check engine MINI Hardtop 2 Door 2005 Owner's Manual

16
INDICATOR AND WARNING LAMPS Technology that monitors itselfThe system runs a check on the indicator
and warning lamps marked by
+ each time
you switch on the ignition. They each light
up once for different periods of time.
If a malfunction should occur in one of
these systems, the corresponding lamp
does not go out after the engine is started
or it lights up while the vehicle is moving.
You will see below the correct way to react
to this.
Red: stop immediately
Battery charge current
+
The battery is no longer being
charged. Indicates a defective alter
-
nator drive belt or a problem with the
charge circuit. Please contact your MINI
Dealer.
If the drive belt is defective, do not continue driving. The engine could be
damaged due to overheating. When the
power-assist is deactivated, increased
steering effort is required. +
The engine oil pressure is too low.
Pull over immediately and switch
off the engine. Please contact your MINI
Dealer.Do not continue driving; otherwise, the engine could be damaged
because of inadequate lubrication.<
Brake warning lamp
+
Lights up although the parking
brake is released. The brake fluid
level is too low. Before driving further, be
sure to comply with the information on
pages 96 and
111
. Have the system
checked immediately.
Display of the malfunction described above in Canadian mod
-
els.
If equipped with a navigation system or
Cockpit Chrono Pack:
Coolant temperature warning lamp in the navigation system or
Cockpit Chrono Pack
+
Lights up while driving:

Engine is too hot. Pull over to the side of
the road immediately, switch off the
engine and allow it to cool down, refer also
to page
64. Have the system checked
immediately.

17
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
INDICATOR AND WARNING LAMPSYellow: stop immediately
Flat Tire Monitor
+
The warning lamp indicates a flat
tire or a system malfunction. In the
event of a flat tire, an acoustic signal also
sounds.
Reduce speed immediately and stop the
vehicle.It is possible that the acoustic signal was
not heard. In this case, in order to deter
-
mine if there is a flat tire or a system mal
-
function:1. Switch off the ignition, ignition key posi
-
tion 0
2. Switch the ignition back on, ignition key
position 2, or start the engine.If an acoustic signal sounds, you have a flat
tire. Otherwise, the system has a malfunc
-
tion or has failed.For instructions on how to proceed further,
refer to Flat Tire Monitor starting on
page
71.Depending on the equipment ver
-
sion, the indicator lamp is in the area
of the navigation system or the Cockpit
Chrono Pack.<
Red and yellow: continue driving
cautiously
Brake warning light

together with yellow indicator
lamp for ABS, CBC, EBD and ASC/
DSC:

The driving stability control has
failed. Drive cautiously and defen
-
sively. Avoid full brake applications.

Have the system checked as soon
as possible.

More information on pages
68, 69
.
Display of the malfunction described above in Canadian mod
-
els.


Red: an important reminder
Brake warning lamp

with parking brake applied.

More information on the parking
brake on page
53.
Warning lamp in Canadian models.

Fasten safety belts
+
Lights up for several seconds or
until the driver has fastened his or
her safety belt.

A signal
* also sounds depending on the
version.
More information on page
45.
Depending on the equipment ver
-
sion, the indicator lamp is in the area
of the navigation system or the Cockpit
Chrono Pack.
Lights up when the bonnet and/or
tailgate are open.

More information on pages
29, 105
.

18
INDICATOR AND WARNING LAMPSRed: check as soon as possible
Airbags
+
There is a malfunction in the airbag
system. Have the system checked
as soon as possible.

More information on page
73.
Depending on the equipment ver
-
sion, the indicator lamp is in the area
of the navigation system or the Cockpit
Chrono Pack.
The brake pads have reached the
minimum safe limit for lining wear.
Have the brake pads replaced immediately.

More information on page
96.
Depending on the equipment ver
-
sion, the indicator lamp is in the area
of the navigation system or the Cockpit
Chrono Pack.<
Yellow: check as soon as possible
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
+
The ABS has failed. Conventional
braking efficiency is available. Have
the system checked as soon as possible.

