Okay, so back in September my boss accidentally towed my car. He didn't know I had a car because I typically walk to work and he didn't recognize it as an employee car. When I parked my MINI it ran fine. It started on the first crank and was a well-oiled and waxed* machine. However months before I had an issue where I would turn the key over and nothing would happen. Not a spark or crank. It would sometimes take me many tries to get the car started, but it would always start. This was an issue in the Summer so no cold Ohio weather was involved. But on the day of the towing and weeks before, that issue had stopped. When I got to the towing garage it would not start, I was there for hours, but thats beyond the point. After I had it towed to the garage it was diagnosed having no compression in two of the cylinders. I'm wondering how this could be possible with it having ran perfectly fine when I shut the car off. I should also note that over the summer (months before towing) there was a slight *sputtering* in the engine at stop lights, as if it was kind of shaking but only very, very slightly. In fact, my passengers never even noticed. I know that's a lot to read but if someone could help me have a better understanding of what exactly is going on I would appreciate it. It has been at this garbage since September because I was unsure of what to do, but today I had it towed to a mini specialist but in the mean time any input would be very helpful. Thanks a million.

-Tanner

 

Not being there for the trouble shooting... it is hard to put a finger on the real reason behind your current event...

The car was Towed, was it put on a flat bed or was it picked up by a single axle? This alone could cause issues all by themselves.

I sat here and started writing a complete troubleshooting guide ... then I realized that I was getting carried away.

The big questions are, Was the car having issues prior to being towed, did the towing do any damage, did the shop that towed it do anything to it trying to start it,(e.g., shooting a bunch of starting fluid into the intake and cranking it over caused a blown head gasket...yes it can happen.)

A good MINI tech should be able to sort it out... It will require qualified trouble shooting to go step by step to diagnose and evaluate the condition and damage needing to be repaired.

BTW, what year and model do you have?

Best of luck.

Motor on!

 

The car was not having any issues weeks prior to the towing. However there were issues (listed in original posting) months before but seemed to have gone away. After I got to the towing garage I got a gas can and filled up engine with entire can, so it had gas it still wouldn't start. After this the towing guy sprayed a $$$$ load of fluid into my intake but it still wouldn't start. At this point is where I gave up and had it towed to an actual garage where they then determined that there was no compression in 2/4 cylinders. The towing people originally said "none of your tires were on the ground" when it was towed. They said this because I asked how it was even towed, my car being a 6 speed, in gear and e-brake engaged with my doors locked.

My MINI is a 2005 Cooper S

 

which two cylinders had no compression?

 

I think it was 2&3

 

Here's an image of the engine ...