Engine Thermostat
Troubleshooting and Repair of 2013 Mini Cooper Engine Thermostat
By TMTR August 30, 2021
T
hermostat Troubleshooting - OBD II Code P0597
On a very hot summer day recently, my check engine light (engine symbol in yelllow) came on in my 2013 Mini Cooper. Since it was so hot, I wondered whether it was related to the coolant system. Also, I had recently gotten a little gas at a new gas station so I checked the gas cap and it was tight, opened it up and re-closed it. As a side note, I only get gas at BP, and less frequently, Sunoco as recommended by Mini. Always 93 octane.
When I got home, I ran a code check with my OBD Tool, which is a Bosch OBD 1350 ProGrade OBD II Scan Tool. There were three codes found. They were all P0597, but with the following designations:
- Confirmed
- Pending
- Permanent
The P0597 Code was described on the tool as "Thermostat Heater Control Circuit / Open". A quick search on google got me to an OBD Codes website which described in more detail what the code referred to. I then googled this code along with "2013 Mini Cooper" and got some more specific info. Both sites described the issue as relating to the thermostat. Further research in my Bentley Repair Book described the problem as the electrical circuit for the Thermostat Heater is OPEN. Apparently the Thermostat is controlled by the car's computer through this circuit. There is a seperate temperature sensor for the coolant temperature in the thermostat housing. The Thermostat also operates on it's own mechanically like a typical car thermostat does. I had no overheating lights and the car did not appear to be over heating. I cleared the code, the check engine light came on and the same code came back a couple of days later, cleared it again and it came back fairly soon. This one I did not clear and the check engine light did go off on it's own after a few days but reappeared after a couple of days from then.
By this time, I procured a replacement Thermostat and a coolant refill/ air purge tool. While this was going on, I had researched what is involved with the replacement of the thermostat. A lot of items need to be removed from the engine assembly in order to get access to the thermostat. I reasoned to have the replacement thermostat on hand in case there was a problem with it and the problem was not something electronic elsewhere. My intended course of action is to get access to the thermostat by removing the necessary air ducts, hoses, and electrical items and then check the connector to the thermostat housing for the problem component.
Connector
By TMTR August 30, 2021
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