warning MINI COOPER 2004 User Guide

25
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
OPENING AND CLOSING: FROM OUTSIDEMalfunctionsExternal systems or devices may cause local
interference in the functions of the remote
control.
In this case, unlock the vehicle via the door
lock.
Via the door lock1. One turn of the key in the driver's
door lock unlocks the driver's door only
2. Turning the key a second time unlocks
the other door, the tailgate and the fuel
filler door.
You can have this function activated/
deactivated by your MINI Dealer.<
If the vehicle has been properly locked, the
hazard warning system flashes once.
When the vehicle is unlocked, the hazard
warning system flashes twice
*.
Manual operationIn the event of electrical malfunction:
The driver's door can be locked or unlocked
by turning the key in the door lock all the
way to the left or right.Convenience closing via the door lockYou can also close the power windows and
the glass sunroof via the door lock.
With the door closed, hold the key in the
locking position.
You can have the closing of the win-
dows and glass sunroof via the door
lock activated/deactivated.<
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
SAFETY BELTS SEAT HEATING
*
To close
Make sure you hear the lock engage in the
belt buckle.
Fasten safety belts: the warning
lamp lights up until after the safety
belt is fastened. An acoustic signal
sounds for several seconds.To release1. Press the red button in the belt buckle
2. Hold the belt
3. Guide the belt back into its reel.
Safety belt height adjustmentUse the height adjustment mechanism to
adapt the safety belt to the ideal position
for your own body:
Press the button and at the same time push
the entire unit upwards or downwards.
Also observe the instructions on adjusting
the seats on page 31.Damaged safety belts
If the safety belts are damaged or
stretched in an accident: have the
safety belt system replaced by your MINI
Dealer and the belt anchors checked, other-
wise the safety function can no longer be
guaranteed. If a child-restraint system was
in the vehicle during an accident, consult
the manufacturer's instructions regarding
replacement.<
The seat cushion and backrest can be
heated with the ignition key in position 2.
Select the temperature setting:
Press each button briefly.
Direct deactivation from the second tem-
perature setting:
Press the button for a longer period.
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PARKING LAMPS/LOW BEAMS Switching on the parking lamps Turn to the first position. The front, rear
and side vehicle lighting is switched on.
Parking light on one side, refer to following
column.Switching on the low beamsTurn to the second position. With the low
beams on and with the ignition switched
off, only the parking lamps will remain on.
'Follow me home' lampsIf you activate the headlamp flasher after
having switched off the engine and the
lights, the low beams will stay lit for a pre-
set period of time.
You can have this function set by
your MINI Dealer. side of the vehicle. Observe local laws.
1. Turn the ignition key to position 0 or
remove the key
2. Switch on the low beams
3. Move the lever to the adequate turn sig-
nal indicator position.'Lights on' warningIf the lights have not been switched off and
the ignition key is in position 0, an acoustic
signal sounds for a few seconds when you
open the driver's door to remind you that
the lights have not been switched off.
Daytime driving lamps* If you desire, the light switch can be left in
position 2.
When the ignition is switched off, the car's
exterior lights go out.
The automatic headlamp range con-
trol for xenon lamps only operates
with the light switch in position 1 or 2.<
You can have the daytime driving
lamp function activated/deactivated
by your MINI Dealer.<
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
FUEL GAUGE COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGEIn the navigation system
Please also comply with the instruc-
tions in the previous section.<
If the indicator light 1 changes from orange
to red, there are approx. 2.1 gallons /
8 liters of fuel in the tank.
Low temperature The needle is at the bottom or on the right
of the range.
The engine is still cold. Drive at moderate
engine and vehicle speeds.Center positionNormal operating temperature of the
engine.High temperatureAs soon as there is a deviation from the
center position upwards or to the left:
Drive moderately and at low engine speed.
If necessary, switch off the engine and
allow it to cool down.
Checking coolant level, refer to page 100.
