved seal?

[snid]

Quote: Originally Posted by GBMINI

That's the odd thing ... you would think LizL's car, being an '04, should have the improved seal?

I don't know for sure when the redesigned seal made it into production. There might be a chance that early 04's have the old seal. Or maybe the new seal isn't much better than the old one.

The model year production starts in September, I got transmission #3 in February (I think). The new seal could have happened between those two dates. I don't know when Liz's MINI was built...

Of course, there could be no such things as a redesigned seal.

[LizL]

It is a late Feb '04 build. I don't know about the seal, but I did get the new windshield! I called MINI and gave my feedback that the transmission should be a recall, as there seems to be plenty of them out there that have gone!

I still have a nagging suspicion this is linked to the fluid I saw on the ground in the winter.

[LizL]

Quote: Originally Posted by snid

I got to Peabody. I think for me it's close to the same time wise to get to Peabody or Keeler, assuming traffic isn't an issue. I grew up kind near Peabody, so it just made sense for me to go over there.

I've heard that the faulty seal has been redesigned since transmissions #1 and #2 failed for me. Transmission #3 is supposed to have the redesigned seal. We'll see.



Yeah, but I cheated and headed elsewhere for better snow.

Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/snid/sets/192981/

Looks Like an awesome trip!

You are a braver soul than me, I don't think I could go through this 3 times with any car, even a MINI!

[GMINI]

Once you see how nice it is at peabody, you 'll begin to understand.

[GBMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by GMINI

Once you see how nice it is at peabody, you 'll begin to understand.

Have you been there then, John? I did not realize ...

[LizL]

The dealer replaced the gear box under warranty, and the MINI is running like new. They said they had seen some of these before, failing seals in cold weather. Hopefully I have newer components and don't have the cold weather problem again next winter!