JCW Sudden pinging and loss of power?
#1
Sudden pinging and loss of power?
Was on my way home from work shifted into third and give it some stick and the car suddenly cut power along with some audible detonation. I am mediately got out of the throttle and a car then proceeded to run fine. Subsequent cautious attempts at both part and full throttle did not cause any issues.
Any thoughts? I am still relatively new to the car and I just had it inspected at a mini dealership last weekend who pronounced it in perfect working order
Any thoughts? I am still relatively new to the car and I just had it inspected at a mini dealership last weekend who pronounced it in perfect working order
#2
Hi Pakisho,
It could be a lot of different things.
The common issues to look out for that could result in pinging/detonation, it could be one, some, or none of these. In my case it was carbon build up, but I was too late and now my pistons are damaged, and god knows what else. You often have to be pretty hard on it to break it but sometimes they just break. My only tip is to not push it hard (boost much) until you've worked out what it is, unfortunately that requires a lot of patience.
- Your not running the right fuel (too low octane)
- Your MAF is dirty
- Your intake valves are carboned up and need decoking
- Your PCV is faulty and a little oil is mixing with fuel
- Your injectors could be clogged
- Your fuel pump is faulty
- Your fuel filter is clogged
- Your intake temps are too high
- You have a vacuum leak
It could be a lot of different things.
The common issues to look out for that could result in pinging/detonation, it could be one, some, or none of these. In my case it was carbon build up, but I was too late and now my pistons are damaged, and god knows what else. You often have to be pretty hard on it to break it but sometimes they just break. My only tip is to not push it hard (boost much) until you've worked out what it is, unfortunately that requires a lot of patience.
- Your not running the right fuel (too low octane)
- Your MAF is dirty
- Your intake valves are carboned up and need decoking
- Your PCV is faulty and a little oil is mixing with fuel
- Your injectors could be clogged
- Your fuel pump is faulty
- Your fuel filter is clogged
- Your intake temps are too high
- You have a vacuum leak
#3
#5
The waste gate in the turbo is normally closed by spring pressure, and is opened by vacuum as required by the DME. Maybe there is a mechanical problem, or a boost control problem with the waste gate, causing intermittent over boost problems, thus detonation. Dealer should be able to find the problem. Keep us posted!
#7
Keep us updated, If it throws a code, post it up.
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Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
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#8
Update: Dealer said a "superknock" code came back and he thinks it is a bad tank of gas. Wants to either charge $265 for a fuel system clean out or add a $10 fuel additive and go through a few more tanks of gas.
Trouble is, I already did that! Ran fuel injector cleaner through it and the car is currently sitting with a blend of 91 AND 100 octane.
Round and round we go.
Trouble is, I already did that! Ran fuel injector cleaner through it and the car is currently sitting with a blend of 91 AND 100 octane.
Round and round we go.
#10
#13
So, going to pick up the unaltered car and then run it over to a different dealer on Saturday. Advisor at dealership 2 sounded far more knowledgeable and seemed to actually care about getting the issue fixed.
Dealer 1 said that a detailed test was run, and the car basically told them it had bad gas, as opposed to needing a carbon cleaning.
Such nonsense.
Edit: They will give me a printout of the codes, though.
Dealer 1 said that a detailed test was run, and the car basically told them it had bad gas, as opposed to needing a carbon cleaning.
Such nonsense.
Edit: They will give me a printout of the codes, though.
#14
I've had a similar problem on my 2013 JCW.
Power cuts out momentarily and then comes back on. Vehicle is at the dealership for the 4th time for this problem.
They have replaced fuel pipes, intercooler, high pressure pump and flushed the fuel pipes. Problem still exists, quite often occurring when under hard acceleration in 5th or 6th gear from a low speed and then happens just below 90km/h (~56mph).
Rather frustrating.
Power cuts out momentarily and then comes back on. Vehicle is at the dealership for the 4th time for this problem.
They have replaced fuel pipes, intercooler, high pressure pump and flushed the fuel pipes. Problem still exists, quite often occurring when under hard acceleration in 5th or 6th gear from a low speed and then happens just below 90km/h (~56mph).
