The Mini Cooper is a high-end vehicle with a strong engine. It is a fantastic automobile, yet like any other machine, it might break down.
Every automobile is a machine that can quickly develop a malfunction, especially if it is not properly maintained. However, you should not be alarmed if your vehicle breaks down since it can always be repaired.
A weak battery, an empty gas tank, and a bad battery connection are all possible causes for your Cooper to fail.
Aside from these factors, there are several more reasons why your Mini Cooper won’t start, and I’ll discuss them in this post, along with alternative solutions.
1. Battery Failure
Your Mini Cooper is powered by a six-cell, 12-volt lead-acid battery. Each of these cells is made up of lead plates arranged in a lattice and is entirely coated in sulphuric. As a result, if it is low or dead, you will be unable to start your car because your Cooper engine cannot function without a battery.
The battery’s lifespan is determined by how you treat it as well as the weather conditions. Normally, it should last 4-5 years.
Before jump-starting your Mini Cooper, run a 12V battery test to ensure that the problem is caused by the battery.
12V Battery Check
This test allows you to determine the battery’s status by measuring the voltage between both poles. A voltmeter is used to perform this test.
A good automobile battery should be 12.6 volts, but if it is beyond 14 or below 11.5 volts, it should be replaced.
If you want to test the voltage of the battery using a voltmeter, make sure the car has been sitting for at least an hour after a long journey to achieve an accurate “resting voltage.”
Jump Start Cooper
If the test reveals that the cause of the breakdown is a dead battery, you may easily jump-start it with jumper cables and a healthy battery from another vehicle. To jump-start your car, make sure the vehicle donor is close enough to yours so you can do the following steps:
- Identify the negative and positive connections of your cooper batteries and make sure they are clean.
- Connect the red jumper cable to the positive terminal of your battery.
- Connect the other red cable to the positive terminal of the donor car.
- Connect the black cable to the negative terminal of the healthy battery.
- Connect the last cable to the bare metal in your car’s engine area.
- After you’ve correctly linked the connections, you may start both the donor and your car.
- Then, gently disconnect the wires from both batteries, starting from the last cable to the first, and run your engine for at least 10 minutes.
2. Improper Battery Connection
A car battery is the vehicle’s power source, converting chemical energy into electrical energy to allow the vehicle’s electrical components to function effectively. As a result, if your battery cables are not attached to the correct connections, your car will not start.
To correctly connect your battery, connect the positive terminal first, followed by the negative battery terminal. To properly disconnect your battery, disconnect the negative battery terminal first, followed by the positive battery terminal.
3. Fuel Filter Blockage
Your gasoline filter might become clogged when it becomes jammed with so much dirt. When this happens, your engine will no longer work as it should and your car will fail to start. If this is the case, the only option to clear a clogged gasoline filter is to replace it.
Read: Engine Knock on Startup Then Goes Away
4. Broken Starter
A broken starter is another common issue that can contribute to your car’s breakdown. The purpose of a starter is to start your engine and get your vehicle moving, but when it’s broken, you won’t be able to enjoy a ride in your car.
Some of the ways to identify if you have a broken starter are that you will always hear a clicking sound when you turn on the engine of your car and also that your engine will not turn over. When this happens, you will need to replace the broken starter with a better one.
5. Alternator Failure
An alternator is a generator that generates energy. If your car’s alternator fails, it will be unable to produce energy and the battery will not charge.
Even if you replace the battery, it will always run out and the engine will not start because the alternator is what generates the energy. Your car alternator can fail as a result of how long you have used it. And the only option for such an issue is a replacement.
6. Fuel Pump Failure
If a car’s engine occasionally breaks down, starting the car becomes difficult. The engine’s performance declines, and this results in the fuel pump developing a fault.
If your fuel pump fails, the engine will not start. The pump generally guarantees that the correct amount of fuel is transferred from the tank to the engine’s injection system under sufficient pressure. So, if your fuel pump is faulty, you won’t know when you are out of fuel—and an empty fuel tank would prevent your Mini Cooper from starting.
7. Rodent Damage
Another reason why your Mini Cooper won’t start is rodent damage. The creatures creep beneath the car and feed on the cables and wires. This can affect your car and cause it to not start, especially if there’s been major damage. You can take it to a car workshop to change the damaged cables.
Related Post: How To Check The Oil On A Mini Cooper
8. Weak Key Fob Battery
This is another common reason why you might not be able to start your car. If you have a weak key fob battery, you might not be able to start your car using the start/stop button on your car.
If you have a model of Cooper that only has a key fob with a start/stop button and no place to insert a key, you can use the back or end of the dead key fob to push the start button while pressing the brake.
Conclusion
When you discover that the issue is the battery and you want to change it, make sure you replace it with an Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery. Because they are better suited for cars like your Mini Cooper than the original batteries. Also, it is necessary to always take your vehicle to a car workshop for proper checkups and repairs.