1Red indicator lampWhen you switch on the ignition, warning
lamp 1 comes on briefly to confirm that the
system is operational.
Lights up while driving:
Engine is too hot. Switch off the engine
immediately and allow it to cool down.Navigation system option
Coolant temperature warning
lamp in the speedometer lights up
while driving:
Engine is too hot. Switch off the engine
immediately and allow it to cool down.
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
ONBOARD COMPUTER
*
Mode selection
With the ignition key in position 1 and higher,
you can use the button in the turn signal indi-
cator lever to retrieve information from the
onboard computer for display in the tachom-
eter. By pressing the button briefly, you can
call up a new function for display.
The displays appear in the following order:
Outside temperature, range, average con-
sumption and current consumption, aver-
age speed and current speed.
Starting with ignition key position 1, the
last active setting is displayed.
If the vehicle is equipped with a navi-
gation system, you will find more
information on the onboard computer in
the navigation system Owner's Manual.<
Outside temperature If the vehicle is equipped with a tachome-
ter, but not with an onboard computer, the
outside temperature is displayed.
You can have the units 6 or 7 set
by your MINI Dealer.<
Ice warning If the outside temperature falls below
approx. 37 7 / +36, the onboard com-
puter automatically switches to the outside
temperature display.
In addition, an acoustic signal can be heard
and the display flashes for a short time.
The ice warning does not exclude the
possibility that surface ice can form
at temperatures above 37 7 / +36, e.g.
on bridges and shaded roads.<
With navigation system option:
The temperature is displayed in the status
line of the navigation system, refer to the
Owner's Manual for the navigation system.Current vehicle speedIf the vehicle is equipped with a tachome-
ter, but not with an onboard computer, the
current vehicle speed is displayed.
With the ignition key in position 1 and
higher, you can use the button in the turn
signal indicator lever to call this up in the
tachometer display. Briefly press the but-
ton to switch the display from the outside
temperature to the current vehicle speed.
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FLAT TIRE MONITOR The conceptAs you drive, the Flat Tire Monitor keeps
track of the tire inflation pressure in all four
tires. The system alerts you when there is a
substantial pressure loss in one of the tires
relative to another.
The tire inflation pressures are monitored
based on the speeds of the four wheels in
relation to one another. A flat tire is
detected as the result of differences in cer-
tain speed ratios, and a warning is gener-
ated.System requirementsSo that the system can 'familiarize' itself
with the correct inflation pressure, please
do the following:
1. Check the tire inflation pressure in all
tires
2. Compare them with the inflation pres-
sure table, refer to page 88, and adjust
the pressures if necessary
3. Initializing the system.
System limitations
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot alert you
to severe and sudden tire damage
caused by external factors, nor does it
detect the gradual and minor loss of pres-
sure in all four tires.<
On the other hand, the following situations
could lead to a delayed detection of pres-
sure loss or to the system not functioning:
>Driving on snow-covered or slippery
roads
>Performance-oriented driving: slip at the
drive wheels, high rates of lateral accel-
eration
>When driving with snow chains, false
warnings and undetected pressure loss
may occur
>When driving with a space-saver spare
tire, the Flat Tire Monitor cannot func-
tion.
Initializing the system
The system must be re-initialized
immediately after changing a tire
and wheel, or after correcting the pressure
in any tire. This requires a bit of driving.<
1. Before a journey, start the engine, but do
not start driving
2. Press the button long enough for the
indicator lamp in the display elements to
light up for a few seconds
3. Drive off.
It takes a few minutes before the Flat Tire
Monitor can detect a flat tire and issue an
alert.
Do not initialize the system if you are
driving with snow chains or a space-
saver spare tire.<
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PARK DISTANCE CONTROL (PDC)
*
The concept
The PDC assists you when you back into a
parking space. A signal tone tells you the
current distance to an object behind your
vehicle. To do this, four ultrasonic sensors
in the rear bumper measure the distance to
the nearest object.
