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Hello from new R53 JCW owner, and question about code P0455
First off, let me say hello, and sorry for the long winded post. I'm new to Mini and new to the forum, but not at all new to hobby cars or wrenching. If you're at all familiar with the Evaporative systems in these cars, please read on.
I just picked up a 2004 MCS JCW car with 100k miles for $3k, which I thought was a pretty great deal. The car always ran well, but now also drives well after I put all new ball joints, control arm bushings and sway arm bushings in the front last weekend along with a new set of tires. It's a super fun little car to drive. I've always kind of wanted one, and when the opportunity came up, I'm glad I grabbed it.
My only issue I have left to address is the P0455 code (Evaporative Emission System Leak Detected (large leak)). Now I know what you're thinking... this has been discussed a million times. I've done a ton of reading, and a fair amount of wrenching and still no luck on solving it.
The first thing people say is to try a new gas cap. I put a new one on and have put almost 300 miles on the car and reset the MIL light multiple times and it keeps coming back, along with the "check gas cap" light.
My question is where to go next. First let me list things I have tried:
- New gas cap
- Checked vacuum lines connected to Vapor Canister Purge Solenoid - connections look good and lines do not looked cracked
- Traced lines from Vapor Canister Purge Solenoid all the way back to the vacuum canister system in the passenger side wheel well - no obvious cracks or disconnections
- Checked to ensure Vapor Canister Purge is on correctly and in correct orientation
- Removed driver side rear fender liner and inspected gas tank fill equipment and associated vent line - no obvious leaks or cracks
As far as I can tell my next three potential courses of action are:
- Replace Vapor Canister Purge Solenoid
- Replace Leak Detection Pump
- Smoke test the system with some rigged up home made setup if I can come up with one
**If for example I had a bad Leak Detection Pump or Vapor Purge Solenoid that was causing the problem, would a smoke test even help identify this?
My goal here is to find the problem without spending hundreds of dollars just throwing parts at the car. What do you guys think I should do next?
Any input is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time in advance!
Running down these codes for proper fix can be such a PITA....
Great looking MINI by the way.....
Now when I look up this code, this is what I find with respect to MINI.... P0445 Evaporative Emission System Purge Control Valve Circuit Shorted
So more inclined into checking for a wiring / electrical issue in nature.
Maybe check the connector at bottom of the breather valve in the engine compartment, and associated wiring for it....it;s a two pin connector so two wires....
Hey, thanks for the input. The code is P0455, not P0445. That’s a good idea though. I am hoping to do a supercharger service soon so I think I’ll have to have that whole area apart. I’ll inspect those lines better then.
Do you know if it’s common for the purge valve or leak detection pump to go bad?
Hey, thanks for the input. The code is P0455, not P0445. That’s a good idea though. I am hoping to do a supercharger service soon so I think I’ll have to have that whole area apart. I’ll inspect those lines better then.
Do you know if it’s common for the purge valve or leak detection pump to go bad?
Damn dyslexia....
LDP in 2nd gen was a fairly common problem.....not so much with 1st gen really.
One question....when filling up petrol, do you have a tendency to keep topping off the tank ?
No, generally just run the pump till it stops itself, and no topping off.
What about the purge solenoid? Do they go bad frequently? As much as I’ve read about this code, I can’t hardly anywhere where people mention what their specific issue ended up being and how they fixed it.
No, generally just run the pump till it stops itself, and no topping off.
What about the purge solenoid? Do they go bad frequently? As much as I’ve read about this code, I can’t hardly anywhere where people mention what their specific issue ended up being and how they fixed it.
If you have contact with prior owner, maybe run that question by them....topping off is a bad for the charcoal filter in the back by the LDP...it can back fill with petrol damaging it and potentially the lines. It's a system designed to handle the vapors, but liquid petrol in there is quite another.
As far as the purge solenoid in engine compartment, I have over 200k on miles on the one in my R53, its orginal....However, it will throw a code after being disconnected....It happen to me after having some work done at the dealer I just dont remember what the code was it was like 15 yrs ago. I lifted the bonnet and found the hard line hose to it to be disconnected. hooked it back up and the yellow light and code went away.....
Maybe consider disconnecting the black hard line hose from it, drive it for a bit and see if a different code appears ? If it does produce a different / additional code then maybe you can write that part off as functioning aok.
Awesome idea. I’ll try that today. Also, there’s a 2007 MCS at a pick and pull junk yard near me. I’m thinking I’ll go try to grab the whole evap system out of the passenger side rear wheel well and try swapping some parts. At least that way it’ll be cheap. I’m pretty sure this should be the same system.
Awesome idea. I’ll try that today. Also, there’s a 2007 MCS at a pick and pull junk yard near me. I’m thinking I’ll go try to grab the whole evap system out of the passenger side rear wheel well and try swapping some parts. At least that way it’ll be cheap. I’m pretty sure this should be the same system.
The R56's are a whole different animal...that 07' will be of no help.
Here's parts numbers and dates applicable to a 04' R53.
You can use www.realoem.com to locate parts and part numbers using last 7 digits of your VIN#
You can also use www.ecstuning.com as a source for parts purchases and to get an idea of what some of these parts actually look like. ECS has a huge base of actual MINI owner and drivers. They also have a direct conduit for MINI parts which are NLA from the dealer.
If new parts are an issue cost wise, hit this guy up via a phone call: www.waymotorworks.com Way has used OEM parts from MINI's he's broken down over the years.
Well, for the sake of anyone reading this in the future, I found at least a major contributor to the issue if not the entire problem.
The issue is/was that one of the vent lines connected to the charcoal canister had apparent been chewed through by a rodent. The hole is only about the size of a few grains of rice.
I found this by building my own home made smoke machine.
I have patched the line with epoxy and flex tape to see if I can seal it back up instead of dropping the whole fuel tank to replace the line.
I’ll update when I have results as the patch work is still curing.
Keep us posted !