Rather frustrating.
#15
I've had a similar problem on my 2013 JCW.
Power cuts out momentarily and then comes back on. Vehicle is at the dealership for the 4th time for this problem.
They have replaced fuel pipes, intercooler, high pressure pump and flushed the fuel pipes. Problem still exists, quite often occurring when under hard acceleration in 5th or 6th gear from a low speed and then happens just below 90km/h (~56mph).
Rather frustrating.
Power cuts out momentarily and then comes back on. Vehicle is at the dealership for the 4th time for this problem.
They have replaced fuel pipes, intercooler, high pressure pump and flushed the fuel pipes. Problem still exists, quite often occurring when under hard acceleration in 5th or 6th gear from a low speed and then happens just below 90km/h (~56mph).
Rather frustrating.
#16
So, going to pick up the unaltered car and then run it over to a different dealer on Saturday. Advisor at dealership 2 sounded far more knowledgeable and seemed to actually care about getting the issue fixed.
Dealer 1 said that a detailed test was run, and the car basically told them it had bad gas, as opposed to needing a carbon cleaning.
Such nonsense.
Edit: They will give me a printout of the codes, though.
Dealer 1 said that a detailed test was run, and the car basically told them it had bad gas, as opposed to needing a carbon cleaning.
Such nonsense.
Edit: They will give me a printout of the codes, though.
Did you get the printout ?
__________________
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
#17
I have been told that there was a software update that fixed this issue in Cooper S, but there hasn't been any update for JCWs.
#18
I have changed the spark plugs and the dealer said they have installed a new software, now it does less than it used to like 1 second duration rather than 2-3secs at the same speed and gear. Any suggestions to remove the issue totally? Is there a way to check ignition coils or hpfp or fuel filter? If I put jcw intake kit and put a downpipe and tune it, will the problem get any better or opposite? thanks
#19
Im still chasing the issue. The fuel pump went out and they replaced under warranty (though I doubt that was causing the detonation even before it went bad). I did get the car on the road with a tech and was able to replicate the condition. His eyes went REAL wide when it pinged. So they ran a bunch of tests and did the walnut blasting. Things were much better until last weekend when it was hot out, and the car detonated again repeatedly and badly.
Im going to take it back in next week and see what they want to do about it. Frustrating, but I love the car too much to get really ticked about it.
Im going to take it back in next week and see what they want to do about it. Frustrating, but I love the car too much to get really ticked about it.
#21
Just my opinion. Is your car still under warranty?
#22
Im still chasing the issue. The fuel pump went out and they replaced under warranty (though I doubt that was causing the detonation even before it went bad). I did get the car on the road with a tech and was able to replicate the condition. His eyes went REAL wide when it pinged. So they ran a bunch of tests and did the walnut blasting. Things were much better until last weekend when it was hot out, and the car detonated again repeatedly and badly.
Im going to take it back in next week and see what they want to do about it. Frustrating, but I love the car too much to get really ticked about it.
Im going to take it back in next week and see what they want to do about it. Frustrating, but I love the car too much to get really ticked about it.
I am glad I have the N 18. No problem at 17K with 92 octane here in WA.
#23
Definitely wait to get this issue fixed before throwing dp and tune. What if motor goes south? They can blame the aftermarket parts for causing the engine trouble.
#24
After the software update from the dealer and spark plug change, it got better and now after catless downpipe and jcw airfilter, the issue didnt happen till today. Will observe it and see if it happens again or not, and will put a oil catch can to improve the air fuel mixture's quality. In any case the dealer wont afford anything that will happen to the car. I am not going to spend more money for the parts running already well. Fingers crossed..
#25
After the software update from the dealer and spark plug change, it got better and now after catless downpipe and jcw airfilter, the issue didnt happen till today. Will observe it and see if it happens again or not, and will put a oil catch can to improve the air fuel mixture's quality. In any case the dealer wont afford anything that will happen to the car. I am not going to spend more money for the parts running already well. Fingers crossed..
Good luck.