I sure have! I've had the Stumble since delivery in mid-June, but I never had to crank longer than 1 second or more than once. EVER. Now all of a sudden, in the past two to three weeks, I frequently have to crank twice and/or crank for a about two to four seconds to get it to start. The frequency has gone from about 25% of the time three weeks ago up to about 75% of the time as of the last couple of days. I have heard about the ECU "learning" different things, but I find it odd that I had no Cold Start issues for about 2700 miles, and then for the last 400 suddenly I have issues. What gives!? Has this happened to anyone else?

 

<<I have heard about the ECU "learning" different things, but I find it odd that I had no Cold Start issues for about 2700 miles, and then for the last 400 suddenly I have issues. What gives!? Has this happened to anyone else?>>

I haven't developed that yet but I'll bet I'm not far off it happening as it seems like most stumble cars end up with it. Just wondering...have you tried disconnecting the battery?

That's the last time. Honest.

Ken

 

Chitown,

Have you noticed any reduction in the stumble as the cold start issue has become an issue?

See ya,
JS

 

it's happended to my gf's cooper, she had the stumble for awhile now, and over last month or so it's gotten the cold start issue.

 

same here...last two to three weeks. EVERYTIME I try to start it cold, it will turn, sputter and die. It will start on the second attempt. It's really starting to bother me.
:evil: :evil:

 

My MCS is a year old now. Latest (34.1) firmware. ALTA intake.

It NEVER starts on the first click when it is cold. It ALWAYS starts on the 2nd click. I have learned to just utter a scatological 4-letter word and then click again.

I suspect that the first click squirts some gas into dry cylinders. I'm surprised that the ECU doesn't do an extra squirt on cold start conditions.

 

Have you all tried the "turn the key on, wait 5 sec. or so, then start" trick? I've heard it sometimes works. Keep us updated. Also, have you experience temp. changes where you live recently?

If my stumbling, yo-yoing MCS develops the cold start issue too.....

cheers.

 

I too have developed cold start issues exactly like you described. My MCS was built 6/13/03, so we're probably pretty close relatives and I've got 3,200 miles on it. Anyway, it's getting annoying. It has cooled off here in KC quite a lot - 20 to 30 degrees - since the cold start issue developed. However, I would think that 70 to 75 degrees would be optimum operating temps.

 

I find it odd that I had no Cold Start issues for about 2700 miles, and then for the last 400 suddenly I have issues.


This is exactly the same with my car....

Morning/day temps are 60/70's...so we're not talking about

real cold temps.

 

Wow...that's weird, eh? I mean, damn near the EXACT same mileage for it to develop the problem? These cars are messed, man! Don't get me wrong...I love my car, but what the hell is with the software!?

JS: There may be a mild calming of the stumble...it's hard to tell. I really don't think that it's much, if at all. But I'll keep you posted. It would be interesting if it faded...

The temps haven't changed here much...on average perhaps 10 degrees cooler, but nothing to really notice. And this issue has been happening in varying temperatures, and I can't tell if it's better or worse in one temperature or another.

 

I began to have a cold start problem after version 33.1 was uploaded. After version
33.2 it was fine and never again an issue.

 

Chitown_COOP, sounds like you may have ALWAYS had the cold start, it just wasn't cold enough to produce the symptom! That may be the case since you picked it up in mid-June.

 

I've had the second-time start for some time. Must say, though, that if you turn the key to "on" for a second or so, engine almost always starts on first time. It might have something to do with computer taking time to 'speak' to itself. I'm going in for my first 10k service in two weeks. Will advise.

 

I hear what you're saying greatgro, but this has been a really mild summer in Chicago, and the temperatures (with the exception of the current week that we're in) have been pretty steady...no hundred degree days and no 60 degree days....just steady with highs constantly in the 70s and 80s.

And I could be mistaken, but:

a) The MINI Cold Start issue doesn't actually refer to ambient temperatures. I was under the impression that it just meant a start after an extended period of the car being at rest. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

b) The MINI Cold Start problems seemed to have been erased with the advent of the Stumble. People who have the Stumble tend not to have the Cold Start, and vice versa. The Stumble software was originally created to fix the Cold Start issue, and supposedly it did, but it gave us the lovely Stumble.

 

>>Chitown_COOP, sounds like you may have ALWAYS had the cold start, it just wasn't cold enough to produce the symptom! That may be the case since you picked it up in mid-June.


