Searching the forum I haven't seen the exact problem..sorry if I missed it. Here's the problem. Brand new MC. Less than 200 miles. At 90 miles, when starting, the Check Engine Light came on. Daughter's car so I am describing what she says. Car was low power, hard to drive. She stopped, turned off engine, waited 30 seconds, started car and no CEL. All was fine. Problem happened again at startup. CEL would come on. Would turn Mini off and restart..sometimes taking 3 attempts to finally get Mini to start with no check engine light lit up.

Took to dealer. Diagnositcs showed "Communication Error" six times. They cleared out the error codes, tested, and said good to go.

Next day, happening again. Just had to start the car 3 times...to finally get the car to start without CEL light displaying. When it finally starts without CEL displaying, it runs fine. Have another appointment with service to troubleshoot and correct. I suspect computer history will show "Communication Error" as gas cap is tight, nothing else seems wrong. Light never comes on while driving. It comes on at Startup only...and we have to turn off engine..wait a few seconds and try a 2nd or 3rd time to finally get Mini to start normally with no light.

Anyone have this problem and find out the cause?

Thanks, Finner

 

I had sort of the same thing happen to me. It could be the high pressure side of the fuel pump. It takes the high pressure side of the fuel pump when starting the car. If the low side is doing all the work it takes extra time and cranking to get enough fuel to start the car. This will cause a check engine light. Have them check the fuel pressure next time you go in.

 

and depending on what network in the car is screwed, the car can be affected in different ways. If it really is a network issue, the code should be NXXXX instead of the normal Pxxxx that one normally gets with a scanner. Shat sucks here is that with such frequency, they basically blew you off by clearing the code and having it start fine. the service department is just freakin' lazy, that's for sure! 6 codes stored isn't a "clear and drive" situation.

Anyway, next time you're there (and you will be back) don't settle for this. The diagnositics they have should be able to pinpoint what system or parts aren't talking well. It could be as simple as a loose connector or one of the subsystems may be giving up the ghost, but I haven't found a lot of cars that fix them selves.

If you're up for it, when you're there you might let the service manager know that clearing a 6x repeated fault with no further work doesn't seem to rigerous or customer-centric service attitude. Really, they just shined you on till it's so bad that it's undrivable, and flushed more of your time down the toilet.

Good luck, and let us all know what the root cause ended up being. I haven't heard of this type of error on our cars before, and I'm always looking to learn.

Matt

 

Matt,

Thanks for your response. I felt out of place starting a new thread when there is that big sticky for Check Engine Light..but searching it, it seemed their problem was entirely different than what I was experiencing sporatically.

My car is back at the dealer today as the problem happened on Tuesday. But since Tuesday it hasn't happened. They told me they checked out the system last time and couldn't find any problem causing the Communication Error. But when it happened again, they quickly scheduled an appointment for me at my earliest convenience. I think they want to do the right thing.

I'll find out later today when I speak to them or pick up the car. Hopefully they find some little thing that occasionally causes the CEL at startup and they resolve it.

Thanks again, I will ask them about the items you reference.

....Finner

 

I have an 03 cooper. 60000 miles. My service engine light on the tachometer is on. How do I turn it off???
Dan Germany

 

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faq.php?f..._faq_reset_cpu

 

Finner: That sounds like what happened to me. It was the high pressure fuel pump. Intermittent trouble starting, would take 3-5 tries, then ran fine, no CEL. Always first starting attempt, not cold, not every time. Finally it wouldn't start with multiple attempts, then barely ran with no accelerator response, and CEL came on. I got the code number with the stalk (I forget the number, it's in my thread last December) Called dealer, had it towed 100 miles to Scottsdale, high pressure fuel pump, took them no time at all to diagnose it/fix it. No problems since. A search for this will probably show several other of these problems.

 

Newt,
Your past problem sounds more serious than mine. My Mini would always start right away. Just sometimes, sporadically, CEL would illuminate. Would just turn car off and restart and all would be fine. Though once I had to make 3 starts, on 3rd start, no CEL. Anyway, history says Com error. Never could duplicate at dealer as it happens so rarely. Hasn't happened in almost a month now. Maybe a cold weather issue? I don't know. Not too worried about it. Maybe it won't do it again! When or if it does reoccur, I take it back in, pick up a loaner and ask about fuel pump as the cause.
Thanks, Finner

 

My problem is not the check engine light. My problem is the Service Engine Soon Light is on. Can anyone advise about that one.


Dan Germany

 

 

I'm having a very similar issue to Finner:

- 2 weeks ago on cold/wet morning the car stumbled at startup and after a few restarts it smoothed out but got CEL.
- After engine warmed up and ran a few miles CEL went out.
- Later that day after a short cool down, CEL occurred a few times and I just restarted a few times and it went away.
- Issue didn't reoccur for a week
- Now almost every start up for last 3 days car stumbles (warmer out lately) and CEL light comes on. Restart a few times until smooth idle and CEL usually goes out.
- Car now stumbles and CEL comes on at all fresh starts.

NOTE:
1) CEL is not in limp mode and car drives fine if it's on.
2) 300 miles to nearest dealer
3) '09 MCS with 2500 miles

Also, can someone suggest BEST "Bang for the Buck" code/reset scanner/reader???

I'll get the codes and post them and I don't have the time to research a scanner as I'm so **** it'll take months to finally decide!!!

TIA

 

Codes: p0300-p0304 (misfire) p3091 (???)
Doesn't matter since the codes and issue came back with a vengeance.

Catastrophic high pressure fuel pump failure. Fixed now after a 300 mile tow to the dealer , free of course...

Back in business

 

My 07 Cooper S died on me yesterday as I was about to start my second set of practice runs for autocross. Yellow engine malfunction light, code p3091 or pr3091. Second time this has occurred in three months. Last time the dealer replaced the cylinder head cover. Back story: had a major repair in September, transmission, cltch, flywheel, valve cover, thermostat housing plus all associated parts and fluids replaced. The car had been idle for an hour, drizzly day but not cold here in So Cal. They pushed me off the course and after sitting for awhile, the car started OK. Any ideas or advice?

Update: Today i drove about 22 miles, went into my Aunt's house for 30 minutes. When I tried to start the car again i got back the following malfunctions: yellow check engine, ABS Brake, seatbelt/airbag, car raised on lift for repair. All systems shut down, had to have it towed to the dealer.