More information on page
70.
Display of the malfunction described above in Canadian mod
-
els.All Season traction Control (ASC)/Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
+
Indicator lamp flashes:

System active: drive and braking forces are
regulated.

The indicator lamp stays lit: ASC/DSC deac
-
tivated with button or defective.

In the event of a defect: Have the system
checked as soon as possible.

More information on pages
68, 69
.
Engine
+
The exhaust emissions have deteri
-
orated.

Have the vehicle checked as soon as possi
-
ble.
Display of the malfunction described above in Canadian mod
-
els.Engine electronics
* +
The engine electronics are mal
-
functioning. You can continue to
drive with reduced engine output or engine
speed. Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible.

56
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT)
*
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 downwards.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.
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 displaysP R N D SD 1 2 3 4 5 6 EPMalfunctionEP appears on the display. The transmission
system is malfunctioning. Avoid high loads.

All selector lever positions can still be
engaged; in the forward driving positions,
however, the vehicle can only be driven
with a limited gear selection.

Have the system checked immediately.Jump-starting and towing, refer to
pages
134
, 136
.

64
FUEL GAUGE
COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE
In 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.
Coolant temperature gaugeDepending on the equipment version, a
coolant temperature gauge is located in
the speedometer or the Cockpit Chrono
Pack.Low temperature:The engine is still cold. Drive at moderate
engine and vehicle speeds.Center position:Normal operating temperature of the
engine.High temperature:As soon as there is a deviation from the
center position upwards or to the left:Drive with moderation and at low engine
speeds. If necessary, switch off the engine
and allow it to cool down.
Checking coolant level, refer to page
110
.
Temperature warning 1 Red warning 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.Equipment with navigation system* or
Cockpit Chrono Pack*
Coolant-temperature warning lamp in the navigation system or
Cockpit Chrono Pack, refer to Dis
-
play elements on page
15.
Lights up while driving:

Engine is too hot. Switch off the engine
immediately and allow it to cool down.

68
ALL SEASON TRACTION CONTROL (ASC)
*
The conceptThis system optimizes driving stability and
traction, especially when just starting off,
when accelerating or when cornering. ASC recognizes the danger present in trac
-
tion loss and will increase driving stability
and traction by reducing the engine's out
-
put and, if necessary, by applying the
brakes to the front wheels. ASC is operational each time you start the
engine. It contains the following functions:>Antilock Brake System (ABS)>Cornering Brake Control (CBC)>Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD).
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, even with ASC. An appropri
-
ate driving style always remains the
responsibility of the driver. Avoid using the
additional safety margin provided by the
system as an excuse for taking unnecessary
risks.

Do not make any modifications to the ASC
system. Allow only authorized technicians
to perform service procedures on the
ASC.<
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp will go out shortly after the ignition has been
switched on, refer to pages
17, 18
.
If the indicator lamp flashes:

ASC controls the drive and braking forces.The indicator lamp stays lit:

The system is defective or was turned off
using the button. Have the system checked
as soon as possible.
To switch off the ASCBriefly press the switch.

The indicator lamp stays lit.When driving with snow chains or to 'rock
free' in snow, it can be helpful to switch off
the ASC for a brief period.
To maintain vehicle stability, always drive with the ASC switched on
whenever possible.<
To switch the ASC back onBriefly press the switch once again.

Indicator lamp goes out.

69
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC)
*
The conceptThis system optimizes driving stability and
traction, especially when just starting off,
when accelerating or when cornering. It
also maintains driving stability even in crit
-
ical driving situations.DSC recognizes unstable vehicle conditions,
such as understeering or oversteering, and,
as far as is possible within the laws of phys
-
ics, helps keep the vehicle on a steady
course by reducing the rpms and by brake
applications to the individual wheels.The DSC is operational every time you start
the engine. It contains the following func
-
tions:>All Season traction Control (ASC)>Antilock Brake System (ABS)>Cornering Brake Control (CBC)>Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD).
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, even with DSC. An appro
-
priate driving style always remains the
responsibility of the driver. Avoid using the
additional safety margin provided by the
system as an excuse for taking unnecessary
risks.

