Hey guys, I just picked up an '09 JCW. Awesome car but I have come across a big issue.

I am an avid autocrosser and I got this car with that in mind, yesterday was my first event with this car. So what is happening is coming off slower corner exits I go to get on the throttle and it's like it has barely any (maybe 20-30% power) and it will stay that way for a second or two, then it recovers like nothing happend. This happend 3-5 times while on the course and only in second gear and it would be in the 2-3k RPM range. It basically killed what could have been a DOMINATE car although I somehow still won my class. Thinking back, I believe this happend once on the street as well and I had no idea what was happening.

Reading this forum and other searches shows this may be a common ECU issue. It is described as "stumbling", "yo-yo" or "hesitation". I have not seen anyone talk about this with a factory JCW so I thought I would start here to see what you guys may be able to tell me.

I'm a complete noob with MINI so I really appreciate any help,

Thanks!

 

are you completely stomping on it or rolling on the throttle? could it be that it's just your turbo spooling?

 

Rolling or stomping didn't make a difference, the power is cut severely. In my six runs it happened a total of around 20 times or so, I was able to experiment with it. During this cut, part or full throttle makes no difference and after a couple of seconds it returns to normal.

The power that the car has in this condition is FAR less than a normally aspirated 1.6 would even have so I'm sure it has nothing to do with spool. It is being electronically limited somehow and it is not the diff, the diff is excellent in first gear. I have read of many others with this issue but none with a JCW and only one other autocrosser so I am unsure at this point how to fix it.

 

Linking to similar conversation that has a Cooper-S w JCW tuning kit.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post3537645

What kind of tires are you running? I ask because in the above link I know he has R-comps. My JCW didn't have this issue, but I am running an Alta Stage 1 map and summer tires. My issue was with the tires just spinning non-stop while accelerating out of corners.

 

Hoosier A6's-very sticky.

 

I assume your turning off the traction control? I'm not 100% familiar with the newer JCW models, but, is there a 2 stage traction control that you can turn off where it requires that you hold the button down for a longer period of time to deactivate the entire system? What is happening with yours sounds different than mine since yours recovers within 2-3 seconds. Mine never recovers until I lift off the throttle 100%....

 

I had what sounds like a similar issue on my previous R53 and it was the traction and/or stability control. Felt like the same sensation you are describing -- power was killed for a second. Out of curiosity, was DTC on or off during your runs?

I don't have this issue on my 09 JCW.

 

Traction control was off, sport mode on. I did try it once with traction on and it was way worse. I never actually tried to fully lift the throttle and get back on it. If that works I would have been at least 2 seconds faster!!!

I noticed this on the street once but only after insalling the rear bar...

 

Are you holding down the button down, not just pressing it once? Holding it disables all assistance. Oasis hinted at a 2 stage traction control system, which there is, but you didn't answer that part. Could be your problem...hopefully.

 

Well, I press it and "DTC" shows up on the display and stays there until I turn it back on.

Do I need to hold it down longer?

 

Yes. If you hold it for 3-5 seconds it will show a caution sign on your Tach and it is fully disengaged at that point. When you just press it once, you still have DSC turned on. Try that and see if you still get hesitation. I bet it will work for you. Now go kick some *** next time.

 

I have held it enough to show DTC and there is also a caution symbol on the tach. This was the way I ran the car while having this issue.

 

My 2009 is not a JCW, but when I disable the DSC, it will smoke the inside tire if I let it, with it on it does the same thing as yours.

I run mine on a road course, not autoX, but it's the same symptom. When the DSC engages it really shuts the car down, of course my entry speed is probably higher so my car will roll on thru the corner, but it's still maddening. Turning it off lets me controll what's happening at the wheels insted of the computer trying to save me from myself!

 

I will have to look at it again but "DTC" is displayed along with a caution symbol (I thought?!)

can you get DTC to display on the speedo without fully de-activating the assists?

 

my wife has the car at work now...I just had her out to check some things. Sounds like you could be right, I may have only had the initial satge activated (didn't know there are two) I will update when I find out more

Thanks for all the help!

 

For what its worth, I held the button for a full 30 seconds yesterday and it went into a weird non-responsive mode. Had to restart car to get the button to cycle the various modes.

Throttle by wire, electric nannies, ECUs sometimes I yearn for cars again with cables controlling everything. When something was off or broke it was literally off or there was a visible sign of the issue.

 

Ok, my wife just took this pic for me. She held the button for at least 3 seconds and says a new light came on...



Strangely, the "DTC" on the speedo goes away at this point.

Was this my problem the whole time?

 

I'd put my $ on it.

 

Sounds like you found the issue, glad to hear it! For me though, still no fix, waiting on Alta to call me back, hopefully with some good input that I can take to the dealer. :-l

Let us know if this resolves your issue at the next event, I'm sure it will. :-)

 

That is also the point when the Electronic Differential Lock is activated

 

I remember a thread on this a couple of years ago. I believe that the EDLC (Electronic Diff lock control?) is always on in any mode. The EDLC uses the front brakes to transfer power to the non-slipping wheel by applying the brakes on the front wheel that is slipping. The first push of the traction control button will turn of the Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), but still control the "stability" i.e. the yaw sensors will still be activated. In this mode you can spin the tires but the computer still limits the slippage in a corner. By pressing the button for a minimum of 3 seconds you will turn of DSC also, which should deactivate everything, but still have the EDLC.

 

Ya, I was an idiot.

Got the chance to drive it fairly hard this morning around a buisness park (nobody else in sight, place is deserted on the weekends)

So of course I turned the traction ALL the way off this time, sport mode on. Thats more like it! Many of the corners were wet from sprinklers so breaking the car loose was very easy and if it was going to have that same issue it surely would have with this drive. I got a nice mix of understeer and oversteer and the power was never cut, car always ready to pull hard out of any situation. Thanks for the help guys!

Soooo much fun to drive

 

Glad you got it sorted out. OasisT is I think still working things out with his.

 

good info, glad to hear it performs better now

 

Re-read this, and relieved lol