100% Free

No Scanner Needed

Carly logo

valentinawerner1

Mini Countryman Electric Overvoltage Issues

Alright, I'm having a real head-scratcher with my 2023 Mini Countryman electric. I'm getting a ton of fault memory entries relating to "Overvoltage" and it's causing all sorts of systems to go haywire. The car electronics are basically having a meltdown. Sometimes it struggles to start, like the battery is weak and I also get general electrical malfunction. My gut tells me the battery is heavily discharged or defective, but could alternator failure also be a factor? I'm trying to rule out possibilities. Any thoughts?

4 comment(s)

larsfuchs1

The issues you are describing do sound concerning, especially with a modern electric vehicle. The fault memory entries related to overvoltage, coupled with the symptoms you're experiencing, suggest a potential problem within the electrical system. I must admit, the car electronics in newer vehicles can sometimes be quite sensitive to voltage fluctuations. Have you had the chance to check the battery's voltage using a multimeter? Also, could there be a problem with the alternator? If the battery is in fact heavily discharged or defective, as you mentioned, it certainly warrants further investigation.

valentinawerner1 (Author)

Thanks for the quick response! I thought about the alternator, but I wasn't sure if that was even a thing on the electric Countryman. I was under the impression that it only uses regenerative braking or the electric motor to charge the high voltage battery... Is there an alternator on this model, and is there a way to check it?

larsfuchs1

You raise a valid point regarding the charging system in your electric Countryman. My apologies, I was thinking too generically. You are correct, it would not have a traditional alternator. The high voltage system is used to regenerate power. Given the symptoms and the fault codes pointing to overvoltage, it would be best to get the vehicle professionally diagnosed. The problem you describe could potentially be related to the circuit protection mechanisms within the high voltage system or even a faulty battery management system. It is difficult to say without proper diagnostic equipment.

valentinawerner1 (Author)

Just wanted to provide an update. Took the Countryman to a trusted workshop, and they confirmed it was indeed a battery issue. Apparently, it had a dead cell, causing the overvoltage readings and all sorts of weird electrical behavior. They replaced the battery and cleared all the fault codes, total cost was 290€. Everything seems to be running smoothly now. Thanks for your help!

Join the discussion now: