marceule16

Mini Clubman Undervoltage Error

My 2019 Mini Clubman, a diesel with just over 102000 km on it, is showing an undervoltage error. Starting has become difficult, various systems are failing intermittently, the lights are dim and sometimes flicker, and the battery seems weak when starting the engine. My initial thought is a heavily discharged or defective battery but wanted to see if anyone else had similar experience.

4 comment(s)

Sounds like a charging system issue. I had similar problems with my old Ford Focus. Symptoms were pretty much the same: poor starting, random system failures, flickering lights, and a weak battery. It turned out to be a voltage drop due to a faulty alternator issue. The alternator wasn't properly charging the battery, hence the undervoltage. You might want to get your charging system checked. A simple test can reveal if your alternator is delivering the correct voltage. Also, check the battery terminal connections for corrosion; that can cause issues too. The power supply needs to be consistent.

Interesting, so it was definitely the alternator in your case? How did you confirm that? What kind of test did you do?

Yes, in my case it was the alternator. A mechanic used a multimeter to check the voltage output of the alternator while the engine was running. It was significantly lower than the specified voltage. Also, a battery load test can determine if the battery is holding a charge properly. Considering your symptoms, I'd strongly advise getting the charging system professionally checked, especially the alternator and battery. It's likely the root cause of your power supply problems.

Just wanted to close the loop here. After some diagnostics, the workshop confirmed the battery was indeed heavily discharged and failing. Replaced it, and everything is back to normal. Total damage was 290€. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

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