warning MINI Hardtop 2 Door 2002 User Guide

25
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
OPENING AND CLOSING Ð FROM OUTSIDEVia the door lock1. One turn of the key in the driver's
door lock unlocks the driverÕs door only
2. Turning the key a second time unlocks
the other door, the tailgate and the fuel
filler door.
If the vehicle has been properly locked, the
hazard warning system flashes once.
When the vehicle is unlocked, the hazard
warning system does not react.
Do not lock the vehicle if there are
passengers still inside, because they
cannot unlock the doors.<
Manual operation (in the event of electrical malfunction)
Turn the key to the extreme left or right to
unlock/lock the door.
Convenience feature via door lockYou can also operate the power windows
and the sliding/tilt sunroof via the door
lock.
>To open: with the door closed, turn the
key to the "Unlock" position and hold it
>To close: with the door closed, turn the
key to the "Lock" position and hold it.
Watch during the closing process to
be sure that no one is injured.
Releasing the key stops the operation.<

44
PARKING BRAKE 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 warning lamp in the instrument cluster
comes on when the ignition key is in posi-
tion 2, see 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 (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
adequate resistance to rolling.
Vehicles with CVT:
Place the selector lever in P.<

49
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
PARKING LAMPS/LOW BEAMS SIGNAL/HEADLAMP FLASHER Switching on the parking lampsTurn to the first position.
The front, rear and side vehicle lighting is
switched on.
One-sided standing lamps, see next
column.Switching on the low beamsTurn to the second position.
With the low beams on and with the igni-
tion switched off, only the parking lamps
will remain on."Follow me home" lampsIf you switch off the engine with the low
beams on, and then switch off the low
beams, they remain lit for approx. one
minute.
You can also have this function acti-
vated.<
Switching on the standing lampsFor parking, you can activate lights on one
side of the vehicle (observe local laws).
In ignition key position 0:
Move the lever into the relevant turn signal
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
the second position:
When the ignition is switched off, the
external lighting is also switched off.
You can have this function set by
your MINI center.<
1 Turn signal indicator (green indicator
accompanied by periodic clicking sound
from the relay)
2 High beams/Headlamp flasher (blue
indicator lamp)To signal brieflyPress the lever up to but not beyond the
detent.
If the indicator lamp of the indicators
and the clicking from the relay are
both faster than normal: one of the turn
signal indicators has failed.<

56
FUEL GAUGE TEMPERATURE GAUGE In the navigation system
Please also comply with the instruc-
tions in the previous column.<
Once indicator lamp 1 switches from
orange to red, there are still approx.
2.1 gallons (8 liters) of fuel in the fuel tank.
Low temperatureThe needle is located at the bottom or on
the right.
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 to cool down.
Checking coolant level, see page 91.
1 Red indicator lamp When you switch on the ignition, warning
lamp 1 comes on briefly to confirm that the
system is operational.
If the lamp comes on while operating the
vehicle, the engine has overheated. Switch
off the engine immediately and allow it to
cool down.Navigation system option
Coolant temperature warning
lamp in the tachometer.
If the lamp comes on while oper-
ating the vehicle, the engine has over-
heated. Switch off the engine immediately
and allow it to cool down.

