Hi everybody!

Its been a long time since I've posted and of course I only come back when I have a problem, but I need your help.

I got my car back from the dealer last week after having a dent repaired. They informed me that since I had the car in the shop they would go ahead and perform the shortening of the tail pipes (factory recall I believe). Until earlier this week the car ran fine.

On Monday I went to start the car and it started idled and then sputtered out. I tried again to the same affect. One more time same effect. I start it again and try giving it some gas, it takes the gas, makes a popping noise on acceleration and spits white smoke out the back. I let off the gas, it idles, and then sputters out. I try one more time, giving it gas and it starts fine. The car ran fine once it was running so i figured no big deal. This now happens anytime the car has been sitting for more than 3 hours without running.

I live in Southern Cali, so it is certainly not cold here. I have a K&N CAI, that I removed to troubleshoot, then reinstalled after the stock box didnt solve the problem. My very basic understanding leads me to believe that the ECU is retarding the timing and not giving the engine enough gas on start up. (when it stalls out initially the drive by wire wont allow me to add gas). or perhaps the plugs arent causing enough combustion?

What should I check, or try. Obviously I will be taking it to the dealer, but I need the car this weekend and so the dealer will have to wait till tuesday.

Thanks in advance,
Bryan

 

From what I've read this seems to be different than the cold start issue. This happened this morning and i distinctly smelled gasoline. I assume this means that there is uncombusted fuel? any help is appreciated, even if its just telling me this is the same as the cold start problem.

 

I wonder if, while they were working on it, they disconnected a sensor and forgot to plug it back in. Definitely don't wait to take it back and make them fix it - I wouldn't even try driving it this weekend. If possible, borrow someone else's car, it doesn't sound terribly good to keep driving it in its current condition.

 

This is definetly NOT the cold start issue (aka rattle). I'd agree that there's a disconnected sensor, since this sounds like a fuel/air mixture problem. Might be one of the O2 sensors, but there are several other ones that could cause this, too. Don't drive it and get it back to the shop ASAP.

 

I've had the fuel rail pump replaced, and the engine temp sensor replaced. The pump on the rail died first, giving me the same symptoms you described. Later, sometimes the engine would start, other times not. When I unlocked or opened the door, the fuel pump in the tank wouldn't prime. The engine temp sensor was telling the ecu it was overheated, and wouldn't charge the pump. Have the dealer look into these two.

 

FS - What dealer are you using?

 

I Am also having this Issue seems to happin after the car sits over night or all day
I am out of Warranty so if u figure yours out let me know as i am gonna take it to a shop on Monday as i have no other mode of transport and dont want to pay the $125 Diagnostic fee @ the Dealer

 

Mine threw a CEL when it was stalling out or i should say almost stalling out. I suggest checking the HPFP that seems to be the issue with this sort of issue. Check the BAR output from the pump. After that it is fule rail and injectors. My car is in the shop the second time in a month for this issue and they are keeping it this time till they get it right. The car was putting out huge ploom of black smoke on start uncombusted fuel running rich. They replaced my fuel pump a month or so back and now the issue is back. I tend to think they never got it fixed the first time right. There is a few things to think about your car may be mis-firing on start

 

This quiet (not the tensioner) stalling on startup is EXACTLY what my '07 MCS was doing. Fortunately for me, it is still under warranty. The dealership replaced the fuel pump and all seems to be fine.

I got great service from the Cincinnati dealership.

 

Yep.........Had this problem at the end of July, right after the 30,000 service, drove it for about 2 weeks,.....was driving and it just died, towed to the dealer and they replaced the starter(Mini must be slow shipping warranty parts as they had it 5 days)drove it exactly 3 days, loud snap from the front, and had it towed back to the dealer, this time they had it 5 days and work order states NTF......picked it up drove another 3 days, leaving work, yellow gearlight/half engine power light /CEL, large puffs of black smoke from the rear and DEAD again......you guessed it, towed back to the dealer, been without it for 3 weeks this last time(although after the end of the 2nd week I did get a loaner car), just spoke with the dealer, seems I have no compression on cylinder 3, waiting on Mini Tech support..........Glad Mini's have excellent resale value as I believe I will be looking.............