MINI COOPER 2004 Service Manual
Manufacturer: MINI, Model Year: 2004, Model line: COOPER, Model: MINI COOPER 2004Pages: 152, PDF Size: 1.53 MB
Page 41 of 152

39
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TRANSPORTING CHILDREN SAFELYInstalling child-restraint systemsBefore installing any child-restraint system
or child seat, read the following:
Always follow the manufacturer's
instructions concerning installation
and use; otherwise the system's protective
function could be impaired.
After an accident, have all parts of the
affected safety belt system inspected and/
or replaced by your MINI Dealer.<
Commercially available child-restraint sys-
tems are designed to be secured with a lap
belt or with the lap belt portion of a combi-
nation lap/shoulder belt. Improperly or
inadequately installed restraint systems
can increase the risk of injury to children.
Always read and follow the instructions
that come with the system.
Child seat securityAll of the rear belt retractors and the front
passenger's safety belt can be locked for
mounting and securing child-restraint sys-
tems.
Information regarding this is located near
the buckle latch of each safety belt.To lock the beltPull the entire length of the belt from the
belt retractor. Allow the reel to retract the
belt somewhat and engage the buckle,
then tighten the belt against the child-
restraint system.
The retraction mechanism is now locked.
To unlock the beltRelease the buckle, remove the child-
restraint system and allow the belt retrac-
tor to reel the belt completely in.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 42 of 152

40
TRANSPORTING CHILDREN SAFELYChild-restraint system with tether
strapIf you use a child-restraint system with a
tether strap:
Depending on the location selected for
seating in the rear passenger area, attach
the tether strap to the corresponding
anchorage point to secure the child-
restraint system.
Both seating positions are fitted with a
head restraint.
Lift the head restraint and pass the tether
strap between the head restraint and the
seat back. It is recommended to readjust
the head restraint into the lowest possible
position.
Adjust the tether strap according to the
child-restraint manufacturer's instructions.
LATCH child-restraint mounting
system Open the cover.
The illustration is an example showing the
mounts for the LATCH, Lower Anchors and
Tethers for CHildren, child-restraint mount-
ing system at the right rear.
The system is also available at the left rear
position.
Canadian models only:
The LATCH anchorage points are identified
by buttons, see illustration.
Always follow all manufacturer's
instructions and observe all safety
precautions when installing the LATCH
child-restraint system.<
ProCarManuals.com
Page 43 of 152

41
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
IGNITION LOCK STARTING THE ENGINE0Steering locked The key can be inserted or removed in this
position only.
To lock the steering:
1. Remove the key
2. Turn the steering wheel slightly to the
left or right until the lock engages.
A sound alarm goes off if the key remains in
the ignition after opening the driver's door.
Vehicles with Continuously Variable auto-
matic Transmission (CVT):
Do not move the selector lever from
position P until the engine is running.
The ignition key cannot be turned to
position 0 and removed until the selector
lever is in position P, interlock.
1Steering unlockedIndividual electrical accessories are ready
for operation.
You will find that it is often easier to turn
the ignition key from position 0 to
position 1 when you move the steering
wheel slightly to help disengage the lock.2Ignition switched onAll electrical accessories are ready for oper-
ation.3Starting the engine
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Step on the clutch when starting the
vehicle. A lockout prevents the engine from
starting if the clutch is not depressed.<
Do not let the engine warm up with
the vehicle at a standstill. Move off
immediately at a moderate engine speed.<
Do not allow the engine to run in
enclosed spaces. Breathing the nox-
ious exhaust gases can lead to uncon-
sciousness and death. The exhaust gases
contain carbon monoxide, an odorless and
colorless, but highly toxic gas.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with
the engine running. This is a safety hazard.
When driving, standing at idle, and parking
the vehicle, take care to avoid contact
between the hot exhaust system and flam-
mable materials, e.g. hay, grass, leaves, etc.
Such contact could lead to a fire resulting in
serious personal injury and property dam-
age.<
ProCarManuals.com
Page 44 of 152

42
STARTING THE ENGINEStartingWhen starting the engine, do not press the
accelerator pedal.
Do not actuate the starter for too
short a time. Do not turn it for more
than approx. 20 seconds. Release the igni-
tion key immediately when the engine
starts.
Extended starting attempts, characterized
by excessively frequent or long periods
with the starter engaged, can lead to dam-
age in the catalytic converter.<
If the engine does not start on the first
attempt, for instance if the engine is very
hot or cold:
When starting the engine, press the gas
pedal down halfway.
When first starting the engine at very low
temperatures, from +57 / –156:
When starting the engine, press the gas
pedal down halfway. For the initial start
attempt, allow the starter to remain
engaged somewhat longer, approx.
10 seconds.
Manual transmission1. Engage the parking brake
2. Put the manual gearshift lever in neutral
3. Press the clutch pedal
4. Start the engine.
Move the gearshift lever to neutral
position and engage the parking
brake before leaving your vehicle with the
engine running.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with
the engine running. This is a safety haz-
ard.<
Continuously Variable automatic
Transmission (CVT)1. Press the footbrake
2. Put the selector lever in position P or N
3. Start the engine.
Move the selector lever to position P
and engage the parking brake before
leaving your vehicle with the engine run-
ning.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with
the engine running. This is a safety haz-
ard.<
ProCarManuals.com
Page 45 of 152

