# Check Engine Light **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** mini, coopers\ **Created:** [July 17, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/check-engine-light/80380 "2013-07-17T01:40:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cpap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bcef8e/32.png) [@cpap](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cpap)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/check-engine-light/80380/1 "2013-07-17T01:40:39Z")
2007 Mini Cooper S - Engine light stays on but when I have it checked no codes show up. Any answers or suggestions??? ---
**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/check-engine-light/80380/2 "2013-07-17T02:59:49Z")
There might be a problem with the light circuit inside the ECU causing the issue. You might try resetting the ECU to see if that changes things. Leaving the battery disconnected or removing the fused power to the ECU for about a half hour should reset it if you don’t have another way to do that. If the trouble still occurs after a reset then I would have to think the ECU is causing the trouble. I think most systems use a switched ground through the ECU to activate the lamp. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 3:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/check-engine-light/80380/3 "2013-07-17T03:14:57Z")
@cpap Another possibility: The guy retrieving codes is using an aftermarket scan tool which can’t retrieve the Mini specific fault code. You may need a Mini scan tool or at least a factory-level aftermarket scan tool. ---
**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/check-engine-light/80380/4 "2013-07-17T03:32:47Z")
Very good point @db4690. That makes a lot of sense. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 3:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/check-engine-light/80380/5 "2013-07-17T03:56:22Z")
Mini = BMW = proprietary diagnostic equipment may be needed to read the codes… I’m sure, for a hundred bucks, any Mini dealer can tell you why the light is on… ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 3:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/check-engine-light/80380/6 "2013-07-18T03:36:49Z")
At a minimum, definitely find out what the DTC code is that is turning the CEL on. Some can be ignored for a while, but some need to be addressed quickly or you may face expensive repairs due to a damaged cat. It’s a good investment to take the car to a shop who has Mini experience and can properly read the codes. It would be highly unusual for the CEL to come on and stay on w/no stored codes. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 3:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/check-engine-light/80380/7 "2013-07-18T03:48:35Z")
Don’t disconnect the battery. Your vehicle is listed as one that may require reprograming of computers/modules with a factory scanner to get them to work again. [http://www.aa1car.com/library/battery\_disconnect\_problems.htm](http://www.aa1car.com/library/battery_disconnect_problems.htm) And that won’t be cheap. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Stoveguyy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Stoveguyy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Stoveguyy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/check-engine-light/80380/8 "2013-07-18T15:59:35Z")
where did you have code checked? ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/check-engine-light/80380/9 "2013-07-18T16:07:16Z")
Go to a mini dealer, or a BMW dealer. ---
**Author:** ![cpap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bcef8e/32.png) [@cpap](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cpap)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 1:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/check-engine-light/80380/10 "2013-07-19T01:50:08Z")
Thank you everyone, went to a shop with a factory scanner. All is good #2 coil had a problem. Back in action. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 2:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/check-engine-light/80380/11 "2013-07-19T02:53:42Z")
Congratulations ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 3:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/check-engine-light/80380/12 "2013-07-19T03:54:26Z")
Good on your for getting that coil problem fixed @cpap . A coil problem , if it causes misfires and results in a rich mixture of unburned fuel out the exhaust manifold, is one that can damage the cat if left unfixed for too long.