The sensors on each side have a range of
approx. 2 ft / 60 cm, the middle sensors
one of approx. 5 ft / 1.5 m.
PDC is a parking aid that can identify
objects if they are approached slowly,
as is generally the case when parking.
Avoid driving towards objects rapidly; due
to underlying physical principles, the sys-
tem may otherwise alert you too late for
you to take evasive steps. tem starts to operate automatically about
one second after you select reverse gear or
place the selector lever in position R.
Wait for this one second before you
drive backwards.<
The system is deactivated when you shift
away from Reverse.
You can have a signal tone set by your
MINI Dealer as a confirmation that
PDC has been activated.<
Acoustical signalsThe distance to an object is indicated by a
tone sounding at intervals. As the distance
between vehicle and object decreases, the
intervals between the tones become
shorter. A continuous tone indicates the
presence of an object less than 8 in / 20 cm
away.
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. three seconds if the distance to the
object remains constant during this time,
for instance if you are moving parallel to a
wall.MalfunctionSystem malfunctions will be indicated by a
continuous high-pitched tone when the
system is activated the first time. Please
have your MINI Dealer resolve the problem.Volume controlThe volume of the Park Distance Control
signal can be adjusted from level 1, soft, to
level 6, loud.
The volume can be set by your MINI
Dealer.<
System limitations
Even with PDC, final responsibility for
estimating the distance between the
vehicle and any objects always remains
with the driver.
Even when sensors are involved, there is a
blind spot in which objects cannot be de-
tected. Recognition of some objects can be
beyond the limits of physical ultrasonic
measurement, for example with towing
bars or hitches or with thin or wedge-
shaped objects. Moreover, low objects that
have already been detected, such as a curb
edge, can disappear out of the range of the
sensors before a continuous tone sounds.
Loud sources of sound outside and inside
your vehicle can drown the PDC signal
tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free of ice
or snow in order to ensure that they
will continue to operate effectively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the
sensors for a prolonged period of time.
Always maintain a distance which is
greater than 4 in / 10 cm.<
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
AIRBAGS1Side airbags in seatback on the driver
and passenger side: front
2Head airbags on the driver and passenger
sides for both rows of seats: front/rear
3Front airbags on the driver and passen-
ger sidesProtective effectThe front airbags supplement the safety belts
by providing additional protection for the
driver and front passenger in the event of a
frontal collision in which the protection
afforded by the belts alone may no longer be
sufficient.
When needed, the head and side airbags help
to furnish protection in the event of side
impact.
Each of the side airbags is designed to help
support the seat occupant's upper body.
The airbags are designed to not be trig-
gered in certain types of collisions, e.g. in
minor accidents, certain kinds of vehicle
rollover and rear impact.
For information on the ideal seating position,
refer to page 31.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them
or modify them in any other way. Do not fit
covers, cushions or other items to the front
seats that have not been specially approved
for seats with side airbags. Do not hang cloth-
ing, e. g. jackets, over the backrests.
Do not attempt to remove the airbag
restraint system from the vehicle. Do not
make any changes yourself to the individual
components and wiring. This includes the
padded covers of the steering wheel, instru-
ment panel and roof supports, as well as the
sides of the roofliner and the original back-
rest covers on the front seats. Do not attempt
to remove or dismantle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components
directly after the system has been triggered,
as otherwise there is a danger of burns. In the
event of malfunctions, immobilization or use,
i.e. triggering, of the airbag restraint system
in accordance with its intended function,
please commission a MINI Dealer with the
inspection, repair or disassembly. Unprofes-
sional attempts to service the system could
lead to failure in an emergency or undesired
airbag activation, either of which could result
in personal injury. In view of the applicable
safety regulations, please arrange for your
MINI Dealer to dispose of the airbag genera-
tors.<
Airbag warning information is also pro-
vided on the sun visors.Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the display
elements shows the status of the
entire airbag system and the seat
belt tensioners starting from ignition key
position 1.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly.
