2011 S All4. Just recently, like a week ago, had the timing chain replaced, valve cover replaced, and water pump. The pan had to be dropped as well since there were pieces of the chain guide floating around...anyway. Since I got it back I had a VANOS (p0014) pop up. Replace the solenoid, no problems. Now I have P0015 popping up. I have replaced both cam sensors but I'm still getting a CEL.

Here is the weird part. I'll drive it and the CEL will come on. Over time, a day or tow, the CEL light will go off and the engine light would come on. It would give me back full power. Then a little later in the day the engine light would go off. No codes/CEL. Then the next day it happens all over again. It has went through this cycle a couple of times.

Any idea what to check next? I'm headed to MOTD in May and I want it right. This half power mode is for the birds.

Any help appreciated.

 

check the timing again, it might be off by a tooth or two.

 

Is this something I can do or do I need to take it back to the shop that change it?

 

I'm beginning to think it's electrical. Crank the car, the code is there, drive a mile or so, it's gone. Park the car, eat, crank it to leave, code is back...I will be mental before this is over with. LOL

 

I've been having this problem occurring intermittently on my 2011 Cooper S Countryman for some time. There are in fact 2 solenoids: one at the front of the engine with easy access and one at the back, tucked away under the air filter box and ductwork, which is somewhat difficult to remove/replace. I did this job yesterday.










Before I started this job, I'd bought 2 new solenoids which have fine mesh filter screens along the length of the internal part of the solenoids. When I removed the front solenoid from my engine, there were no filter screens on it and on the rear solenoid, there was just one section with a filter screen with the other sections missing (as shown in photo below). The section with the filter screen was partially covered in crud. Therefore, I reckon that the original solenoids have lost their filter screens into the engine and the bits of metal have found their way into the solenoids which might jam them if the bits are a bit big. The new solenoids that I fitted have wire springs wrapped around each of the filter screens, so I presume that the loss of the metal screens is a well-known problem to the manufacturers. I'm hoping that the replacement will now permanently resolve this problem.

 

Thanks Exdos. I already changed out the solenoid on the exhaust (front) side. I believe that one was P0014. The garage told me that one was bad when I pick up after the initial repairs but since I had one already at home (ordered earlier) I told them I would change it.

MiniToBe, Since it is so intermittent and irregular I didn't think that could be the issue. Beside, the garage I had the repairs done are top notch. They work on nothing but Mini's and are highly recommended.

UPDATE. Yesterday I changed out the exhaust side cam ps with one that I knew was good. Still the same issue. So I put the new one back in, checked all the wiring and connections. Cleaned my connector, just in case, then unplugged the negative side of my battery for about 30 minutes or so.
Got everything back together, took it for a spin and nothing. Got in the car later yesterday afternoon and the CEL came back on with the same issue. However after another key cycle the CEL went off by itself. Yesterday evening I drove it on several short trips and today as well and the CEL remains off.

In the end, still not sure what the issue was. Maybe it was a bad connection or something. But so far so good.

Just thought I would share this with everyone. Seems there ar alot of posts about the P0015 code but none similar to my experience.

 

Well, not going away. Taking it back to the shop this weekend...SMH

 

Seems like there may be some correlation between the debris mentioned from the guide wear/failure and what has been shown by Exdos in the form of missing/clogged screens.... I can see where the intermittent may come in due to clogging up from debris. Keep us updated on how it goes and what is checked/found.

 

I've been datalogging my cars for well over a decade (DashDyno, Torque Pro and Foxwell NT510) and since changing the solenoids, my butt dyno reckons the car feels more responsive than it did before and no codes have shown since. My car's tailpipes have always shown blacking which suggests the car running a bit rich, but I've never been able to identify why this might be so. I'm suspecting (hoping) that the new solenoids will now have the camshafts/timing working ideally and the richness should be resolved as well as fault codes not reappearing.

 

2014MC: When I replaced the solenoid it was intact. The only debri the mechanic pulled was plastic bits from the timing chain guides.

As for my issue, seems all that was needed was a genuine Mini solenoid and for them to clear the adaptations. No more cheap aftermarket junk for me

Thanks everyone for the info. Cannot stress how much I value those more experienced with Mini's than myself. I've always been a shade tree mechanic, but these Mini's are finicky. Nothing like my '02 Dakota or my sons '83 C10. Still love them though

 

Thanks for the update. Perhaps the other solenoid would have been fine too and it was the clearing/relearning of the adaptations that is required and the key... I'm in the same boat as you being new to Mini and all the quirks and odd things that fail and go wrong. I'm used to reliable Japanese cars but my daughter wanted something cooler lol Found myself a headache is all.