MINI Cooper designed their vehicles to function and handle similarly to everyone’s dream sports car. There are some owners who claim that driving around in the MINI Cooper feels exactly the same as riding a roller coaster. The reason that MINI Coopers have such dynamic handling is thanks to the sophisticated computerized suspension systems and computerized braking systems that allow drivers to reach peak performance at all times. To that end, if peak performance is not being achieved, it could be indicative of an issue with the MINI Cooper.
The Trifecta Warning Lights
Like all vehicles on the road, the MINI Cooper has its own system for warning lights on your dashboard. These inform you when there is a problem. When you know something is wrong, you can take the necessary steps to make proper repairs.
While the make and model of your vehicle could allow for a slight variation in terms of your warning lights, most of the time they are coordinated by color. Red colored lights signal a very serious issue that you have to address immediately, while yellow or orange colored lights signal that something isn’t right and your car needs to be examined in the near future.
The trifecta of warning lights in a MINI Cooper fall under those orange or yellow warning lights, signaling that something will need to be repaired soon. These include the anti-lock brake system, the dynamic stability control system, and the tire pressure monitor warning lights. All three of these might occasionally be accompanied by the arrival of the check engine light, but not necessarily.
All three of these warning lights on together are known as the trifecta because they are reliant upon one another to keep the vehicle running smoothly. It is important not to ignore any one of them. Let’s take a look at what these are and how they work together.
Anti-Lock Brake System
The anti-lock brake system prevents your car from sliding out of control should you have the need to slam on your brakes in event of an emergency. This light comes on in a yellow color when there is a problem with the system. The anti-lock brake system light could be something as minimal as dirt in your sensor. However, it could be an indication of a complete failure of your system as well, which is why it is recommended that you not drive your vehicle once that light turns on.
Dynamic Stability Control
The dynamic stability control is your suspension control system. That covers things like vehicle speed, acceleration, and your steering wheel movements. When this light comes on, the computer system which runs continual checks in the background and reviews your car performance is letting you know that there is a problem. Once there is a problem, you could have difficulty making corrections, such as oversteering or understeering. If that light turns on, your car can still technically be driven, but you should take greater caution and maintain slow speeds, particularly around curves in order to keep better control of your vehicle.
Tire Pressure Monitor
The tire pressure monitor system notifies you if the tire pressure is not ideal in any one of the tires you have on your vehicle. This light could simply mean that the specified tire pressure as established by the factory settings is off for one or more of your tires. Alternatively, it could be a problem with the sensor. All of your tires should be checked and their pressure adjusted as necessary. If this is the problem, it will reset the system and that light will disappear. If you have checked the pressure on your tires and the light is still there, you should bring your vehicle in to be checked.
Contact a Professional
Contact us today at Carotech Automotive if 
you live in or around Los Angeles, CA. While it may be tempting to try and address the issue on your own, aside from fixing tire pressure, you should bring your vehicle to someone experienced, someone with the knowledge of the inner workings for MINI Coopers, in particular. The risk of not addressing any of these issues can put you and your loved ones in danger, so make sure to bring your vehicle in for an assessment immediately upon seeing these lights.
* Mini Cooper Countryman Car image credit goes to: bruev.
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