Last week we started getting an intermittent Check Engine light. Took the car to East Bay MINI on Monday and they found an Air Mass Sensor failure code so they replaced it. I left the dealer on Tuesday morning, drove 100 miles and the light came back on. RSA towed MINI back to East Bay from Palo Alto (car drove fine but I didn't have time to go back to Pleasanton). They said same codes, decided to reflash the DCM (sp?), the tech drove the car home and back to the shop and declared it fixed. I got 1 mile from the dealership and the light came back on. I'm leaving the Bay area on Saturday so the next opportunity to have it looked at is Tacoma, WA after the 22nd of July. I have a horrible feeling this car is going to be a pain in the butt. It's a bummer because my wife and I love the car. Anyone else seen this or am I an explorer here?

 

There's gotta be different computer codes that says the thing is totally shot where it could the sensor or a broken wire, or it's not reading within its prescribed parameters. Maybe some wizard here could help if you'd have the actual code and description, maybe from your receipt? On VWs they used to say don't spray anything (like armorall) near the air intake cause it could mess up the air sensor; also oiled air cleaners.

 

Any sensor translates it's physical measurements into voltages, currents or resistances. There must be some parameters in order for Mini to test the MAS (mass airflow sensor) that is supposedly faulty. If it comes out OK, something else is wrong. To be honest, I have not had the best of experiences with this car, an early '07 R56. I have found many electrical and electronic gremlins on the thing. Good luck!

 

Yea, I figure there is some electrical test but I was limited in how long I could let the dealer look at the car because I am traveling from Tucson to Seattle for the summer with stops in San Jose and Boise for work. I'll let the Tacoma dealer look at it when I am in Washington. It's a bummer when you wait for something and then it turns out to be a PITA.