So is the cold start problem a problem starting your car when it's cold outside or when the car has not been started for lets say 8 hours.

The original "cold start" problem was, the car was hard to start when it had been off for a number of hours and nothing to do with the outside temperature.

Can you clarify which one your having.

 

To clarify my issue, I am referring to a cold start as in the car has been sitting overnight or for a long period of time and doesn't start the first time irregardless of outside temperature (BTW, the car is garaged at night, so humidity or moisture isn't an issue). I have both the stumble AND the cold start i.e. always starts the second time. This all started at around 3000 miles - not the stumble, I've always had that. Even when it does start on the second try, it seems to sputter and cough for a few moments like it's going to die. If I try to give it gas, it sputters like it's not getting any gas for about 15 or 20 seconds. If this persists, I'll take it in. Luckily the dealer is only about 3 minutes away.

I'm with Chi-town. I love the car so I put up with this for now.

 

^^^Ditto.

 

I have video (3MB) with good sound of my cold start issue. Click this Cold Start Video link to see what I'm talking about. QT 6 is required to view the video. What can I say, I'm a Mac guy.

 

Yes. I've had mine examined about 6 times. They keep upgrading the software and saying its fixed. Last time I said "can you please fix it for real this time?" and they replaced the ECU and it still stumbles. I give up.

--
Cheese

 

>>I have video (3MB) with good sound of my cold start issue. Click this Cold Start Video link to see what I'm talking about. QT 6 is required to view the video. What can I say, I'm a Mac guy.

Mine sounds JUST like that, except that mine doesn't gag and try to cut out after it starts the second time. That seems tobe what your's is doing. But that anemic first start, stall, then a more robust start is what I have dealt with nearly every morning (summer or fall) since I was upgraded to CD 33.2.

(sorry for the repeat story for those who have heard this before) I had a cold start problem when the car was delivered (9/02). Then, I upgraded to CD 32 and the starting was better, but the stumble was worse. Then, I upgraded to 33.2 and the starting was again worse...and the stumble was no better. At this point in time, I'm glad that my stumble isn't worse and can live with the aggrevation of having to start the car twice each morning just to get it to go. But what I'm afraid of is that as winter approaches and it gets really cold and the gas formulation changes my starting will become much worse (AND the stumble may too).

BTW, does your car smell strongly of exhaust and un-burned gas during the second -- ultimately successful -- start? Mine sure does. :evil:

 

i dont make too many comments but, i too have been having the cold start issue, i got my MCS in feb. and it was fine for the first 2500, it developed a cold start issue, i never got the new software rev, and the issue went away after a little while, about 10 days ago and 12000 miles the cold start issue is back , lucky me :smile: , anyway, i'm a little hesistant to get the new software rev, b/c i am afraid it will develop the stumble. and i have not to date noticed any exhaust or gas fumes after the second start.

 

I have DEFINITELY noticed strong fumes after starting (I usually give a 1-5 minutes warm-up regardless of ambient temp). And speaking of which, I'm starting to think that this is a flooding issue....what do you think?

 

i dunno about the exhaust/gas fumes issue, are you holding the key down for a long period of time when it wont start?

For me it seems it doesnt matter how long i hold the key down, 1 second or 5 seconds, it turns over right away on the second turn.

 

I haven't noticed an overly strong exhaust or gas smell, but I'll pay attention. The one thing I keep forgetting is to turn the key and wait before cranking. I was so used to just getting in and cranking, it's a hard habbit to break.

One theory mentioned is gas. The cold start issue appeared after I returned from 10 days in Texas running on 93 octane. The best we can get in KC is 91 octane. I'm wondering if the move to lower octane gas brought on the problem. That's probably a stretch since so many others have the same issue.

I installed the BMP intake yesterday and the stumble seems to be greatly improved but the cold start issue remains.

 

I find it odd that I had no Cold Start issues for about 2700 miles, and then for the last 400 suddenly I have issues.

This is exactly the same with my car....


I will second that one.

Compelling how that same goes for my MCS, which was built in March 2003. I don't drive my car daily, not even routinely, but it is scary when I do have an opportunity to drive it and it won't start promptly. Only once has it died after it had turned over. This has been occurring in temperatures of 50/60/70s and I can only imagine it is going to get worse as the season changes. Plus I live in Wisconsin, which probably won't help the issue.

Lastly no fumes have been noticed nor have I had any major stumle problems.