Hey guys!!

My car is currently at the dealer as of the moment. And for a while now, I've been trying to fix some problems I've been having with my MINI.
It's been making ticking noises in three different places. This is my 3rd or 4th? time trying to get this noise fixed.
They just gave me a call and said that to help them pinpoint the noise, that they should do an induction cleaning? I think that's what he said.
It costs $165 and he said that it cleans out the engine sludge so it'll be easier for them to pinpoint the noise and possibly fix the problem.
They said that, they recently got the machine? to be able to do the induction cleaning, and that it's a new service they're going to start offering.

Do I pull the trigger on this? Is this really something that'll help? Input would be greatly appreciated as I do need to get back to them as soon as possible so they could start on it.

Let me know guys!!

****UPDATE 12/4****

So I called the dealer today to find out the update on my car.
They said it's much faster because of the induction cleaning but,
the ticking noise is making is from my idler pulley and belt tensioner and are not covered under warranty because of my underdrive pulley (15%)
they said it'll be over 600 for parts in labor.

I've decided to go to another dealer so they can check it out and to see what they say.

Let me know your thoughts on this guys.

 

My personal feeling on such things is that they just want to clean your wallet. You may need this, but my thought is that you don't. Pretty much a cash cow for the dealer IMHO.

 

That's wat I'm thinking but it seems like they don't want to or that theycant find the problem? Sigh wat to do..anyone else?

 

You may want to try a different dealer. Not being able to trace a noise because the sludge is covering the sound just sounds like so much manure to me.

Ask them this. If you have that service done & it doesn't help, they will provide that un-needed service for free.

 

That's how i feel..but i could just go to another dealer? All paper work and everything should be accessible from another dealer right?

Thanks for all the help so far though Crashton!

 

I would think so, but I would call the other dealer & make sure they can access that data. If not get a printout of the work that has been done by the current dealer.

 

"It's been making ticking noises in three different places"

Where???? If it's the valves making noise the dealer might have a point.

 

Sure that is possible Steve, but the skeptic in me wonders.

Hmmm, I don't buy it. Your mileage may vary as they say.

If we had some more info on the OP's MINI it would be easier to help troubleshoot.

 

Well I made some other posts about my car but to sum it all up..
Car is making ticking noises from the pcv valve, valve cover?, and somewhere under the intercooler. (those are the three places)

But hmm I think I may just bite the bullet on this one and pay for the cleaning.
They are cleaning the induction? And injectors apparently.
So yeah..hopefully it might clear things up to elp pinpoint the noise along with my weird throttle response

I have almost 47k miles so far and have been hearing ticking noises since about 20k?

I feel as though if I keep going to this dealer they'll take care of me?

But ther thoughts/opinions are appreciated as I did not let them know that I'm going to be doing the cleaning yet.

Let me know guys

 

Sea Foam works verry well. You can google this product for some good info.

I use it.

 

well I did do the cleaning at the dealer
picking up my MINI monday.

but I updated my first post at the bottom.

still love to hear your opinions/responses.

 

or if you don't turn your own wrenches, non-dealer Mini service locations will do the same work for less as well. Idlers and tensioners have gone bad on other cars, it's not unbelievable. It's also not that hard a job to do.

If you buy parts on your own, Classic Auto Campus sells to NAM members for 20% off...

Matt

 

Thanks for the heads up Matt
I totally forgot that I don't have to get work done at the dealer

I did though, get my MINI back from the dealer. Ticking noises somewhat still there, not as bad as before, but after the injector and induction cleaning, the car runs SO much smoother.

They should offer this at every service interval!
Throttle is smoother and going from gear to gear is much smoother as well.

Sure it was expensive, but I'd say it was well worth it..(for now that is, as long as the dealer is the only place one could do it, I'm fine)

They did have a little packet of papers on it, and had the website where it was originally from.

Here's the link! CLICK HERE!!

 

Interesting stuff. To see exactly what they do, look at the PDF's linked in that document:Funny that the website home requires a login but all of its documents and links are open access. If you follow some of the links, you'll find that the cleaning kit is $400 and the cleaning fluid is $14. It paid for itself with the first customer!

 

Quite interesting indeed. I never actually clicked on any links or anything.
Just read up on symptoms and what not.
But ouch, I did pay about $165 for it.
Wished they would have done it for free though.
I kept asking if there's any way they could do it under warranty

Oh well, what's done is done. I fee like a gained a couple of horses as well

 

it's basically a way to get a concentrated cleaner into the intake ports. I think that the SeaFoam stuff does the same for valves and combustion chamber, the nice thing about this is it will do some good for the injectors too.

I've thought about buying the kit, but I think that I'll just make one, the only non-HomeDepot part is the fuel line coupling.....

Anyway, if you don't want to pay a shop for this one you can do the Sea Foam (or equivalent) for the valves and combustion chamber (especially good for the DI newer engines).

For the injectors, I add most of a can of Sea Foam to the tank when there's about 1/8th of a tank left and drive it to almost dry. If you don't have a DI engine, you can always pull the injectors and send them to a cleaner/service center (I use www.witchhunter.com). Then you get a great injector cleaning, they replace injector filters and o-rings, and you get flow numbers as well.

Matt

 

Hmm well I'll definitely be doing Sea Foam and sending the injectors in for cleaning rather than going back to the dealer.
More of a DIY but much more fun than throwing out money
Thanks again Matt

 

I've run a bottle of Chevon Techron through at each oil change. Pour it in the tank, simple. So far so good, nice & smooooth....

 

This is something you could have done yourself. All in all, it's still money well spent.

It would be a good idea to remove & inspect your intercooler. With the mileage you have on your car there is, IMHO, a little more build up on the valves than expected. By inspecting the IC, if you find oil, you can clean the IC with carb cleaner as a preventative measure. Some "S" engines are a little looser than others & use a little more oil - This is normal & NOT a problem.

 

Doc,
Just wanted to ask how often you do this?
I use Sea Foam in the tank but not that concentrated. I take it there is no harm to the injectors?
Sea Foam bottle says to add to 20 gals.
Thanks