Cold Start Engine Shakes Violently and Then Died!
 

I bought an '07 MCS a few weeks ago. It had been running fine, but I found over the weekend that it only had 2.5 quarts of oil (yikes) and was very low on coolant. I changed the oil w/ Mobil 1 and got some coolant in there. Fingers crossed no permanent damage was done. Drove it over the weekend and it ran perfectly.

This morning I started it and the engine began shaking. Left it in park for 5 seconds and the engine killed itself. I started it again and put it into reverse and it was shaking a lot. Put it in park and the shaking went away. Then Drive, and it was fine all the way to work. But i'm really worried something is wrong.

I read about a "death rattle" involving the timing belt, but no one mentioned their engine actually cutting itself off. Any ideas???

Could be the HPFP.

Is it throwing a CEL? If it is throwing a code for low rail pressure its most likely the HPFP.

Hey, thanks, after reading some threads it does sound a lot like my problem. Stalling engine on cold start up. Sorry, not hip on my acronyms. What is CEL? Error message?

Check engine light.

But yes I had a similar problem as you and it was my HPFP.

I'll take it in to the stealership after work to be sure. I heard its a 10 yr warranty on the pump so that would be nice. I've narrowed it down to the HPFP, timing belt, or carbon buildup.

I did fill up for the first time a few days ago and used Regular gas. I think the previous owner was using Silver. I wonder if that's related. I will switch back to Silver.

Is there a check engine light? It's tough to narrow the problem down without that.

MCS's run premium gas. 91 octane or above.

I got a '07 MCS a couple weeks ago.(my first Mini) The previous owner used regular gas (87). He pointed out that the book called for 87 minimum, which it does. It ran great, no knocks or pings. After I used most of the tank, I filled it w/Chevron 91 (because I'd read that you're supposed to feed Mini's premium). On that tank full it had problems starting when cold, sometimes taking 2-3 tries. It acted like it was flooded or something. Today I filled it with Shell 89. We'll see how it does on that.

drove about an hour today after work and it ran perfectly. Sched'ed to see the dealer on Thurs. I'm going to do a seafoam treatment this weekend too. Will report back. Fingers crossed.

Ahhhhhhhh 91 or 93 ocatannneeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:thumbsup :

you really think the octane level would make the engine stall? I mean I understand it not running as smooth, but making the engine kick like that? I have a hard time believing.

I had the same thing happen to my 07 Cooper S a while back. My mechanic told me that the plastic intake hose that runs along the right side of the engine sometimes gets oil kicked into it from the engine, and that, over several years, it can cause the connection to stop being airtight. First, it came off at one end, and the guy reattached it with a new band, then it came off at the other end, and he did it again. However, he finally had to just replace the part after about 6 months. He also told me to expect to have to continue doing this every 4 years or so, but it's only like a $120 part, so for engine fixes, it wasn't bad.

is there a way for me to diagnose this intake hose as the problem?

As I understand it, that's what the check engine light decoder told him it was. I don't know that it would be obvious unless you can look and see that it's all the way physically detached. The hose (it's hard, molded black plastic, so I don't know why he called it a hose) is right on top when you open the hood, and just to the right of the engine. For the most part, it runs along the front-back axis of the car. It's connected by a metal band at either end.

Really! Who would ever run 87 in a MINI or a TURBO car! HOLY ****!

No offense, but you drive a premium car, not a civic so dont treat it like one. I have run 91 octane since they day I owned it, and I pray the prior owner did as well.

I can see an MC runnning 87 but an MCS come on guys.. even jettas/passats/GTis call for premium.

well its been a few weeks. dealership said they couldnt find any issues. car stalled a few times on cold startup last week so i was going to take it in today but it hasnt stalled since. they said the only way to diagnose is to catch it in action, but i doubt they will since I havent been able to replicate since a week ago. i swear, the car is just doing this because it heard me talking to the dealership.

Update!

Phew, good thing i brought it in (only 20 days left on my 4 yr warranty). They identified it as a timing belt tensioner issue and replaced it. Will see tomorrow if that fixed it.

Good luck! I hope that's what will fix it!

I got a little freaked out today when I cold started my car after 24 hours of sitting. It was sputtering to life for a good 3-4 seconds before it ran smoothly... :no: Also, kind of embarrassing, especially since I was starting it in front of another MCS owner who just got home from work and parked next to me.

Might be excessive carbon build-up, I have an 07 MCSa at 55k it threw a CEL and had a real bad cold start issue. My mini dealer did a media blast on the valves and that did that the job. runs great. I plan to do seafoam treatment twice a year at oil changes. I am also looking into an oil catch can to help with this issue. It is a problem with all S's 2007 and newer because the engine has direct inject technology.

media blast eh? I will ask them to do that for me too, whatever that is. I have a can of seafoam that I was going to take to the car when i got her back, but I wonder if the stealership will do it for me.

They media blast (sand blast) the head with Ground Walnut Shells to get the carbon build up off the valves. It was pricey, around $600, but it did the job. From what I read on NAM, Seafoam would be good for keeping the valves from getting fauled but will not do a good job of cleaning them off after major build-up has occured.

You can run regular no problem.

The timing will adjust itself.

Not that I do it on my Mini, but I have on my Jetta.

It's not as big as a deal as you make it to be.

Hey Stash182 whats the outcome?

Why does MINI say to use premium fuel then? A partnership with oil companies/gas stations? For sh*ts and giggles? :confused:

They replaced just the tensioner and it seems to be running normally, but sometimes it feels a little clunky in lower gears like its revving abnormally. Could be in my head. I want to let it sit for 12+ hrs.

They extended the warranty by two yrs on the tensioner only and my regular warranty runs out in nine days! I wonder if I could talk them into replacing the timing belt too, but they said the error codes did not indicate to.

Will do a seafoam treatment this weekend for good measure.

I think they just want to cover their asses, or as the service rep told me "remove one more variable from the equation of things that could cause problems." What's it to them if you spend an extra $5000 / yr on gas and it adds a 1% chance that the car will not break down?