so the head is now changed and back together trying to start the car and it will not work. eveything is fireing but it wont run on its own. we by accident ran it will the TB unpluged a bunch of times. now everything is hooked up right but now start. anyone got any ideas.

_________________

 

if you want to pull the head, you can leave the chain on the crank sprocket and just pop the sprocket off the cam...it's do-able. if you want the chain entirely out, you will have to pull the harmonic balancer and timing case cover, probably requiring you pull the engine. (I took mine spare engine apart out of the car.)

 

Oh Noooooooooooooo!!!!!!! What happened????????

 

help
_________________

 

Take it apart again and put it all back together. You missed something very important and that's probably the only way you will determine what it is.

 

Are you sure the timing chain isn't off a tooth? When I was changing the chain on my toyota truck I dropped the chain, after I had put the timing cover on. So I had to re-index the cam several times to get it right. I would be careful with the mini though, I bet it's an interference engine. If you are off on the cam timing, the damage may already be done.All the belts and chains i've changed over the years really makes me appreciate the gear driven cam/pushrod setup in my land cruiser. So simple, yet it works so well.And it never breaks or stretches. Of course it doesn't rev over 4200 rpm's either.

 

Running the car with the TB unplugged will not cause the engine to fail. It will throw a code and your check engine light will stay on, but once you plug it in, the car should start. If you are sure that you got the mechanical pieces together correctly (ie you timing chain, intake hardware), check that all of your grounds are properly attached. Next check that all of your regulator, vacuum lines and sensors are attched: fuel pressure regulator, MAP sensor, etc. Check your coil pack connector. Is it snug? (do you have spark when you crank the engine?) .

If the car cranks, and sounds like a healty crank, I bet you have a sensor or connector loose somewhere. Check for that stuff. If all is together as it should be, go to plan B.

Plan B: Get ahold of a OBDII scan tool. Beg, Borrow, or Buy. There out there. On the web, for example, http://www.obd-2.com sells them for less that $100. Try a local shop, a gearhead buddy, they're out there. Scan your car's OBDII system. If you get the tool, and don't know how to use it, call me (215 739 8800) and I'll tell you how. Let the machine do the working, and while you're scanning, clear the TB disconnect error code that you got when you tried to start the car with the throttle body disconnected. If that doesn't work, go on to plan C.

Plan C: Make sure that everything looks good (like it did when you bought the car) under the hood. Now call MINI roadside assistance, get it towed to your dealer, and say to the dealer: "uhh, the car won't start". You might want to 'forget' to tell them that you pulled the head off the car. If they ask what you've been doing to the car, say that you check your tire pressure regularly, that's all.

 

This car is under warranty and you pulled the head yourself?

 

>>This car is under warranty and you pulled the head yourself?

I was going to ask the same question ... But, on a serious note why did you originally remove the head? Was anything modified (like a different Cam)??

 

If my memory serves me right, he had a spare head reworked.

I would really double check all wires that they go to the right spot. Timing chain is a good thing to check also.. when it is running how does it sound? is it smooth, rough, let us know that.

 

Dan,

You are spot on. He might have some ignition wires crossed, but if timing chain was off by more that 2 teeth he might have damaged the valves. The it's "it sux to be you time". I hope he is able to get things running and it just a simple wires crossed issue. I would hate for it to turn mechanical on minicoop78.

 

alright i ripped the whole th ing apart again and the guy i talked to at mini told me the wrong way to time it. so that was the problem
i got that fixed and now the ch ain tentioner broke when i put it back in soooooooooooo
i ordered that comes in on wed. leave for vegas friday. hope my freakin mini is working otherwise ill be in a h onda for the vegas trip.

thanks for all you adivise guys

and i was pulling the head because i got a new one reworked and no way i can call mini for plan c because my whole car is aftermarket. evrything but the block.
but plan c made me laugh that would be really funny