Yeah... "Carbon Buildup" seems to be the answer to anything difficult to diagnose. Kind of like fibromyalgia for cars.

 

They called me Friday afternoon and said that it had significant carbon buildup on the valves, more than it should. They called MINI USA and told them what they saw and they sent them instructions to completely clean out the valves, cylinders, etc. Said it would take a while, should be finished by about Tuesday. Really hoping this takes care of it!

Mike, I am new to this and never heard of either. I plan on keeping this car a long time and just looking into the catch can you mentioned and it sounds like I might want one of those. Which brand catch can did you go with? Just quickly looking, the red Alta one I saw at outmotoring would match my Chili Red really good! Was it pretty easy to put in?

Kevin

 

Kevin, I went with the BSH catch can plus the dual boost tap. They come in black so they kinda fade away under the hood and aren't really noticable. Very easy install and very nice build quality. If you have the factory alarm ask for the additional bracket....really simplifies the install. I can send some pics of my install if you need them. Let me know how it turns out.

 

I'd love to know how it goes for a couple of days after you pick it up. I've got an appointment with them to get my Stage 1 installed on Friday morning.

 

I wonder if you're having the same problem I just had. When I bought my '09, less than a week after I bought it, the high pressure fuel pump died.

That was 23K miles ago. I noticed the last 2-3 weeks, my car stutters and literally dies when I first start it. Once I pull out of the driveway, all is fine. It's only when it's cold.

When I took the car in to have them look at my other issues, they found that the high pressure fuel pump was leaking.

They replaced it and all has been fine.

I don't buy the "carbon" buildup since it's rather coincidental that your problem started AS SOON as you got your car back from the Stage I kit.

Light bulbs burn out but seems too much of a coincidence, IMO.


Mark

 

I'll let you know. I know its kind of hard on them to check it too because it doesn't start its symptoms till you drive it about 20+ minutes and even then it doesn't do it all the time, but it was getting incresingly frequent. I was glad the CEL came on because when I got there after driving 2 hours it started back up perfectly . I had stopped to eat about 30 minutes before I got there and it wouldn't idle at all without me giving it gas!

Kevin

 

ANOTHER reason I don't buy the carbon buildup theory. If carbon buildup is present, it's present, it doesn't pick and choose different times to make the car run like crap.


Mark

 

Thanks Mike. I may get you to send me some pics when I get ready to do it. I don't plan on touching anything under the hood (bonnet I guess!) until they get this straightened out. Just to make sure there is no trying to blame something on mods I made. They have been good to work with and I don't think they would do that, but just in case.

 

It could be Mark. That sounds very similar, but mine cranks perfect first thing in the morning, its only after I drive it a while then cut it off and start it back within 20 minutes or so. Like getting gas, going to eat, etc. The CEL pointed to high pressure fuel pump, replaced it and still there. Maybe it is leaking around it somewhere like you had. Its also missfiring some when accellerating. who knows!


Kevin

 

In either case, I hope it gets fixed soon...

Keep us informed.


Mark

 

My CEL came on yesterday while on a road trip. It stalled a few times again on startup when it was warm, humid, and rainy. I'm taking mine to the dealer for warranty work on Wed. morning so let's see what happens. I'll mention the fuel pump issue, maybe it will give them a place to start looking. I'm not going to hook up my obd tool, cause I don't want to accidentally clear the codes before I get there.

Aside from the startup, the car performs fine. Never had a stall while moving or accelerating only on startup.

 

My 2009 Clubman S has the same problem - dies out when I attempt to start it hot. Give it a little gas then she appears to operate okay.

Same as the others, seems to have started after I installed the JCW kit. They initially had problems with reflashing the computer.

Had the high & low pressure pump changed, ran okay for a while, now I have the same problem.

I'll be taking the mini tomorrow and I'll see about the reflash.

Any suggestions?

 

Going back to what Mike (Futuremini) mentioned, maybe this is an accelerated carbon buildup issue with the JCW kit and it does need the seafoam ran through every 20-30k miles. I wonder if one of you that were having problems now did it, if it would go away. The process seems easy enough and their are a lot of posts on NAM about a much better running engine after doing it.

That would be way easier than loosing a car for a week like I am now while they hand clean the valves and cylinders. I would especially try it if I was not under warranty and going to have to pay to have that done!

Kevin

 

Hey, dood!

Any word?

 

Just got a call from Mini, said they finished the cleaning yesterday and have been driving it off and on the past two days after a variety of conditions, driving it 20 minutes, cold starts, morning, afternoon, etc. and all issues seem to be gone.

Looking forward to picking my car back up. Loaner was nice, but its just not mine!

I'll let you know how it works. The drive home has been enough to get it acting up in the past!

Kevin

 

That's awesome, Kevin.

I really hope this is the end of your issues.

 

Just got a call from my SA after I brought mine in for the service. He's telling me that my error code is for too lean a mixture, but they can't replicate the stalling. It did stall for them when I dropped it off and the valet tried to start it. It sounds to me like it's the fuel pump, but I won't know until they tell me.

I'll be really pissed if they tell me nothing is wrong. I'm tempted to call the SA and tell him about the fuel pump and carbon issues others are having.

 

Hey guys,

Picked up my car today. It seems to be fixed. I stopped several times on the way home and it started right up. It never hesitated when accelerating or missed. Those didn't happen consistently but normally would have happened on a drive that long. I'll know for sure after a few days, but I think I may be good!

If this was all caused by carbon and you are out of warranty, I would definitely try the Seafoam before carrying to a dealer.

Also below is the diagnostic information on the service form if it helps anyone later:

33629 Excessive carbon build up on intake valves interrogated fault memory. Fault codes 2DCA, 2DCB, 2DCC, 2DCD, and 2D52 stored in DME for superknocking with fuel shutoff on all cylinders. Contacted PUMA. per PUMA Case xxxx tested cylinder compression / leak down. All cylinder below 6% leak down. Removed intake manifold. Inspected intake valves. Found excessive carbon deposits built up on back side of valves. Manually removed and cleaned carbon deposits from valves W/T for diag/manually removing carbon deposits

 

In order to do this, you mean they physically removed the head, pulled the valves and cleaned them?


Mark

 

Yes, that is why it took 5 days! They wanted to pull the head first and see if there was excessive carbon buildup. When they did that and found there was, they called MINI and were instructed to pull the valves and clean the carbon from the valves and cylinder.

Kevin

 

That is great news Kevin!

Keeps us informed on how the mini continues to perform and how you like the kit.

Now...... GO OUT AND PLAY!

 

now I'm finally ready to try out this JCW thing!

 

or was it a seafoam fix.

 

That makes me feel much better.

I'm getting my kit installed tomorrow morning.

 

Let us know how your install goes Xeraux! Let's all say "No issues, works perfect"!