63
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
FLAT TIRE MONITOR PARK DISTANCE CONTROL (PDC)*
Do not initialize the system when
snow chains are fitted. When driving
with snow chains, false alarms can occur or
pressure losses might not be detected.<
In the following situations false
alarms can also occur under certain
circumstances or the detection of inflation
pressure loss can be delayed:
>When driving on roads covered with
snow or on other slippery road surfaces
>A sporty driving style (slip at the driven
wheels, high lateral accelerations).<
The conceptThe PDC assists you when you back into a
parking space. A signal warns you of the
distance to an obstacle. To do this, four
ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper
measure the distance to the nearest object.
The range for the sensors located at both
rear corners ends approx. 2 ft (60 cm)
behind the bumpers. The range for the two
middle sensors is slightly less than 5 ft
(1.5 meters).
The system starts to operate automatically
about one second after you select reverse
with the ignition key in position 2. PDC is
deactivated when you shift back out of
reverse. Acoustical signalsThe distance to the nearest object is indi-
cated by a tone sounding at various inter-
vals. 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 9 in (20 cm) away.
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. three seconds if the distance to the
obstacle remains constant during this time
(if you are moving parallel to a wall, for
instance).System malfunctions will be indicated by
a continuous high-pitched tone when the
system is activated the first time. Please
have your MINI center resolve the problem.
Even with PDC, final responsibility for
estimating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstructions always
remains with the driver. Even when sensors
are involved, there is a blind spot in which
objects cannot be detected. Moreover, the
detection of obstructions can approach the
physical limits of ultrasonic measurement,
as occurs e. g. in the case of thin and
wedge-shaped objects.
Certain sources of sound, such as a loud
radio, could drown out 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 of more than
4 in (10 cm).<

71
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT COVER FOLDABLE REAR BACKRESTWhen the tailgate is opened, the luggage
compartment cover is also raised.
Never place heavy or hard objects on
the luggage compartment cover, as
otherwise occupants could be injured
during braking maneuvers.<
The warning triangle
* is located
beneath the luggage compartment
cover, see page 113.
Comply with legal requirements requiring
you to carry a hazard warning triangle in
the vehicle.<
RemovalTo load bulky luggage, the compartment
cover can be removed.
1. Remove the retaining straps on the
tailgate
2. Pull the luggage compartment cover out
towards the rear.
Unlock and fold1. Pull lever
2. Fold the rear backrest forwards.
When folding the backrest back into
its original position always ensure
that the detent engages securely. A loose
backrest might fail to prevent cargo from
entering the passenger compartment
during sudden braking or evasive maneu-
vers, posing a potential hazard to occu-
pants.<

77
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
GENERAL DRIVING NOTES REFUELING Driving through water
Do not drive through water on the
road if it is deeper than 1 ft (30 cm),
and then only at walking speed at the
most. Otherwise, the vehicle's engine, the
electrical systems and the transmission
may be damaged.<
Clothes hooks
When suspending clothing from the
hooks, ensure that they will not
obstruct the driver's vision. Do not hang
heavy objects on the hooks. If you do so,
they could cause personal injury during
braking or evasive maneuvers.<
High temperatures
High temperatures occur in any
vehicle equipped with a catalytic
converter. Do not remove the heat protec-
tion plates fitted in the area of the exhaust
system and do not apply body-cavity
protectant to this area. When driving,
standing at idle or when parking, take
precautions to avoid contact between the
hot exhaust system and easily flammable
materials (grass, hay or leaves, for
example). Such contact could lead to a fire,
resulting in serious personal injury and
property damage.<
Always switch off the engine before
refueling. If you do not, fuel cannot
be filled into the tank and the "Service
Engine Soon" lamp may come on.<
1. Open the fuel filler door
2. Turn the filler cap counterclockwise
3. Put the filler cap in the bracket attached
to the fuel filler door.
Always observe all applicable precau-
tions and regulations when handling
fuels. Never carry spare fuel containers in
your vehicle. Whether empty or full, these
containers can leak, cause an explosion,
and lead to fire in the event of a collision.<
Simple and environmentally friendly
Always observe all safety precautions
posted at the service station when
handling fuel.<
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle
completely into the filler pipe. Pulling the
nozzle out of the pipe during refueling
>results in premature pump shutoff
>and will reduce the effect of the fuel
vapor recovery system on the pump.
As long as the filler nozzle is used properly,
the fuel tank is full whenever the nozzle
shuts off the first time.
Tank capacity: approx. 13.2 gallons
(50 liters).
Close the fuel cap carefully after
refuelling until a "click" is heard.
While closing, be sure not to squeeze the
strap which is fastened to the filler cap.
A loose or missing cap will activate the
"Service Engine Soon" warning lamp.<
Refill early to avoid damaging the
catalytic converter; never attempt to
drive to the last drop of fuel in the tank.<

