Ok so, while driving on the highway I got stuck behind a slower car. We were going about 50 when I went to pass him. I was in 6th gear, dropped it into 4th and gassed it. Nothing happened, other than a LOUD hissing. I try again...same thing. I pulled off at the next exit, stop at the light, and the car starts to idle very irregular (my foot off the gas and the engine seems to rev on it's own) . Luckily I'm close enough to home that I can limp it back. Just before I get home the Check Engine Light comes on. Great. Not to mention that it sounds like hell.

Has anyone heard of something like this happenning?

The best I can figure is that there's a boost leak. I couldn't find any hose disconnected or holes in any hoses. And the car is going to the dealer first thing in the mourning. Just trying to get an idea of the problem.

 

Just out of curiosity, why go from 6th to 4th, and not from 6th to 5th?

Good luck with the diagnosis.

 

If you go to Autozone they will let you use a code reader to read the CEL code for free. But in your case it sounds a little more serious than the gas cap left open so maybe the dealer visit is a good idea.

 

I went from 6th to 4th for the better powerband range, I needed to get around that car fast as there was more traffic comming. When I told the service advisor about what happened, she said "Hmm,never heard of one doing that before. Odd." That has me a little concerned...and the earliest appointment they had is two weeks away. So it's up there now on a "stand-by" basis and hopefully they can work it in somewhere. No MINI for maybe 2 weeks. This sucks.

 

2 weeks before they can work on your car?Thats absurd!

 

thats what they all say....they put themselves in place of an idiot....

 

Rough idle / stalling / odd rpm in idle -- combined with a CEL are common; but the reasons may be quite varied. You can drop by your local autoparts store and have them check codes for you, which will give you an indication of the problem area.

 

Sounds like it is an intake problem. Maybe MAF sensor or MAM. Run the code and that will tell you for sure.

 

You dont have a PnP ECU from Alta/ UNICHIP do you
I agree sounds like a airflow sensor issue, but then again Im just a Medical Specialist

 

Check all the intake hoses, it sounds like you're venting boost to the atmosphere (asumming a turbo of course). If no turbo, still check any hose/line after the MAF.

 

typically hissing can b some kinda of air leak so id look at the intake and any hoses attached to the intake. best thing to do, if you know how to use a wrench, pull off the intake or any vacuum hoses and really look at them.

 

I had an air leak at the MAF which caused a CEL and the loss of the turbo. I tightened the sensor screws and it worked out. Check for air leaks and tighten everything you can get access to and the gas cap seal.

 

Since it's already at the dealer all you can do at this point is wait. I'm sure they'll get to it way before the 2 week mark. Hold your chin up high and keep a stiff upper lip...

 

You can buy your own reader at any autoparts store. I have an Innova 3100. It was about $150 and can read codes on all cars made after 1996(I think). Ive used it several times on my C6 Corvette and my 98 Jeep. It plugs into a port under the dash and automatically pops up the code. Then you just look up the # online and you know exactly what your dealing with. As a bonus it also erases the CEL! Its a great tool to have in the box.

 

Mini has some unique codes of their own in addition the the "regular", codes. I think there is some manufacturers working to develop a obd2 reader specifically for the mini R56