I just love soliciting internet diagnoses

Here's the scoop: 03 MCS, 45K

Recently (as in, last couple months) my car has been making a wheezy noise at start-up and shut down. I have been (and continue to) assume that I need to replace a hose.

Today, I get into my car and take off for work. I notice that something about the car sounds off, but can't quite put my finger on it (just sounded rougher, or something) and just take it easy, figuring that it was kind of chilly last night and he needs some time to warm up.

Then the groaning started. HORRIBLE LOUD GROANING. Loudest when I'm sitting at a light in neutral, and when I depress the clutch to shift. Noticeable when I reach 2500 RPM. I drive right across town for work, so never got it up to highway speeds. When I shut it down, the groaning started to warble (people on the street were looking at my car quizzically) and then stopped. At start-up, the groaning warbled (again, VERY loud) until I took off, then returned to it's normal routine (lights, clutch and 2500 RPM) before myseteriously disappearing.

I included the initial tidbit about the suspected hose problem because I was wondering if the two could be related -- it is a similar noise, albeit the groaning that started today was far more vile and horrible sounding than the little wheeze I occasionally get at start-up/shut-down.

THoughts?

It's about time I got it to the dealership anyway, just wanted opinions about how dire this actually sounds.

 

Evil Groaning Noise???

Yes, I felt a disturbance in the Force.

(sorry................if the car runs well I'd guess you're okay but I would make an appointment at the dealer immediately just in case. I like to let them make these calls where warranty is concerned. That way I'm covered.)

 

Sounds to me like the infamous PCV hose noise. There is a recall concering it. I replaced mine on my own before the recall came into being. I'm due for my 25k service and will have them do their thing even though the hose is no longer an issue.

This problem is more embarrassing than harmful.

 

GB...

That was my initial thought, while I was sitting at the light next to the dry cleaners realizing (albeit slowly) that the noise was NOT some newfangled cleaning process but was, in fact, my very own Ollie.

The thing that made me panicky, however, is the relationship to the clutch. Is that common with the PCV issue? I would assume that a sucking-in-on-itself hose would make the evil noise constantly, but this is variable.

I basically perfected my stick-driving on this car and, having subsequently lived through the Stumble Period, I live in fear of replacing my clutch.

 

The 'hose noise' varies itself depending on engine speed, load and such. It can make a noise that sounds like the clutch is at fault when you are moving slowly in traffic by modulating the clutch and not pressing much (if at all) on the gas. A quick test to rule out the hose noise is to get a couple of clothespins, open the hood, locate the hose (it's below the MINI plate on the valve cover and above the intercooler, it makes a 90 degree bend coming from the PCV valve) and pinch the hose shut with the clothespins and taking a short test drive. If you no longer hear any noises, it's the hose. If the noise is still here, it could be the clutch or possibly something else. Dont drive too long with the hose pinched off, since this might affect the emissions control system in some cases and make the check engine light come on (though it's doubtful).

The hose is nothing more than a piece of 3/8inch fuel line hose, about 4 inches long. This can be gotten for a pittance at any auto parts store (even for nothing if you flash them a nice smile ) if you dont relish the thought of taking your car in to the dealer just for that.

 

Sure enough...

Not only was my PCV hose spongy and squishy... there was a giant freaking hole in it. Purchased some generic tubing from Auto Zone and am now motoring happily once again. :smile:

And could anyone give me a quick explanation about what, exactly, the PCV hose does?
(aside from make really awful noises when compromised)

 

I should check mine out. Randy commented that mine is the pre-recall hose when he did my pulley back in Dec04.

 

Just stopping by to remind all how very good I am at being no help at all .

Didn't I read someplace that the function of the PCV hose in question is to provide motorers with vile and horrible-sounding groans and occasional warbles? PCV= (P)rovide (C)ar owner with (V)ile and scary groaning.

I'm glad you got it sorted and posted about it - my paranoid-quotient was temporarily elevated.

Tatt

 

http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h63.pdf

short form: It removes blowby gases from the crankcase which could contaminate the oil.
That it makes horrible noises is just a bonus. :smile:

 

Glad it is all fixed! No more wheezysneezy motoring!

The PCV hose connects the positive crankcase ventilation valve to the intake manifold, where manifold vacuum is used to draw the byproducts of combustion from the crankcase where it is mixed with with a majority of air and fuel entering the combustion chambers to be burned. In the old days before any sort of emissions controls, the crankcase vapors were simply vented to the atmosphere directly via a passive, 'blow as you go' method or sometimes with an item known as a 'road draft tube' under the car. This tube sat in the airflow under the car as the car moved and acted as a vent. In addition to adding to pollution, these vapors have an oily, burnt smell that would tend to collect around running cars and, well, make 'em smell bad. Remove your oil cap or dipstick and give it a whiff; you get the idea. Nazztuh.

In the mid-60s, the gov't mandated new methods to clean up the air. One of these mandates required a system to stop the release of unburned crankcase vapors into the air. It was a relatively simple matter to come up with a valve which used the vacuum of air entering the combustion chambers to carry the vapor into the cylinders and burn it. Of course, the automakers complained about having to add this piece to their engines. Since then, the system which 'positively' removes crankcase vapors (and has a benefit of making the oil last longer, among others) has changed very little through the years. MINI's fault in implementing such a time-proven system was somehow being supplied with a hose made of a material which does not hold up to the oily mist and heat passing through it. The oil and other nasties attack the rubber and turn it into mush. THe vacuum causes the hose to collapse or even perforate, sounding like a whoopie cushion along the way.

 

Why thank you, GreatBear... I undertand completely, now. :smile: My second question was going to be; "Why is the torn PCV hose all oily???" but you successfully preempted it.

 

Yeah yeah I know, this issue is resolved but it got me thinking, (no mean feat). I wonder what the PCV hose is made of, in my 2005? NAMers with >2000 posts must have 2002 or '03 MINI's, right?

(P)rimarily (C)urious about (V)erisimilitude (truth, or rather the appearance thereof),
Tatt

 

I had this problem! My engine was so loud when running that, when parked in the underground garage, I could hear the engine running from the second floor hallway!


Fixed the hose, everything was OK

 

Thanks everyone :smile:

Slapped some heater hose on there and cured the problem. Then took him up to New Country (LOVE their svc. dept. by the way!) for that recall and the emissions recall and got a "regulation" PCV hose.

I appreciate the advice -- paid off and got me around last week without strange looks from passers-by!