90
ENGINE OILAdding engine oil Only top up oil when the oil level has
dropped to just above the lower notch of
the dipstick, but before it goes below this
mark.
MINI engines are designed to operate
without oil additives; the use of addi-
tives could lead to damage in some cases.
This also applies to the CVT, the manual
transmission, and the differential.<
The manufacturer recommends that you
have the oil changed only at your MINI
center.
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.<
Approved engine oilsThe quality of the engine oil selected has
critical significance for the operation and
service life of an engine. Based on extensive
testing, the manufacturer approves only
certain grades of engine oil.
You can find out from your MINI
center which individual oils have
been approved by the manufacturer. you may use small volumes of other oils
between oil changes in exceptional cases.
One of the following oil specifications must
be on the oil package:
>Preferred: BMW Longlife-01
>Alternative: BMW Longlife-98,
BMW Longlife or ACEA A3.

92
BRAKE FLUIDWarning lamp
If the brake warning lamp comes
on with the parking brake released:
The brake fluid level is too low, see
page 15.
Brake warning lamp for Canadian
models.
Adding brake fluidTo add brake fluid or to determine and
correct the cause of brake fluid loss, consult
your MINI center. Your MINI center is
familiar with the specifications for factory-
approved brake fluids (DOT 4).
Brake fluid loss may result in extended
brake pedal travel. If this occurs, refer to
the information on page 79.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, that is, it
absorbs moisture from the air over
time.
In order to ensure the brake system's
safety and reliability, have the brake fluid
changed every two years by a MINI center,
see also page 57 and the Service and
Warranty Information Booklet (US models)/
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet (Cana-
dian models). Brake fluid is toxic and also
damages vehicle paintwork. Always store
brake fluid in tightly-closed original
containers kept well away from the reach
of children.
Do not spill the brake fluid and do not fill
the brake fluid reservoir beyond the "MAX"
mark. The brake fluid could ignite upon
contact with hot engine parts and cause
serious burns.<
Comply with the applicable environ-
mental laws regulating the disposal
of brake fluid.<

95
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
CARING FOR YOUR VEHICLE>Rubber parts:
Treat only with water or rubber care
products
>Plastic parts, imitation leather surfaces,
headliner, lamp glass, covering glass for
the instrument cluster, as well as matt
black molded parts:
Clean with water and, if necessary,
plastic care products. Do not dampen
seats and the headliner. Never use
solvents such as lacquer thinner, heavy-
duty grease remover, fuel or similar
>Safety belts:
Only clean using mild soap, leaving the
belts fitted; do not dry clean, as the
fabric can be destroyed.
Always unroll automatic safety belts
when dry. Dirty safety belts prevent
unrolling and thus negatively affect
safety
>Floor carpets and floor mats
*:
If heavily soiled, clean using interior
cleaner. Floor mats can be removed to
allow the interior to be cleaned
>Wiper blades:
Clean with soapy water. Replace wiper
blades twice a year, before and after the
cold season. This is particularly impor-
tant on vehicles fitted with a rain sensor.Use only wiper blades which have
been approved by the manufac-
turer.<
Leather care The leather
* used by the manufacturer is a
high-quality natural product processed
using state-of-the-art methods, and it will
retain its quality level for many years if
cared for appropriately.
Regular cleaning and care are necessary, as
dust and road dirt scratches in pores and
creases and lead to heavy wear as well as
premature brittleness of the leather
surface. This is why you should use a cloth
or vacuum cleaner to remove dust from the
leather on a regular basis.
As dirt and grease can slowly affect the
protective layer of the leather, the cleaned
leather surfaces must be treated with
leather care agent. This also helps to avoid
electrostatic charges.
Cleaning agents can contain
hazardous or health-damaging
substances. For this reason, always observe
the warnings on the package.
For interior cleaning, always open the doors
or windows of the vehicle. Do not use any
products (e.g. solvents) that are not
intended for cleaning the vehicle.<