Do not make any modifications to the DSC
system. Allow only authorized technicians
to perform service procedures on the
DSC. The indicator lamp will go out shortly after the ignition has been
switched on, refer to pages
17, 18
.
If the indicator lamp flashes:

DSC controls the drive and braking forces. The indicator lamp stays lit:

The system is defective or was turned off
using the button. Have the system checked
as soon as possible.
To switch off the DSCBriefly press the switch.

The indicator lamp stays lit.When driving with snow chains, it may be
effective to switch off the DSC for a brief
period.
To maintain stability, always drive with the DSC switched on whenever
possible.<
To switch the DSC back onBriefly press the switch once again.

Indicator lamp goes out.

71
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
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
tires2. Compare them with the inflation pres
-
sure table, refer to page
98, and adjust
the pressures if necessary
3. Initialize 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. 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 reinitialized 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 driving2. Press the button long enough for the
indicator lamp in the display elements
to light up for a few seconds3. Drive off.It takes a few minutes before the Flat Tire
Monitor can detect a flat tire and issue an
alert.

94
REFUELING
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 door2. Turn the gas cap counterclockwise3. Put the gas 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.<
Observe the following when refueling
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>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.Closing the gas cap1. Put on gas cap 2. Turn gas cap clockwise until it clicks3. Close fuel filler door.
Close the gas cap carefully after

refuelling until a click is heard.

While closing, be sure not to squeeze the
strap which is fastened to the cap.<
US models only:
The warning lamp
* comes on.

The gas cap is not correctly closed
or missing. Check if the gas cap is
correctly closed.
Fuel tank volumeApprox. 13.2
gallons
/ 50
liters, of which
approx. 2.1
gallons
/ 8
liters are reserve
capacity.
Do not drive until the fuel tank is totally empty. Otherwise engine
operations are not guaranteed and damage
could occur.<
Fuel specification The engine uses lead-free gasoline only.Required fuel Premium Unleaded Gasoline,

Minimum Octane Rating: 91.Minimum Octane Rating corresponds to
the Anti Knock Index (AKI) and is deter
-
mined according to the so-called (R+M)/2
method.

110
COOLANT
Do not add coolant to the cooling sys
-
tem when the engine is hot. Escaping
coolant can cause burns.<
Coolant consists of water and a coolant
additive. Not all commercially available
additives are suitable for your MINI. Your
MINI Dealer knows which additives are
suitable and will be glad to advise you.
Only use suitable additives, other
-
wise the engine can be damaged. The
additives are hazardous to your health. -
mental laws regulating the disposal
of coolant additives.<
The illustration shows by way of example the coolant tank of the MINI
COOPER and
the MINI
COOPER Convertible.
Checking coolant level 1. The engine must be at ambient temper
-
ature
2. MINI COOPER and MINI COOPER Con
-
vertible:

Slowly pull the cap of the expansion
tank by the tab until the excess pressure
can escape. Then remove the cap com
-
pletely.MINI COOPER
S and MINI COOPER
S Con
-
vertible:

Loosen the cap of the expansion tank
slightly by turning it counterclockwise
until the excess pressure can escape.
Then remove the cap completely
3. The coolant level is correct if it is
between the MIN and MAX markings on
the transparent expansion tank4. If necessary, slowly add coolant until the
correct level is reached; do not overfill5. MINI COOPER and MINI COOPER Con
-
vertible:

Press the cap on and press it down
firmly. MINI COOPER
S and MINI COOPER
S Con
-
vertible:

Turn the cap back on and tighten it
firmly
6. Have the cause of the coolant loss
removed as soon as possible.