I need some input to solve a problem with my 03 JCW Mini.

Two weeks ago I did an oil change. While I was doing the oil change I pulled the air cleaner to check if the filter was dirty as I couldn't remember if I have changed it last time. Well apprently when I put the cover back on I didn't notice it wasn't hook on the back side so it was sucking air. The next day when I was driving home the car had an instant loss of power and the tire inflaction light came on for some reason. Now it doesn't seem the supercharger doen't feel as if it is kicking in. I can hear the supercharger whine down when I turn the motor off so I know it's apparently working.

I read about resetting the ECM but not sure if that would help and p.o. had revolution heads install and programmed so he warned me about letting the dealer do any programming.

Does anyone have any idea?

 

You're operating under several misconceptions I think, for example your supercharger does not "wind down" after you shut off your engine, it's driven by the serpentine belt, if the engine's stopped, so is it. And your car only has one RMW head, not plural, nor does your head require programming, although they probably reprogrammed your ECU as part of the head install - hence the recommendation not to let the dealer reprogam it.

Do you know anyone who has a code reader to see if it stored any codes?

I think you should go back over what you did, chances are the problem is associated with something there.......did you get the air cleaner cover installed correctly? Did anything around there come unplugged? Did your supercharger belt break?

You say the low tire light came on? Do you have a flat?

 

Dave, yes sorry I was hot & tried. Temps are 98 today in Houston. When I say whine down I mean when you shut off the engine you can here the supercharger. Yes, I re-stalled the air box cover correctly and drove the car back for forth to work to see if it would reset. No luck.

No the belt is relatively new on the car, it has never broken since I owned the car, I've check three times to make sure I didn't accidently unplug. It drove to work the first day to work but it was when i was on the way home that the "low pressure tire light came on" The car doesn't even have that option installed as I asked when I bought the car.

As far as a code reader I don't have one but might need to pick one up. Thought someone might have an easy suggestion.

 

Your car should have the capability to sense low air pressure in a tire. It does not have the TPMS that uses sensors in each tire but instead the computer uses tire rotation speeds to try to determine if one tire is low.

You could disconnect your battery for awhile (I think 10 minutes or so) to see if that will reset the ECU.

 

I think your car does in fact have the low pressure tire warning system, I'm pretty sure all MCS have it, as they came with runflat tires and no spare. Look for a small button under the handbrake handle, that's the reset button. And of course, check your tire pressures. I found that it does actually work pretty well....

The ECU will not reset itself unless you disconnect the battery for a while, however I doubt that's your problem. It could be, but it's very unlikely. Your best bet is to check for codes - if there's something major wrong, there will be a code.....

 

Well I just got back from the auto part and no codes. I disconnected the battery the other day and left if off all night with no luck. I've checked every connector on the car. I checked all the vacuum hoses to see if I had a bad hose and everything seems fine. No other issues with the car just a loss of power.

It just feels like the supercharger isn't working. Any other suggestions? If not does anyone know of a good shop in Houston?

 

BOV broken or stuck wide open?

 

I live in Houston too and my MCS is a bit down on power also in the heat of the day... It's to be expected when it's 100+ degrees outside with a relative high humidity...

 

Mini Dave yes I checked that yesterday after I spoke to someone. He said if it pushed in smoothly it was good. Power loss is more than 30%.