Help is on the way

I got a call from Mini today assuring me that I will get another call in a few days to schedule the home visit. I am anxious to see the results of this as I still think the problem is almost entirely in the PEU. I am not as ambitious as many in terms of home diagnostics, but I do think I have a pattern that is very repeatable and defeats most theories, including some of my past ones.

ISSUE

drive home from Manhattan to S.Orange and plug in = FAILURE in less than 7 secs

WORKAROUND

let the car sit for 30+ minutes and repeat. 100% success.

The only thing I can think of that would change in this workaround is wither the battery temp or the PEU perception of the battery temp. Or something relating to the charging preparedness of the batteries (I am sure there are several variable at play).

Letting the car sit idle for 30 minutes should have nothing to do with the supply levels coming from the street. It can only have an impact on the car and its readiness to charge.

My $850.02

PS

I still love this car, and hope the lease extension stories are all true (though for closer to 2c that $850)

PPS

Anyone in Cali want to trade cars (with Mini arranging the shipping) ? Let's see if the cold is contributing to this issue or not....

That would have been embarrasing

So I have been driving the rental Hyundai for 8 days now and last night while driving home from work I was listening to a story on NPR about the new Volt and the LA auto show and thought about how little I like the idea of the "backup gas engine". But it also made me think that I haven't put gas in the in the rental all week. Sure enough I look down and the gauge is below empty and the little gas pump light is on. No fancy warning bells or anything and I had not noticed. I made it off my exit a few mile ahead and filled up. I can't wait to get #269 back on Monday.

So I got the call Friday that I would be getting #269 back because it is keeping a charge fine and there is nothing wrong. Apparently I am going to get a call from Mini to arrange for them to come out and check out the car at my house with my charger to try to diagnose what is happening.

We will see.