43
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
SWITCHING OFF THE ENGINE PARKING BRAKE
You should never remove the ignition
key when the vehicle is in motion, as
the steering lock could engage.
When you leave the vehicle, always remove
the ignition key and engage the steering
lock.
When you park on downward slopes,
engage the parking brake.<
Manual transmissionTurn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.Continuously Variable automatic
Transmission (CVT)Engage selector lever position P, turn the
ignition key to position 1 or 0.
The parking brake is designed primarily to
prevent the vehicle from rolling when it is
parked. It operates against the rear wheels.To engageLever automatically locks in position.
The indicator lamp in the instrument clus-
ter lights up from ignition key position 2,
refer to page 16.To release1. Pull up slightly
2. Press the button
3. Push the lever downwards.
If, in exceptional circumstances, it
should be necessary to engage the
parking brake while the vehicle is in
motion, do not pull the lever with excessive
pressure. Keep your thumb pressed against
the release button while carefully pulling
the lever up to apply moderate pressure.
Excessive pressure can lead to overbraking
and loss of traction, i.e. fishtailing, at the
rear axle. The brake lamps do not come on
when the parking brake is engaged.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Always engage the parking brake when
parking on hills and inclined surfaces, as
first gear or reverse may not provide ade-
quate resistance to rolling.
Vehicles with CVT:
Place the selector lever in P.<
To avoid corrosion and one-sided
braking, apply the parking brake
lightly from time to time when coasting to
a standstill, for instance at a traffic light,
provided that it is safe to do so.<
ProCarManuals.com
Page 46 of 152

44
MANUAL TRANSMISSION 6-speed transmission*
When changing gear in the 5th/6th
gear plane, press the gearshift lever
to the right to prevent inadvertently shift-
ing to a gear of the 3rd/4th gear plane.<
Reverse gearBefore selecting reverse gear, ensure the
vehicle is stationary; then, fully depress the
clutch pedal and pause briefly before mov-
ing the gearshift lever into position.
5-speed transmission:
Press the gearshift lever to the right and to
the back.
6-speed transmission:
Press the gearshift lever towards the left.
Thereby overcome the slight resistance and
press forward.
As you do this, the backup lamps will turn
on automatically when the ignition key is
in position 2.
Do not hold the vehicle in place on
slopes by slipping or 'riding' the
clutch. Use the parking brake instead.
Riding the clutch causes the clutch assem-
bly to wear out sooner.<
ProCarManuals.com
Page 47 of 152

45
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT)
*
You can drive with a continuously variable
shifting CVT. In addition, you can also shift
manually.
When in manual selection mode, you have
the option of changing gears by using
either the selector lever or the shift paddles
on the steering wheel.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel
consumption is lowest when driving in
position D.Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
Range selection Inadvertent engaging of certain selector
lever positions is prevented by a lock.
Press the button on the front side of the
selector lever knob. The lock is released.
While the vehicle is stationary, and
before shifting out of P or N, press the
brake pedal in order to disengage the selec-
tor lever lock mechanism, shiftlock.
If the engine speed is too high when the
vehicle is at a standstill, the selector lever is
also blocked to protect the transmission.
Hold the brake pedal down until starting
off. Otherwise the vehicle will 'creep' when
a drive position is engaged.<
To prevent the vehicle from starting
off on its own, always move the
selector lever to position P and engage the
parking brake before getting out of your
vehicle with the engine running.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with
the engine running. This is a safety haz-
ard.<
If the selector lever is not placed in
position P when the vehicle is parked,
the position display of the selector lever
stays on. This can lead to battery dis-
charge.<
ProCarManuals.com
Page 48 of 152

46
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT)
*
PPark
Select P only when the vehicle is completely
stopped. The transmission locks to prevent
the rear wheels from turning.RReverse Select P only when the vehicle is completely
stopped.NNeutral: idleSelect N only if your journey is interrupted
for a long period.DDrive: CVT driving positionThis position is designed for driving under
all normal operating conditions. KickdownIn 'kickdown' mode, you achieve maximum
acceleration and maximum speed in
position D.
Press the accelerator pedal past the
increased resistance point at the full-throt-
tle position.
M/S + – Manual mode and Sport
program Switch from D into M/S + –:
Activates the Sport program and displays
SD in the gear indicator in the speedome-
ter.
Press selector lever once:
Shifts from the Sport program to the man-
ual mode.Shifting with the selector lever>Press selector lever briefly towards +:
Transmission shifts upwards
>Press selector lever briefly towards –:
Transmission shifts back.
1 to 6 appear in the gear indicator.
Shifting on the steering wheel*The shift paddles allow the gears to be
changed rapidly and, above all, safely, since
both hands can remain on the steering
wheel.
Use one of the two shift paddles to shift
upwards or downwards:
>Pull shift paddle toward body:
Transmission shifts upwards
>Push shift paddle away from body:
Transmission shifts back.
1 to 6 appear in the gear indicator.
The transmission will only execute upshifts
or downshifts that will result in a plausible
combination of vehicle speed and engine
rpm, e.g. downshifts that would result in
excessive engine speed are not executed.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 49 of 152

47
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT)
*
In order to accelerate rapidly in the
M/S + – Manual mode and in the
Sport program, e.g. when passing, shift
downwards manually or by kickdown.<
Whenever you want to return to automatic
shifting, just move the selector lever
toward the left to position D.
Switching from M/S + – Manual mode into
the selector lever positions P, R and N is
only possible via D.
Available displays
P R N D SD 1 2 3 4 5 6 EP
Electronic transmission control moduleIf there is a malfunction in the transmission
system, EP appears in the display.
All selector lever positions can still be
selected. In positions for driving forward:
the vehicle can now only be driven with a
limited gear selection.
Avoid high engine loads. Please pro-
ceed to the nearest MINI Dealer.<
Do not work in the engine compart-
ment when a drive gear – forward or
reverse – is engaged. If you do this, the
vehicle could move.<
Jump-starting and towing, refer to
pages 126, 128.<
ProCarManuals.com
Page 50 of 152

48
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.
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.<
ProCarManuals.com