that's the plan.....full charge tonight then I'm getting up in the morning and giving her a try.

When you say "pull the plugs and allow the engine to turn" do you mean just free wheel off the starter?

Thanks!!

 

don't do it if you think there might be trouble with gasoline, sparks and other foreseen things, maybe someone else can pipe in? However fresh plugs cant hurt .

 

Went to start it this morning and the same rhythmic groaning. Spark plugs are only 6 months old.,..fuel pump?

 

Possible or clogged fuel filter, you have full charge on the battery, right?

 

Full charge on the battery. Looks like I should do the filter first and then maybe the pump....but if the filter is clogged then the pump is probably already compromised....hmmmm

 

Fuel filter just ordered (genuine Mini due to the horror stories I've read about the non-OEM ones)....the story continues

 

Ok, thanks. See if that does it and if you can hear the fuel pump run at all?

 

I can hear the fuel pump priming so that's why I'm hoping it's just the filter.....

 

Update: My racecar driver friend told me to go old school troubleshooting and pull a plug, hook it up the plug to the wire, put a towel in the tube and crank the car with the object being to see if I have spark, fuel or both.....I had neither.

I'm really at a loss now.

 

Update: Installed INPA on my XP laptop to see if I could find any codes. Here is the off thing and maybe someone has some insight: I can get the real time engine information like battery voltage, compressor on or off, stuff like that, but when I go to read fault codes it can't communicate with any of the stuff like power steering pump, auto climate control, and a myriad of other things. So no talky means no trouble codes. It can tell me the ECU model, serial number, build date, odometer and almost anything else with the engine itself though.

Can someone give me some direction to look?

Thanks

 

Anyone an INPA expert out there?

 

So I've done a bit more research and found that the cable I'm using MAY not work with the R50/R53 dues to a couple of pins needing to be soldered togehter. I can't fine my iron so I'm getting a new one.

So to update:
New Battery
New Starter
Unsure about Fuel Pump
Spark Plugs are NGK and about 6 months old

 

Well...as an update I think I'm throwing in the towel and having the car towed to my local Mini specialist. I got INPA to work and the only code I was able to find was


"ion of changing code increased with key # 2"


Error Frequency : 31


Errorcode: 23 3F


SoI thought it might be that the key lost sync with the immobilizer system so I reset the code and started the car to see if it would pop again. No codes at all. I'm lost so I think it's time to have the pros look at it unless someone stops me.

 

To do the spark plug "trick" you have to ground the threads of the plug to something. You didn't mention that you did this. Just wanted to add that before you get all crazy with a shop.

 

UPDATE: Finally had enough frustration and not enough time so I had the car towed to my local MINI specialist. Took him 2.5 hours to find the problem, but it turns out it was the alternator. The alternator had seized and wasn't allowing the engine to turn over at all. It is cracked as well so I'm stuck replacing it wholesale.


I wish my troubleshooting went in that direction before I got frustrated as the thought had crossed my mind to try and rotate the engine but with the water on the floor I started thinking electrical and went way down that path. It's always good to have a new set of eyes, but it stink when those eyes cost over $110 per hour.


I should have the car back soon, but this problem has me out about $1000 with parts and labor. Kinda stinks.