I drove my car 3 hours yesterday to return home. When I went out to dinner, the exclamation point light came on. I scanned the engine with my basic OBD scanner, and it said P2177 "System too lean off idle."

It was idling fine, or so my idiotic self thought.

This morning the car decided it won't run. It fires up and proceeds to die within a couple of seconds.

I'm automechanically challenged. Even worse, I don't have the coin to shell out to MINI to fix this for $9038039453409584309834059834

For a little bit of a backstory, I took the MINI to a dealer when a light came on requiring replacement of rear brakes. They said I had a cracked valve cover and also a leak in the water box (water pump?). And I could fix for the low low price of $2,200, which I of course didn't do, b/c I don't have the coin.

I haven't seen any issues relating valve covers or water pumps to that P2177 code on here, but if you know how it may be causing it, I'm all ears.

If anyone can point me to what they think may be the issue, I can buy and replace parts myself. I just don't know how to diagnose this stuff.

Thanks in advance!!

*** quick update***
I got my dad to come over and look at it. He's probably less of a noob at auto mechanics, and he said it sounded like an issue with the fuel line. It's almost like the car sounds out of gas, because the engine just never fully fires up before dying.

It has a third of a tank in the vehicle, so it's not like it has no gas.

 

High pressure fuel pump? Do you refill the gas before it gets into the reserve level?

 

Great question, and you may be onto something there.

When I went out of town days ago, I drove it until it was drawing on reserve gas. I filled it up and it worked for the short drives for a few days and then the 3-hour drive back.

Do you think that caused the issue?

What would you recommend doing to see if a fix would work?

 

I'm not a mechanic, so this is just a shot at an explanation. But crap in the bottom of the tank? Long term running down the tank I've heard wrecks the fuel pump because it needs the fluid to stay cool. Sounds like a fuel delivery issue but that cracked valve cover can cause weird issues too. Are you leaking oil? Time to sell a kidney? Just kidding, (not really). Best of luck.

 

I'll look at replacing the fuel pump myself then. It makes a lot of sense considering the given symptoms, and I'll keep in mind to never run low ever again.

That is assuming that my kidney operation goes smoothly

 

The dialogue via internet approach is never prudent but it does seem either fuel deprivation or large vacuum leak. I say more the former.
U say broken valve cover?? That can equal large vacuum leak and give a similar symptom u describe but he leak would need to be HUGE.
****The high pressure fuel pump also will give similar symptom (more start and stall though) along with everything else assoc. with fuel delivery especially the in tank pump which, to me sounds most plausible.Pull up the rear seat and bang on the portal cover over the pump(not sure of its left or right but I think its on the pass side) while some attempts to start. Lay mans diag.
There's really only one proper way to find out. You need to have it diagnosed.

 

MINI said that I had a crack in the cover. For the life of me I can't find it with my own eyeballs.

I may go ahead and replace that myself as well anyways just to go ahead and fix the issue.

 

Just FYI the High Pressure Fuel Pump has a 125,000 mile factory warranty. I believe thats what I was told by my service rep. And if found faulty will be replaced for FREE. Bad thing is they will most likely blame 30 other things and want to fix them before shelling out for the pump.

 

****The high pressure fuel pump also will give similar symptom (more start and stall though) along with everything else assoc. with fuel delivery especially the in tank pump which, to me sounds most plausible.Pull up the rear seat and bang on the portal cover over the pump(not sure of its left or right but I think its on the pass side) while some attempts to start. Lay mans diag.
There's really only one proper way to find out. You need to have it diagnosed.[/QUOTE]

The pump is on the drivers side, the filter is on the passenger side.

 

So I replaced the pump. Used the post here as a guide.

It started after a few tries and finally revved up. Idle can be a little off after first starting, but not a problem at all once I get going.

The problem now is that it isn't fully transferring power when I push the accelerator.

There is a new error code now. P3091.

So perhaps I did something wrong with the procedure. So close, but so far away.

 

I see the guide you used was for the in tank fuel pump. They rarely go bad. The issue you are having is with the high pressure fuel pump. If you look at your engine from the front it is on the right side of the cylinder head in the back. The pump looking item on the front on the right is your vacuum pump. As stated earlier there is a warranty extension. Just take it to the dealer and have them replace it.

 

When you go back to the dealer ask them to show you the crack in your valve cover, NEVER take their word, make them show you! When the dealer told me my flywheel was in bad shape they know me all to well and asked me to come have a look so I can see for myself because they know that I won't take their word for it.

 

That's a negative on the warranty extension. It's VIN-specific and apparently I don't qualify.

I think that is BS. And sadly there aren't any DIY hpfp replacement guides that I have seen online.

If I end up doing it myself I'll try to post my process if it works.

 

What year and model? It is total BS!

 

2009 JCW Coupe

The guy at the dealership said he would investigate further. Apparently this "campaign" - a term he immediately took back - applies to extending the warranty of non-JCW minis.

"JCWs use a different part, which is therefore not covered."

Here's the thing. On ECS Tuning's site, if I enter my vehicle as a 2009 JCW, the HPFP comes up just the same as if I claim my vehicle is an S model, as both part numbers are #13517588879.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2009-C...Fuel/ES240641/

http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2009-C...Fuel/ES240641/

Wreaks of BS.

 

Yes the factory R55 r56 R57 R58 R59 JCW up to 2012 use the same fuel pump up front, as they have the N14 Cooper S engine.

Maybe they got confused or something. Thanks and hope that helps. Warranty wise it might be different ?

 

Go to realoem.com. Click the enter button. Then enter in the last 7 of your Vin number and check your part number there. Then clear your vehicle and just do a normal S. See if it's the same there. If you do end up needing instructions to do it let me know. I can tell you step by step

 

Are these HPFP's made by the same manufacturer and are they updated part numbers or the same batch failing us now? What are the manufacturer dates of these HPFP's? Thanks.

 

This is the newest part , there was just a supersession on these which usually results in new distributor or part update. Here is the older part numbers which have been SS to the newer. 13537528345 to 13517573436 to 13517588879. I can check the dates when they come in , but I bet they are newer. Since there has been multiple ss.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...h/13517588879/





Thanks and hope that helps.

 

Yes it does help, you probably get your parts from the same source as the dealer get theirs except they charge absurd amount of money for them. I inquired about the HPFP from my local dealer and they estimated these HPFP's $918 a year ago! My HPFP makes harmonic noises (very slight metal to metal noises) and is louder the colder it is when started, strange thing is I have zero idling and or performance issues that's expected from a failing HPFP.

My plugs also support the demise of my HPFP, plugs are a light rusty color and not tan light they were after 2k miles. I'm running lean my brother stated, I trust my brother because he build engines all the time.

The problem with installing one myself is I don't have that special tool to remove the main fuel line coming from the tank! So I'm kind of have no choice but to go to the dealer!

 

You are welcome. Find me the part number OEM or BMW tool #. I have this part number as a release tool for the high pressure pipe ?




Link to picture of tool.

http://workshop-manuals.com/mini/coo.../installation/


83300496242 BMW/ MINI tool # 041607 Cartool 13 0 250 SIM 13 01 09


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/83300496242/ES2673467/


Thanks and I believe I just found it.

 

Excellent!

Thank you.

 

You are welcome. Good luck with the install.

 

Has anyone ever heard of a HPFP seize up camshaft like the vacuum pump has been known to do wrecking the engine?

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...r-r56-jcw.html

More info on the Pump here. Just wanted to update.

System- I have not heard of the HPFP doing that, but yes on the vacuum pump.