Hi All, (hopefully this is the best forum to share this)
Just thought I'd share my experience I've had with fixing my wife's 2004 R50 Mini Cooper 1.6 that I had recently.
Symptoms were that it was not turning over, no noise of solenoid being thrown either.
1) Jumping it from my car still no joy. Managed to bump start it though.
2) Used a multimeter and measured 8.9v, thought ahh, battery. Replaced it, still no start. (Turned out I had a bad connection on my multimeter probe!)
3) Checked 12v to the solenoid when wife turned key, went to 12v.
So therefore I thought it was the starter moter. Had it out, tested it, with the other battery and jump leads - and it spun happily! Though the cog seemed a dirty and sticky so I WD-40'd it up a bit. Put it back in, still no joy!!
Still had my doubts about the starter motor, so bought one off ebay £20, noticed that this one spun up better out of the car than the original.
Put that one in, still no joy!!
Checked relays and fuses, I could hear a click under the passenger footwell which was the relay operating so thought iginition switch must be ok. Checked 12v again from solenoid to engine mount - MASSIVE spark and starter turned! Thought must be some sort of an electrical issue. Put a wire from the battery + to the solenoid with ignition on - starter turned and started. Started to think it must be the ignition switch so started taking the steering column covers off etc.
Was at my wits end when I decided to have another google session...!
One mentioned the earth strap - I'd visually checked the Battery to Chassis, but not really the Chassis to Engine....
Took it off, cleaned it up with sandpaper and a file, and it started!!!!
We also had other symptoms which if I was more experienced would have made me look at the earth strap straight away.
a) Occasionally the ABS light would come on and also the airbag light.
b) After bumping it, the power steering pump must have stopped as the steering went REALLY heavy when reversing back into the drive.
c) When accelerating in low revs, it was a bit sluggish.
All in all a right game as the starter motors are a bit awkward to do without taking the manifold off but possible.
Hopefully this will be of use to somebody!
Andy
Just thought I'd share my experience I've had with fixing my wife's 2004 R50 Mini Cooper 1.6 that I had recently.
Symptoms were that it was not turning over, no noise of solenoid being thrown either.
1) Jumping it from my car still no joy. Managed to bump start it though.
2) Used a multimeter and measured 8.9v, thought ahh, battery. Replaced it, still no start. (Turned out I had a bad connection on my multimeter probe!)
3) Checked 12v to the solenoid when wife turned key, went to 12v.
So therefore I thought it was the starter moter. Had it out, tested it, with the other battery and jump leads - and it spun happily! Though the cog seemed a dirty and sticky so I WD-40'd it up a bit. Put it back in, still no joy!!
Still had my doubts about the starter motor, so bought one off ebay £20, noticed that this one spun up better out of the car than the original.
Put that one in, still no joy!!
Checked relays and fuses, I could hear a click under the passenger footwell which was the relay operating so thought iginition switch must be ok. Checked 12v again from solenoid to engine mount - MASSIVE spark and starter turned! Thought must be some sort of an electrical issue. Put a wire from the battery + to the solenoid with ignition on - starter turned and started. Started to think it must be the ignition switch so started taking the steering column covers off etc.
Was at my wits end when I decided to have another google session...!
One mentioned the earth strap - I'd visually checked the Battery to Chassis, but not really the Chassis to Engine....
Took it off, cleaned it up with sandpaper and a file, and it started!!!!
We also had other symptoms which if I was more experienced would have made me look at the earth strap straight away.
a) Occasionally the ABS light would come on and also the airbag light.
b) After bumping it, the power steering pump must have stopped as the steering went REALLY heavy when reversing back into the drive.
c) When accelerating in low revs, it was a bit sluggish.
All in all a right game as the starter motors are a bit awkward to do without taking the manifold off but possible.
Hopefully this will be of use to somebody!
Andy
