Lately i've been having trouble with misfires. specifically 0301. I've changed the plugs and coil with in the last month and the wires about a year ago. Car was running really rough for awhile but changing the coil fixed a lot of the troubles. (rough idle, hesitation, etc)

I dropped by to see the mechanic on my way home the other day. He put it on the computer and picked up the 0301 and mentioned something about the oxygen...he said the computer was telling him it was running really lean. It was showing up around .2. It''s suppose to be around .5 is it not?

He was thinking maybe an oxygen sensor? I'm dropping the car off tomorrow for a compression test....

I don't know much about what any of this means but I know it has to do with the fuel. I am pretty sure I should change my fuel filter but I don't think that would fix the problem.

Does anyone have any insight to any of this? Any thoughts or ideas?

Thank you.

 

This is a good place to start. Have him do a leak down test has well to check the valves. The valve seals may be bad, which will cause this condition as well. Good lucka nd keep us posted.

 

How many miles do you have? The fuel filter typically isn't changed until 100k plus.

 

Id start with getting the code thats most current if only one, check fuel fire and compression immediately. Compare them to factory specs, go from there.

 

While I understand you have a P0301 code for misfire cyl #1, I am not sure how that would relate to oxygen and that being at the top of my list.

You have not mentioned anything about plug wires being changed and had some improvement when swapping out the coil pack.

If the plug wires are indeed orginal or old, try a good used set from a friends working MINI.

From there I would swap out injector #1 with another one and see of the misfire code moves with it. That would indicate a faulty fuel injector.

P0301 Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected
P0302 Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected
P0303 Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected
P0304 Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected

 

I have almost 250,000km I am the second owner and have not changed the fuel filter so it's past due I would say.

In my original post it states I changed the wires about a year ago.(maybe they need to be changed again)

I'm going to mention the info I received from some of you to the mechanic and see if he has time to run some additional tests today. I'll also change the fuel filter and will keep you all posted!

Thank you.

 

Ok...here are the results of my compression test.

#1 - 90
#2 - 195
#3 - 210
#4 - 210

He did some other test pour oil in i think. Is that a "wet" test?

Anyways...he said its a valve in #1.

Not good news for me....I'm going to try to located the parts on my own and i'm waiting for a quote on labor.

Anyone have any other thoughts?

Thanks everyone

 

New head period. Or rebuild yours. With the miles you have, just get a new one. It will save you money in labor from rebuilding the head vs just getting a rebuilt one.

 

He said replace the valve on #1. Which required taking it apart and sending it to a machine shop. Thats what he recommended anyways.

Why a new head?

 

Because if 1 was bad the others are sure to follow. I dont know any good shops that would be ok with replacing 1 valve since it is all apart already. It is time consuming and would be close to the cost of a new rebuilt head. I am from the mid set of doing right the 1st time. This is just my opinion.

 

Braminator-

That makes sense. Any ideas of where I could get a new head? I'm in canada. Not sure what the price range is on any of this stuff.
If its a rediculous amount it's probably not worth fixing at all since it's an 03 with high km's. It hasn't really cost me much over all. Its been a great car to me I can't really complain too much about it....

 

http://www.headsonly.com/

I just went through the same thing you are going thru and this is where I got mine from. They have excellent customer service and a 1 yr warranty.

 

Ok, thank you. I appreciate your help. I don't know much about engines.

If I got a new head, would he then just have to take off my old one and replace it with the new one? As well as a new head gasket set I would assume.

Is this a huge job?

 

Pretty much just a swap with new gaskets. Huge job? Not for a qualified mechanic.

 

Ok, that doesn't sound too bad...I'll get a price on it and decide if it's worth keeping or not. I really love my ol, high milage mini. She's been a good car over all. If I fix this with my luck the tranny will go next!

Cheers.

 

Keep us posted.

 

Maybe good time to think about upgrades if going thu head replacement ?

Port / Polish ?

Just a thought......

 

Can you elaborate on that for me please? I'm a noob.

Still waiting on a quote. The cheapest i've found a refurbished head was around $500 on ebay. I think it would cost more to redo mine...

 

Read up noobie
http://www.autos.com/aftermarket-par...nd-polish-does
http://www.dprracing.com/smini.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Port-and-P...ads&id=2556710

 

Thank you

 

We are here for you since you are part of the family of MINIacs!!

 

There is no basis to justify a whole new head when a good machine shop will charge less than 200 dollars.

 

Please tell us where you can get a head refreshed with parts and labor for $200.00. It is silly to do 1 valve.

 

You can lap the valves for free yourself and my machine shop charges 130 to resurface and pressure check the head after you lap in the valves and why is it rediculous to do 1 valve that's like replacing all 4 tires because one got a nail in it.

 

So when he is done messing it up the shop can charge him more to do it right the 1st time.
1st MINI no experienceAlso a lot of miles Oh yea you are so rightLet him do it himself.