System malfunction:
>The indicator lamp does not come on
starting from ignition key position 1
>The indicator lamp stays lit
>The indicator lamp lights up while driving.
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BRAKE SYSTEMBrake fluid levelIf the brake fluid level is too low and brake
pedal travel has become longer, there may
be a defect in one of the brake system's
hydraulic circuits.
Proceed to the nearest MINI Dealer.
Higher brake application pressure
may be necessary under these conditions,
there may be a slight pull to one side, and
brake pedal travel may be longer. Please
remember to adapt your driving style
accordingly. ally, during extended periods when the
vehicle is not used at all, and in operating
conditions where brake applications are
less frequent, there is an increased ten-
dency for corrosion of the brake rotors and
accumulation of contamination on the
brake pads. This occurs because the mini-
mal pressure that must be exerted by the
pads to clean the rotors by brake applica-
tions is not reached.
Corrosion on brake rotors is signaled by a
running or pulsation during braking; even
extended subsequent braking will not cure
this phenomenon.
It is a good idea to periodically dry the
brakes with a gentle application when driv-
ing in rain and on wet roads. Monitor traffic
conditions to ensure that this maneuver
does not endanger other road users. The
resulting heat dries the brake rotor and the
brake pads. Then if braking effect is
needed, it is immediately available.
Extended or steep mountain descents
should be driven in the gear or in the driv-
ing position in which only minimal periodic
brake application is required. This helps
avoid placing excessive loads on the brake
system. Stay within the allowable speed
range, refer to page 54.
Do not coast with the clutch pressed
or with the transmission or selector
lever in Neutral. Do not coast with the
engine switched off. The engine provides
no braking effect when the transmission is
in Neutral, and there is no power-assist for
braking when the engine is switched off.<
Brake padsBrake pad sensors in the left brake pads of
the front axle and in the right brake pads of
the rear axle monitor the brake pad condi-
tion. When the brake pads reach the wear
limit, the brake wear warning lights up,
refer to page 16.
For your own safety: use brake pads
which the manufacturer of your MINI
has approved for your particular vehicle
model. The manufacturer of your MINI can-
not evaluate non-approved brake pads to
determine if they are suitable for use, and
therefore cannot ensure the operating
safety of the vehicle in the event of their
use.<
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OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
ENGINE OILAdding engine oil
Only top up oil when the oil level has
dropped to just above the lower
notch of the dipstick. However, never allow
the level to drop below the lower notch.<
MINI engines are designed to operate
without oil additives; the use of addi-
tives could lead to damage in some cases.
That is also valid for the Continuously Vari-
able automatic Transmission (CVT), the
gear box and the power assisted steering.<
The manufacturer of your MINI recom-
mends that you have the oil changed at
your MINI Dealer.
Continuous exposure to used oil has
caused cancer in laboratory testing.
For this reason, any skin areas that come
into contact with oil should be thoroughly
washed with soap and water.
Always store oil, grease, etc., out of reach of
children. Comply with all warning labels
and information on lubricant containers.<
Comply with the applicable environ-
mental laws regulating the disposal
of used oil. critical significance for the operation and
service life of an engine. Based on extensive
testing, the manufacturer of your MINI
approves only certain grades of engine oil.
Use only approved MINI High Performance
Synthetic Oil.
If you are unable to obtain MINI High Per-
formance Synthetic Oil, you can add small
amounts of synthetic oil in between oil
changes. Only use oils with the API SH spec-
ification or higher.
Ask your authorized MINI Dealer for
details concerning the specific MINI
High Performance Synthetic Oil or syn-
thetic oils which have been approved.<
Viscosities Viscosity is the oilflow rating as established
in SAE classes.
The choice of the proper SAE class depends
on the climatic conditions in the area
where your MINI is used.
Approved oils are in SAE classes
5W-40 and 5W-30.<
These oils can be used at all ambient tem-
peratures.
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