The heater not blowing hot air. If it is the 2nd generation mini cooper. You will be able to find some answers. If you have the IHKA climate control system(the system that lets you pick temp by degrees on a digital dash). Also in that case it can be a burned out heat element inside the thermostat housing; which would require an entire new thermostat housing which includes that item inbedded in it along with a new thermostat. One of main points to a 2nd generation cooling system is that it has THREE different methods of cooling the system.
1. The thermostat
2. The cooling fan
3. The heating element inside the thermostat housing.
The natural order of things inside cooling system as per the engine computer is
The heating element inside the thermostat housing. This element applies heat to the thermostat it self in order to open it up at a prescribe temperature according to the computer.
If this element fails it the car still stands a CHANCE of operating normal(more time than not without much a code fault). But one has to remember it is not correct to just let the thermostat open by its own thermo coil built into the thermostat. Although it is there for that reason so the car engine does not overheat.
Second in my opinion is the cooling fan. The cooling fan inside a Mini Cooper does not operate all the time. In fact. during operation of the car it will only come on for a brief instance. I mean like 3 seconds on a timer watch. This cooling fan is only gonna cool the coolant to temperature prescribed by the computer. The computer wants one temperature for the most part. Anything else is not really identifiable by the human diagnosis or operation of the car.
Meaning that it fluctuates rapid and not often.
Of course sometimes the fan will run after the car is shut off. Which is normal.
So with that in mind. The cooling system in my own opinion. Can get you down the road relatively safe. but in order to get the heat to work inside the car. It takes all of these components to be in operational condition. Without air bubbles of coolant in the system.
finally if you do have the IHKA climate control system. The heater core temperature sensor would be the final item to replace.
I realize it is a lot of stuff I have explained here. but don't fret to much over it. Once the components are replaced it will immediately start to work not really requiring any type of computer scan tool or anything else to erase codes if no codes were thrown.
Here is the thread I had on the final component.
www.mini2.com
1. The thermostat
2. The cooling fan
3. The heating element inside the thermostat housing.
The natural order of things inside cooling system as per the engine computer is
The heating element inside the thermostat housing. This element applies heat to the thermostat it self in order to open it up at a prescribe temperature according to the computer.
If this element fails it the car still stands a CHANCE of operating normal(more time than not without much a code fault). But one has to remember it is not correct to just let the thermostat open by its own thermo coil built into the thermostat. Although it is there for that reason so the car engine does not overheat.
Second in my opinion is the cooling fan. The cooling fan inside a Mini Cooper does not operate all the time. In fact. during operation of the car it will only come on for a brief instance. I mean like 3 seconds on a timer watch. This cooling fan is only gonna cool the coolant to temperature prescribed by the computer. The computer wants one temperature for the most part. Anything else is not really identifiable by the human diagnosis or operation of the car.
Meaning that it fluctuates rapid and not often.
Of course sometimes the fan will run after the car is shut off. Which is normal.
So with that in mind. The cooling system in my own opinion. Can get you down the road relatively safe. but in order to get the heat to work inside the car. It takes all of these components to be in operational condition. Without air bubbles of coolant in the system.
finally if you do have the IHKA climate control system. The heater core temperature sensor would be the final item to replace.
I realize it is a lot of stuff I have explained here. but don't fret to much over it. Once the components are replaced it will immediately start to work not really requiring any type of computer scan tool or anything else to erase codes if no codes were thrown.
Here is the thread I had on the final component.
I installed my new Heater Core temp sensor.
I order a little while back a temp sensor for my heater core, as this comes standard on all 2nd generation Mini Cooper with the IHKA temp control panel. The Digital display works with the sensor to control the exact temperature in the cabin. New Temp sensor here: So to begin I used a couple...
www.mini2.com
