Hi I'm new here!
I wasn't sure what to search for for this particular problem, so sorry if this is a repeat.

On my 04 Mini Cooper when i'm in gear, clutch out and if i let off the gas at the very end of the throttle it jerks. It also jerks when i press on the accelerator. Not hard or anything just a normal press but if i do press it hard it Jerks REALLY hard! and doesn't sound good. It accelerates just fine anywhere else in the travel of the pedal, only at the start of it.

What could be causing this?

Thanks for any help

 

I've never heard of that before, but I'm gonna wing a guess and say maybe it's a throttle position sensor gone bad. I'd take it to a dealer, unless you know a good mechanic that you trust and knows these cars pretty well.

 

Look at your engine mounts....

 

Ed, I usually like to do as much work that I can on my car my self. ( like to think I can trust myself :-) ). I'll look into the Throttle Position Sensor.

Zippy: I like that idea, I'll look check them. I have the "Mini Cooper Service Manuel" by Bently Publishing. I assume the torque specs for the mounts will be in there.

Thanks for the input guys!

 

The mounts tend to wear...the lower tranny mount tends to be ok...but the upper, depending on the year is failure prone. Even the "better"years...the older desgin tends to fail with age...
reving the motor with the hood open, you can see if the engine thrashes too much...it can actually be scarryto see how much it moves with a failed upper. The feel is lots of lash...kinda like you are describing.

 

Thanks Zippy, from what you described it seems likely this is the problem I'm having.

 

+1 on the engine mount.

This is the upper engine mount. You have an 2004 so there is split year. Also do you have Base Cooper or cooper S ?

Posted this in another thread and helped with the diagram. Also check for the mount is leaking oil, that denotes its bad.

Here is the diagram for the older one. #4 in diagram. Check there.



Here is the - 12/2003 Base MINI Cooper


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/22116759732/ES41663/



&

Here is the - 12/2003 MINI Cooper S


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/22116760448/ES41669/




____

#3 on the diagram.*




The one above is for the 12/2003 - ALL


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/22116778610/




Thanks and I hope that helps.

 

I have the Base cooper.
#3 and #4 of the two diagrams you shared, I would need to replace both of those, assuming they are bad? will this require an engine lift to do so? or could i maybe jack up the engine from underneath enough to swap them out?

Thanks, ECSTuning

 

See if your mount is leaking or bad first. Also since you are on a split year, do you have the production month / year of your MINI. You can check under the hood and match up the mount. Its a single mount above. Just three different types dependent on year and model MINI. They are located on the passenger side of the engine.

 

Cool ... you wanna come work on mine??!

This will certainly be easier to diagnose. Good luck!

 

Haha Ed if i get to test drive it!

 

here is what my mount looks like:



It doesn't look bad to me, there is a hairline crack around the top, but no oil leaks.

 

Did you have someone rev the engine a bit and look for movement? Looks like it has some wear but it hard to determine movement without seeing it.

Yes you have the older style for the Base Cooper #4 in diagram. Check there.



Here is the - 12/2003 Base MINI Cooper


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/22116759732/ES41663/

 

I had some one rev it in neutral and in 1st. It had a lot more movement when taking off in 1st than it did in neutral (expected) but i don't know how much is too much. Maybe I can find a video on youtube that i could compare to...

 

Ok, I watched my friends 02 Mini cooper engine and his has a lot less movement. So, I think I will look into what it's going to take to replace that (tools wise) and hopefully I find it's something I can do myself.

Thanks again for all the help and input!
Nate