Hi Everyone,

My 2003 R53 is going in for an RMW tune in a few weeks. Basically, my car pings pretty badly at full throttle from around 3K RPM and up. At part throttle (sometimes even at full throttle), between 2K and 3.5K, it seems like the MINI sort of loses power briefly and flatspots before starting to accelerate better.

I think the issue lies in one or more of the following areas, but I don't know:
- fuel pump going bad
- clogged injector(s)
- software issue

My R53 has 133K miles on it and has the following modifications:
- Alta cold air intake with Green filter
- Invidia cat-back exhaust
- Helix 15% pulley
- 1 step colder NGK plugs
- Detroit Tuned bypass valve
- Am installing new wires and a Screamin' Deamon coil soon
- Will have 450cc injectors installed right before the tune

Anybody have any ideas? I don't want to show up to the dyno for my timeslot with Jan just to find out that I have a whole bunch of problems and can't get the MINI tuned.

Thanks!!!

Vlad

 

You may have alot of carbon build up, so you might want to do a Seafoam treatment before the tune.
Do a search on the "Screamin Deamon" coil. Really not needed. Use the $$ for something else.

Jim

 

Jim,

I forgot to mention that I did run seafoam through the PCV, a little in the oil a couple hours before an oil change, and a little bit in the gas tank. I didn't have much white smoke come out of my exhaust when I did this. Also, it didn't alter the pinging in any way.

The coil is already in the mail somewhere, so I might as well replace my stock one.

Lastly, I have run Lucas fuel injector cleaner a couple times last month. I use the Lucas fuel injector cleaner since it says that it isn't solvent-based. The MINI has been pinging for at least half a year now.

Thanks,

Vlad

 

If it's been pinging for that long it would be a good idea to at least do a compression test to make sure everything there is healthy before a tune.

Also call Jan and talk with him so that at the very least he knows what to expect, the best thing you can do for your tuner is keep him informed.

 

Do you go to the same gas station all the time? Do you trust them. Do you have any tuning file in the car now?

 

I don't go to the same gas station each time. I will start doing that soon though to make sure I get the same gas each time once I get the tune by Jan at Helix. I usually fill up with 93 octane gas at Shell, and the MINI still pings. Even if I put octane booster into the tank with the 93 octane Shell gas, the MINI still pings.

I called Jan and got some input. I'm going to hook up a fuel pressure gauge and see what reading I get. I will also check the fuel pressure regulator to make sure that the hose connecting to it is connected and isn't damaged.

As another precautionary measure, I'm going to do a compression test tonight.

Also, I don't believe I have any tuning file in the car now. However, I don't know what the guy before me did.

 

Mine will ping a little if I run 91oct fuel...but I've never had any with 93 fuel. If it was me, I would do a compression test on each cylinder and see what you cranking psi readings are. That will tell you how much(if any) the carbon buildup has raised your compression.

 

This also brings me to another point. If the problem lies with the hose connection to the fuel pressure regulator for whatever reason, could it also be beneficial for me to T off of the bypass valve for my boost gauge instead of T-ing off the fuel pressure regulator since I'm going to have my intercooler off anyway?

 

So here are some updates:

1) I took off the intercooler, hooked up a fuel pressure gauge, reconnected the intercooler, and did some testing.

With the key on position, the fuel pressure ended up going up to 55 psi. After a couple of times of draining the fuel pressure gauge and turning the key off and on and checking the fuel pressure, the fuel pressure was always at around 57 psi.

At idle, the fuel pressure gauge was rapidly bouncing between 38 and 42 psi; it would be stable at 40 psi if I were to hold the gauge a certain way (Maybe the bouncing was a result of how the gauge was held?).

When revving the motor to around 3K or so, I would see the gauge bounce from 40 psi up to around 55-ish psi.

I'm not sure if these numbers are good.

2) We then performed a compression test on all the cylinders. Here are the results:

- cylinder 1 - 165 psi
- cylinder 2 - 164 psi
- cylinder 3 - 165 psi
- cylinder 4 - 170 psi

3) The spark plugs all were very brown. A pure brown color (almost like rust). The electrodes on the coil were all clean except for cylinder 1 and 3 which had the slightest bit of browning (slight surface rust almost).

4) I double-checked the hose connecting to the fuel pressure regulator; everything was fine.

The car still pings. Hmmm.

 

How about the basics....plugs (correct ones), check coil (for corrosion). Starting at the basics is helpful for troubleshooting.

If you are buying the Dimsport, you might as well get it now and you can get a basic tune before the dyno.

 

With 133K miles on the lump, your valve guides may have worn past tolerances... That will cause them to chatter... Just sayin'...

 

I guess as far as the basics go... I believe my plugs are correct (NGK BKR7EIX). The coil and wires I unfortunately can't replace until I get my stuff in the mail.

I called RMW again today and I was told to check the fuel pressure at full throttle while driving; so, I'll have to take care of that tomorrow.

As far as the valve guides go, what do you think I should do? Is it even worth trying to get the MINI tuned then?

 

I think you mentioned that you were not sure if you had a tune or not. If true, a crappy tune could have something to do with it no doubt. I would make sure all parts are OK or replace them and give it a go.

 

Everything above seems very normal, compression is dead on and the slight rust on the coil is normal (esp. #3), since you have a new coil coming, that will be an easy check.

At this point I would say either slightly lower voltage from the coil, which you'll know by changing it. (also do a quick check on your charging system to make sure your over all output is good)
Or
Tune, Which Jan will be able to see on the first pull.

Once you check the coil & charging system output you should have all your bases covered best you can.

 

I had this problem on my car for a while, the tune and injectors helped, the GP intercooler also helped, using only chevron fuel or vp race fuel(no ping at all with 100) helped too. I have a feeling our engines are prone to ping due to the sc heat, that could be why there's lots of cast iron and forged crank... I don't seem o get pinging unless my style of driving changes abruptly, I've watched my timing advance and driving normally at part throttle it gets pretty high, but it snaps down to around 27 at wot on cold nights and I've seen it as low as 14 on hot days.... What I'm trying to say is, your planned mods should bring it to a manageable level.


FYI... I can only get 91 here in ca.

 

So, on my way to work today I noticed that my car had a slightly different sound to it in the mid to high RPMs. I noticed it from my exhaust tone. It sounded like the slightest rumble, yet the car drove fine. I then noticed that at idle, my car was rumbling (as if it was running on 3 cylinders), but it was still holding an idle. I drive it another mile and my DSC light comes on. Another half mile and the car runs on 3 cylinders and my SES light comes on. I pull into a parking lot, shut it off, checked to make sure my plug wires were all secure and that I had oil (didn't know what else to check since I had no tools). Everything was okay. I started it up and drove the last couple miles to work with no issues except for the slightly rough idle. I checked my SES codes:

-P1692
-P0304

A couple days ago, I ordered new plugs (Denso IK22) to replace my previous NGK BKR7EIX plugs that I installed about 6 months ago. I also ordered a new fuel pump as a safety precaution. Still waiting for my coil and plug wires in the mail. I really hope one of these things will help resolve the issues I'm having before the tune.

As of now, things are not looking good at all :-/

Vlad

****UPDATE****

I did a compression test on cylinder 4 and got 90 psi.
I did a compression test on cylinder 3 and got 160 psi.
I didn't do cylinders 1 and 2 because I got discouraged.
I guess I'm pulling the head off soon! So much for getting my tune this coming Thursday.

Vlad