sparks possibly coming from exhaust?
 

So, i typically am up driving my mini while it is still dark out. This past friday i was driving my usual route and when i noticed, looking in ky rear view mirror, sparks floating behind me. As you can imagine, i about had a freak out. I pulled into a driveway and got out to see if there was any smoke or anything visible that could have caused it. There was nothing, no smell or anything. One of the neighbors has a mechanic business, so he lifted my car up so we could see if there was anything that could have caused it. Besides needing to get breaks soonish, he could not see any sign of something, like the breaks or anything, that might have thrown sparks. He said maybe it could be the turbo possibly. I didnt have him do anything other than give it a look over, since i still have my 4 hear limited warranty till july.

So anyways, i did my same route this morning, and at the same exact location the sparks happened again. It happened right after i climb a somewhat steep hill and my car shifts. The car feels as though it is running perfectly fine, i get no service lights on the rpms are fine. It really feels like it is running smooth.

I called the dealership today and am going in first thing tomorrow morning. I do live about 1 1/2 hiurs from the dealership. The serviceman i spoke to said he had never heard of anything like this happening. Same with the neighbor mechanic, he googled it and said he never saw anything pop up about it.

So, i guess i am just curious as to if anyone had any opinions on the matter.

I have a 2010 MCS, just over 40k miles.

Thanks!

I also just have the feeling the service department won't find anything, since it is always my luck for it to not act up when i get it to the dealer, since i live far away.

I also almost always get my gas from the same station as long as i am able. 93

Is this only ever in the one spot? Or have you seen the sparks elsewhere?

Wondering if something was rubbing/dragging.....that would make sparks...how do your tires look? I have seen a couple MINI's being driven with the belts poking out through the edges of the rubber on the inner edges...this WILL spark...and is UNSAFE on many levels.
I would seriously doubt a turbo would makes sparks that would be seen behind the car...

If you mean that stretch of road, then that is the only place. I do not scrape on the road or anything. This is a main state route kept in very goid condition.

I am not sure if it happens anywhere else, since after that first drive, it is daylight out, and i may not see the sparks once it is light.

It is ten minutes into my 15 minute trip. So it is warmed up well at that point.

The sparks seem like they would come from the middle or both sides of my mini since they are equally spread behind me.

I had a mechanic lift it up and look to see if anything was scraping or rubbing. He didnt see anything. That mechanic and another i talked to said that since the turbo is goes directly into tbe exhaust, that maybe it is going bad and maybe it is the bearings.

I definitely do not feel or hear any scraping or dragging.( not saying that that isnt a possibility.)

Also, my tires are only a couple months old.

Your catalytic converter might be disintegrating.

Could it be a.............close encounter of the 3rd kind?...LOL:lol:

I sure hope not! Aliens and tornadoes are always my scariest nightmares!

+1

If it is the catalytic converter, should that be covered with the 4 year warranty, you think?

Catalytic converters are covered under federal emissions warranty which is 8 year 80,000 miles. But usually in order to get coverage you will need a check engine light on with a p0420 code.

I am still going to make the trip tomorrow, but do you think, if that is the reason for the sparks, i will end up having to wait till it completely fails?

No. If you put it on a lift and bang on it, it will probably rattle. They should replace it under warranty.

Could it be a side-effect of "burble and pop"? That is what MINI specifically programmed into some Cooper S models when in "Sport" mode. I think they may dump extra fuel in, so it lights off in the exhaust. Does it happen while you are hearing the "burble and pop"?

I dont think ive ever heard the burble and pop. I also did not have it in sport mode.

Ya gotta love a good mystery. Since it only happens at the same location (and apparently in the dark), try going back to that location in day light and look around.

Did you ever have a buddy follow you up that section of road, and maybe give you more hints about where the sparks are coming from (exhaust, center under car, both sides, etc)?

Just another idea for you.

Have fun,
Mike

No i havent had anyone follow me, i have thought about it, but havent done it yet since i have only just started seeing them. That was going to be my plan if it took more than a day for me to get into the dealer.

I go there first thing in the morning. I will let you all know what they say.

Thanks for the help!

Wow this is a new one ha ha I guess what doesn't a MINI do..lol..

Hook up a spark plug and see if you get some flames...:grin:

This is intriguing. I agree with what others have said above; If scraping/rubbing can be ruled out, start by checking the condition of the catalytic converter.

I am back from the dealership. My catalytic converter is working fine, but they did replace an o2 sensor in front of the catalytic converter that was faulty. They think that may have been causing extra fuel to get through and cause the sparks.

I will see tomorrow morning if i still have sparks or not.

Maybe, I'll take out my O2 sensor. I'd like to have sparks coming out the exhaust. :nod: