What is this part

Tiny
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  • 2011 MINI CLUBMAN
  • 4 CYL
  • TURBO
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 114,000 MILES
Bought a car 2 weeks ago and it drives excellent, no check engine light, but while I was cleaning the motor I saw something that isn't plugged, and can't find the harness for it. Can you tell me what it is and where the harness should be coming from? It is located underneath the air filter box big hose. It has a coolant connector coming from underneath the reservoir and going to it
Friday, March 27th, 2020 AT 2:16 PM

14 Replies

Tiny
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Hi,

I believe you are looking at the intake, solenoid valve. Take a look at pic 1 and let me know if that appears to be the part. Based on your pics, I believe I'm looking on the intake manifold. If that isn't correct, let me know.

Joe
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Friday, March 27th, 2020 AT 6:12 PM
Tiny
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No am familiar with the vanos, it looks like it but its not it, this one is connected to coolant hoses.
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Friday, March 27th, 2020 AT 6:14 PM
Tiny
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Hi,

Take a look at the attached two pictures. If that is on the thermostat housing, it's the coolant temperature sensor. If these pics are not correct, tell me where on the cooling system it is located.

Let me know if this helps.

Joe
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Friday, March 27th, 2020 AT 8:55 PM
Tiny
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Nether. There is a coolant hose coming from underneath the reservoir, from the radiator, and it connects to it, it is toward the front of the motor, away from the thermostat location, right underneath the air box tube.
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Saturday, March 28th, 2020 AT 6:37 AM
Tiny
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Am I looking at the right part? See pic 1. Is that the upper rad hose I have the arrow pointing toward? And the sensor is in the metal pipe?

If you look at pic 2, it is an exploded view of the cooling system. Do you see where it would be on anything in that pic?
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Saturday, March 28th, 2020 AT 5:30 PM
Tiny
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Yes, the first picture is the one and the hose goes to top of radiator underneath the reservoir.
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Saturday, March 28th, 2020 AT 5:33 PM
Tiny
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According to the manual, that is a coolant temperature sensor. Is the gauge working? Do you see the plug that should go to it? If so, what color are the wires?
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Saturday, March 28th, 2020 AT 6:29 PM
Tiny
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These do not have a gauge, only a dummy light. I can't find the plug, that is why am asking if you can tell where the wire should be coming from. I thought the coolant temperature sensor is by the thermostat on this car?
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Saturday, March 28th, 2020 AT 6:31 PM
Tiny
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Googled it and all pictures coming with this for coolant temperature sensor.
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Saturday, March 28th, 2020 AT 6:33 PM
Tiny
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Okay, I think I got this figured out. The temperature sensors were retrofitted. I suspect what you are look at is the old sensor. Take a look through this and let me know if it makes sense.

_________________________________

[NEW] PROCEDURE TWO

Remove the fresh air intake tube and the charge air intake tube from the air box to the turbo to gain access to the engine harness at the thermostat.

Pic 1

The improved sensor (P/N 13 62 8 603 908) includes the temperature probe (1) and insulating sleeve (2), a two-pin female connector (3) for the map thermostat, and a four-pin connector (4) for the engine harness.

Pic 2

Relieve the coolant pressure by removing the reservoir cap, and then re-tighten.

Pic 3

Remove the bleeder screw (1) from the thermostat. This screw will not be reused.

Pic 4

The back of the temperature sensor is slotted to accept a bladed screwdriver (1). Install the sensor into the bleeder screw hole, and torque to 2Nm.

Pic 5

Slide insulating sleeve (1) onto the temperature sensor. The sleeve must completely cover the sensor.

Pic 6

Install the two-pin female connector (1) into the thermostat and the four-pin male connector (2) into the engine wiring harness.

Pic 7

Secure the connector (1) with a cable tie to the engine wiring harness.

Pic 8

Secure the wiring from the temperature sensor (1) with a cable tie.

Reinstall the intake components and vent/refill the cooling system (Repair Instruction 17 00 039).

Note:
This repair procedure involves draining a small quantity of coolant; refill the drained quantity with new MINI Long-term Antifreeze/Coolant (50/50 mixture). Do not reuse the drained coolant.

________________________________

Let me know if that is what was done. I believe you are looking at the old sensor that is unplugged.

Joe
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Saturday, March 28th, 2020 AT 7:03 PM
Tiny
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I thought bout that especially since there aren't any codes, and the fact that I did something similar to another car not sure if it was a mini or not, I will double check codes tomorrow and let you know. Thanks!
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Saturday, March 28th, 2020 AT 7:17 PM
Tiny
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You're very welcome. Let me know what you find. Also, note that there were two ways to retrofit the sensor. I sent you the second way because it seemed to fit what you were explaining best.

Please let me know. Boy, you get some interesting vehicle problems. LOL I think I would lose my mind with what you have to deal with. If not my mind, the last 8 hairs on my head. LOL

You take care and I'll watch for your reply.

Joe
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Saturday, March 28th, 2020 AT 8:17 PM
Tiny
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Thanks for your help. I will look today and let you know but I remember seeing a wire harness that looks like that. Yes I do a lot of reading videos in order to learn the unknown. There is always something new, always something I have never seen. I have chosen to deal with German cars years ago because I know they are challenging and many people are intimidated by them, but other vehicles seem to follow the trend now. I have some weird stuff on Infinitis that made me go in circles. Audis usually have the OMG problems, lol.
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Sunday, March 29th, 2020 AT 6:39 AM
Tiny
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I will watch for your reply. I work on a lot of German cars. Customers get somewhat frustrated with repair costs. 2005 Audi A8, immobilizer. No start, locked in park, needed a new steering column because a solenoid was bad. They weren't happy to see it required a new OEM part (couldn't use old one because of coding) and the part was 2800.00 without labor. Ugh! I bought cars that ran perfect and needed nothing for much less than that.

Let me know what you find. And if you want to move to PA, a good friend is retiring and has a well established German repair shop he is selling.

Joe
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Sunday, March 29th, 2020 AT 10:06 PM

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