2008 Mini Cooper Clubman S suddenly won’t start.

Joined
Dec 12, 2023
Messages
119
I took my 2008 Mini Cooper Clubman S out for a spin yesterday and it ran fine. I drove it several hours making several stops and it started right up, no problem. I got home and parked it on the driveway outside and was planning and pulling into the garage later. It had been relatively warm (in the 60’s) while I was driving it. When I went to pull it into the garage the temps were now in the high 30’s. When I tried starting it, it started but idled really rough for a few seconds then stalled. I then could not get it to turn over. I thought maybe the cold temps had something to do with it so I left it till today when the temps got back up into the high 50’s. Again, it wouldn’t turn over and I tried it until the battery went dead. I tried starting it normally and I tried pumping the gas and holding the gas peddle completely down and no matter what, it would not turn over. It has fresh gas in it but it’s acting like it’s not getting gas but you can smell gas after the many attempts to start. This car has never done this before. This car was my Dad’s and due to illness it was not driven for a few years and I recently got it going again but aside from needing a new battery, it started right up and has been running fine ever since. The coolant in the expansion tank is low but I don’t think that would have any effect on it not starting. I’m going to let it sit overnight and charge up the battery and try it again tomorrow. I guess next step is having it towed to a garage.
 
Again, it wouldn’t turn over and I tried it until the battery went dead.
I think you mean it wouldn't fire? Wouldn't turn over implies the starter is not turning the engine? So best to confirm with the crowd which?

I would start with some starting fluid. Shoot a little directly in the intake while its being cranked. If it fires for a second its likely a fuel issue. If not, its likely a spark issue.
 
I think you mean it wouldn't fire? Wouldn't turn over implies the starter is not turning the engine? So best to confirm with the crowd which?

I would start with some starting fluid. Shoot a little directly in the intake while its being cranked. If it fires for a second its likely a fuel issue. If not, its likely a spark issue.
Yes, it won’t fire. I misspoke. It turns over, it just won’t fire up. It keeps trying to start but just won’t. It’s never had any issues not firing up before.
 
A former coworker had one of these and had a similar issue that, if I recall correctly, turned out to be related to the high pressure fuel pump. It's been a minute, but I'm 95% sure that was the case. Don't remember the minute details.
 
It started but idled really rough for a few seconds then stalled.
Sounds like a bad idle air control valve which will do exactly that. Had that once act up in my truck then started fine the next time, changed it afterwards.
I tried starting it normally and I tried pumping the gas and holding the gas peddle completely down and no matter what, it would not turn over. It has fresh gas in it but it’s acting like it’s not getting gas but you can smell gas after the many attempts to start.
Seems like you're putting it in flood mode and are just compression pumping the bit of fuel it had from before.

Just try to start it normally, nothing but key.
 
Sounds like a bad idle air control valve which will do exactly that. Had that once act up in my truck then started fine the next time, changed it afterwards.
When my IAC valves used to fail - a very, very small amount of peddle at start would allow it to start - taking it just above idle.

Having said that, is anyone still using IAC valves in 2008?
 
Sounds like a bad idle air control valve which will do exactly that. Had that once act up in my truck then started fine the next time, changed it afterwards.

Seems like you're putting it in flood mode and are just compression pumping the bit of fuel it had from before.

Just try to start it normally, nothing but key.
I was using just key over and over until I ran down the battery. After giving it a jump, I tried tapping the gas and then tried holding down the gas and that’s when I smelled gas. I then resumed just key and it still won’t fire up.
 
I was using just key over and over until I ran down the battery. After giving it a jump, I tried tapping the gas and then tried holding down the gas and that’s when I smelled gas. I then resumed just key and it still won’t fire up.
Pull a coil out a bit and have someone give it key so you can try to hear an arc snap to verify there's spark.
 
Pull a code. If it's n14 engine I'm so sorry
So the n14 engine is a lemon? What are its likely problems? How do I tell if I have an n14 engine?

My Dad bought this car new in 2008. He drove it only for pleasure so it only has 35k miles on it. It never has had any issues but it didn’t get driven for a couple of years because of his illness. I started driving it again this year.
 
So the n14 engine is a lemon? What are its likely problems? How do I tell if I have an n14 engine?

My Dad bought this car new in 2008. He drove it only for pleasure so it only has 35k miles on it. It never has had any issues but it didn’t get driven for a couple of years because of his illness. I started driving it again this year.
Yours should be. Is yours mini cooper s?
 
I took my 2008 Mini Cooper Clubman S out for a spin yesterday and it ran fine. I drove it several hours making several stops and it started right up, no problem. I got home and parked it on the driveway outside and was planning and pulling into the garage later. It had been relatively warm (in the 60’s) while I was driving it. When I went to pull it into the garage the temps were now in the high 30’s. When I tried starting it, it started but idled really rough for a few seconds then stalled. I then could not get it to turn over. I thought maybe the cold temps had something to do with it so I left it till today when the temps got back up into the high 50’s. Again, it wouldn’t turn over and I tried it until the battery went dead. I tried starting it normally and I tried pumping the gas and holding the gas peddle completely down and no matter what, it would not turn over. It has fresh gas in it but it’s acting like it’s not getting gas but you can smell gas after the many attempts to start. This car has never done this before. This car was my Dad’s and due to illness it was not driven for a few years and I recently got it going again but aside from needing a new battery, it started right up and has been running fine ever since. The coolant in the expansion tank is low but I don’t think that would have any effect on it not starting. I’m going to let it sit overnight and charge up the battery and try it again tomorrow. I guess next step is having it towed to a garage.
My Neon had a similar problem in 2022. I drove to work home for lunch, back to work, then stopped at the grocery store on the way home. It wouldn't start when i came out of the grocery store. Apparently the wiring harness on the back of the engine shorted out and ruined the fuel pump and starter or so the mechanic figured out. It had intermittent no start on occasion but I guess the wiring harness did it in.
 
It started right now.
So, I waited until the outside temps warmed up. (We had cold and snow last night), hit the start button and it started right up. Really strong smell of gas upon starting. Engine sounds smooth, no rough idle or rough acceleration. I tried this yesterday when it was even warmer because I thought the no start on Saturday night could be from the cold but it wouldn’t start. Could this be a sign of fuel pump going out? I’m going to try scanning for codes because the check engine light is now on.

I drove it around the block about a half a mile at around only 25 mph and after getting into the garage and turning it off, the fan is going full blast.
 
It started right now.
So, I waited until the outside temps warmed up. (We had cold and snow last night), hit the start button and it started right up. Really strong smell of gas upon starting. Engine sounds smooth, no rough idle or rough acceleration. I tried this yesterday when it was even warmer because I thought the no start on Saturday night could be from the cold but it wouldn’t start. Could this be a sign of fuel pump going out? I’m going to try scanning for codes because the check engine light is now on.

I drove it around the block about a half a mile at around only 25 mph and after getting into the garage and turning it off, the fan is going full blast.
Even if it started there may be stored codes. Check it out and report back.
 
Back
Top