R53 - Turning wheels and the power steering goes, any ideas?

[VISE]

So I was driving home the other day, and my R53 started making a weird scraping sound like something had fallen out of the bonnet, then it went in to limp mode and the battery icon displayed red and the ABS lights came on, power steering failed.

Upon inspection, the drive belt had snapped completely (which obviously connects them all), so I replaced it and it seemed okay... but now, when I'm driving and turn the wheels, the ABS lights come on, battery light comes on, speedos stop working and the car goes in to limp mode and the power steering stops working completely. If I turn it off at that point and try to restart it, I have to jump start the battery for it to turn back on. I've tried replacing the battery.

I've had a look at the alternator, it seems fine... What else could it be? It's very annoying and it's my "daily" so ideally I want to fix it sometime soon

Edited by VISE on Friday 15th March 17:41

[Elliot2000]

When u say u looked at the alternator and it seems fine, what do u mean? Have u tested it?

Have u used the right belt? Possibly too long and not under enough tension

[VISE]

Elliot2000 said:

When u say u looked at the alternator and it seems fine, what do u mean? Have u tested it?

Have u used the right belt? Possibly too long and not under enough tension

I'm away on holiday atm but a mechanic friend said he had a look and it's working fine.

It could well be that, I will ask someone else to take a look at the belt.

[R53rider]

This maybe known and obvious - if so please ignore.
"Upon inspection, the drive belt had snapped completely (which obviously connects them all)" The belt doesn't drive the power steering. It is driven by the electric power steering pump (PSP) which pumps the hydraulic fluid to operate the power steering.
It draws a great deal of power. So if the alternator is not providing sufficient output, and these R53s are very sensitive to that output and battery condition, the car will kill the power steering. Which depending where you are and what you are doing can be a tad inconvenient.
I see you have replaced the battery, so imagine that is performing as it should.
May I ask - does the mechanic friend of yours understand these R53s? Generalist mechanics get lost pretty quickly. They are very idiosyncratic, quirky little devils.
It may be that the power steering pump is failing. They do. Graphite dust gets all over the PCB inside and start shorting things and causing intermittent and sometimes bizarre grief.
I'm not sure why you heard the scraping noise - except that the belt had snapped.
It sounds to me like an 'amps' issue. Battery, alternator, earthing.
The belt drives the SC, which drives the water pump which is on the other end, the alternator and the air con compressor.

[VISE]

R53rider said:

This maybe known and obvious - if so please ignore.
"Upon inspection, the drive belt had snapped completely (which obviously connects them all)" The belt doesn't drive the power steering. It is driven by the electric power steering pump (PSP) which pumps the hydraulic fluid to operate the power steering.
It draws a great deal of power. So if the alternator is not providing sufficient output, and these R53s are very sensitive to that output and battery condition, the car will kill the power steering. Which depending where you are and what you are doing can be a tad inconvenient.
I see you have replaced the battery, so imagine that is performing as it should.
May I ask - does the mechanic friend of yours understand these R53s? Generalist mechanics get lost pretty quickly. They are very idiosyncratic, quirky little devils.
It may be that the power steering pump is failing. They do. Graphite dust gets all over the PCB inside and start shorting things and causing intermittent and sometimes bizarre grief.
I'm not sure why you heard the scraping noise - except that the belt had snapped.
It sounds to me like an 'amps' issue. Battery, alternator, earthing.
The belt drives the SC, which drives the water pump which is on the other end, the alternator and the air con compressor.

He doesn't really understand the R53, he said it looks a nightmare to work on.

Is it worth me replacing the power steering pump? Mine doesn't have the air con also, it's starting first time now and I can turn the wheels as normal but when I drive it, that's when the problems start arising.

[R53rider]

VISE said:

He doesn't really understand the R53, he said it looks a nightmare to work on.

Is it worth me replacing the power steering pump? Mine doesn't have the air con also, it's starting first time now and I can turn the wheels as normal but when I drive it, that's when the problems start arising.

Progress. I could tell he doesn't understand the R53!!
They are complicated to work on - except for an R53 specialist mechanic or outfit that understands them.

Whereabouts are you? Give me a rough idea. I keep track of where these R53 experts are based across the UK so may be able to suggest someone reasonably local to you. I am in the SE and there are two that I use.
I have just had one of them replace the clutch on my 2005 R53, plus a load of other 'might as well while the engine is out' items, all preventive.

Yes, it sounds as if you need to replace the PSP. BBA Reman in Rochester provide an exchange service.

If you are keeping your R53 I suggest you join the R53 Owners Club on Facebook. UK based group for R53 Owners, so exclusively focused on R53s, as the name suggests. So not diluted by posts and questions about the many other generations and styles of MINI.
Currently 5,479 members, all R53 owners.
There is a major turn out of the R53OC at Minis at Brooklands this coming Sunday, 24th March. As well as numbers of other New MINI clubs and organisations.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/154538898666141

[Elliot2000]

Why did they remove the engine to do a clutch?

[R53rider]

Elliot2000 said:

Why did they remove the engine to do a clutch?

Two reasons really.
1) It is almost impossible to remove the gearbox from the engine in order to get at the clutch. It can be done, but pretty much nobody does.
2) There are numbers of other checks, maintenance and replacement items that it is easy to do with the engine out. For example, some of them:
Cam chain, chain guide and tensioner
Crank Position O ring
Super charger service
Water pump
Bypass valve
Low speed fan resistor
Oil pump seals
Sump gasket
Rocker cover gasket
Oil cooler/heat exchanger
Crank pulley/damper
There are many items that can't really be dealt with on R53s without putting the car into what is called "Front End Service Mode". Doesn't involve removing the engine, but means taking the front end including the rads, off.
For those unfamiliar with what it involves, this vid shows how the car is put into Front End Service Mode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=Lk6ju...