Funny you'd mention that. I've also had a few instances recently when I was accelerating away from a light, stop sign, etc. and the power stumbled badly for a moment. Declutching and trying again usually corrects the issue, so it's intermittent and momentary. But it would be nice to know what's going on!

Spridget

 

I'll try the de-clutching tonight to see if that helps, but even still seems quite odd to have this sort of problem on a car that's only 1.5 years old.

Whats the year/mileage of yours?

 

It's a 2010 - I got it a year ago yesterday, and it's done about 6200 miles.

Spridget

 

This sounds like the same thing I experience with my snow tires. What happens to me is that the traction control kicks in if I accelerate too hard from a stop. The traction control kills power momentarily and I believe this is caused by the extra flex in the tires from the tread depth. If I know I'm in a situation where I know I'll need immediate power (such as turning left in high traffic), I just shut off DSC to make sure I don't get an unexpected power drop.

 

My car has this problem too when I hit the rev limiter.

 

Great someone made a post about this. I have had this happen the past couple of weeks. Was wondering if this is a problem or not. It seems to happen in any gear and especially on very cold days (below 30F)

 

My Mini does the same thing. The slow acceleration seems to fade as the car warms up though... usually the same amount of time it takes for the heat to start coming throught the vent which is like 10 minutes!

 

When the engine is cold it will stutter like that. I've experienced the same thing with my last three cars (all manuals). My neighbor has a manual Acura TL and his does it too. Its barely noticeable in an automatic for some reason. My theory is that it has to do with the automatic choke that keeps the revs around 1100rpm until the engine reaches a certain temp. That's why I start my car, let it run for 5 minutes, and then drive off. I'm in Los Angeles so my warm up time is pretty short compared to all of you in cities that actually get winter.

 

Hmm, I have always heard that the warm-up period is sort of a myth. Once the car is started, it will actually warm up better if driven with a little less gusto than normal until it warms up.

 

I have a 2010 with 14k bought this june, no issues of this yet. The only thing i can report is when i do a full run and boost in 5th, some times when i let off i get the cruise control failure light and an engine light then power is gone. i just reset the ecu and keep going.

All cars have a cold start rev hold hold feature. Automatics naturally will idle higher because they are always connected to the trans via torque converter. The power gets put to the wheels via liquid pressure but idling higher is normal.

To warm up the fastest, drive at low engine speeds which creates load or pressure which generates heat. No heater also speeds this up so the engine water doesnt cool via the heater core. You cant accomplish the pressure for a quick warm up at idle.

 

It's Cold here in Ohio , 15 F. My 2010 Mini seemed to drive like it was about to run out of gas ' and the auto trans was shifting at different points than usual. The car has about 14000 miles on it and has been no trouble at all until this cold spell with lots of snow ,set in. Sounds as if there may be a problem with the Mini's computer programing in either the PCM or the TCM. Will be checking with the dealer for any fixes if avaible,Sounds like I'm not alone with this problem.

 

In the mornings I always start the car and let it warm up for about 15-20mins. It's about 18-20degs here now and it takes about that long to get it warm.

I take the train to work, and when I get off the train I don't have much time to let the car warm up at the station (traffic timing, if I don't leave right then and there I get stuck at the train tracks from the train that comes after mine, trust me it makes a difference lol). The problem does seem to fade if I drive for a while (10-15mins?).

Now here's the odd thing, lately it hasn't been doing it. Which almost has me more worried. Anyone have any theories on that?

 

You could try resetting the ecu, maybe the weather stumbled your minis brain. Disconnect the battery for a mini or two and pump the brakes to get the electrons out of the tail light circuitry.

 

and be forced to re-program my radio stations? have you gone mad??

thanks, i actually will try this out. as soon as i can actually open to bonnet which is iced over

 

btw bgprfed22, very nice MINI. looks like you did quite a bit of mods in a very short amount of time. i've had mine since june 09 and i'm lucky i got around to tinting the windows.

 

I wonder if what you're experiencing is intake icing?

They replaced a bunch of intake manifolds on cars in cold weather climates for a similar problem, wonder if that could be it?

Have any of you discussed the issues you're having with the service dept at your dealer? What do they say?

I'm trying to find a block heater that will work with my car, they had a factory one for 1st Gen cars but I'm told it won't work on 2nd gens....I'm not experiencing what you all are, it just takes too bloody long to warm up to suit me, especially when we're having single digit temps at night like the last week or so....it would be so nice to start my car on a cold winter morning and have immediate heat - not to mention it would be a whole lot easier on the car on startup too!

 

If you do it within minutes your stations dont get erased due to stored memory lemme know how it runs

 

So I finally got a resolution on this issue. It ended up being a faulty thermostat, the engine was running below standard operating temperature levels causing it to drive like crap. I had it replaced and the car has been solid since.

Thought that would useful to you's folks.

 

Hi everyone, I was reading this thread and was blown away... I have been in and out of the dealer and they have had no luck finding out what this might be. Every time I take it in they keep it for 2 to 3 days doing a cold start check, but I don't believe they ever drive it.

I have one question, does it also happen when you start the car at roughly 60F and or 30F?

I have been having this problem since last fall.

Thank you On Purnt for posting this problem!

 

Over the last few weeks I've been having an issue when the car is cold... when I start going in first after a cold start, any bit of throttle makes the car stutter (surges of gas almost), kinda feels like if you're going 5mph in 1st or less and the car lurches every few feet. I'm thinking this may be the first signs of the HPFP going, as it seems its not injecting enough fuel to the cylinders, and is a very "on/off" acceleration. Within about 20 seconds of driving its fine, but if I'm leaving work in the afternoon and people are in the parking lot, it is embarassing and seems like I don't know how to drive a stickshift, lol.

Anybody else have this kind of issue? Btw, it isn't temperature dependant, as its 50*F in the mornings, 75-80 in the afternoon.

I know people with HPFP failures have starting/stalling/idling problems, but i haven't heard them say anything about hiccups in acceleration right after start. Could be a carbon issue as well.

 

wow, i just saw this post 6 months later... sorry about that.

I don't recall having the problem in 60f weather, although that's roughly what the temp has been lately and since fixing the thermostat I've had no problems at all.

Let's see how the rest of the winter goes.

 

Reviving this very old thread to see whether the issue has come back!

Experienced the same problem with my 2013 Cooper S this morning... Car would idle at high RPM, sputter and jerk when driving (RPMs exceeding 1700 or MPH exceeding 15). Seems to have calmed down now that it's warmed up a bit - a balmy 17*F at the moment - but it's still not operating normally.

 

So for the first time tonight, my 2010 MCS, i started it today after work and after it sitting in 2F degree weather for 12 hours and it started up, but reluctantly, and when i let of the brake (automatic) it would roll forward like normal, but when i press the gas pedal. Nothing. When its in park, and i press the gas it will rev slightly but when in drive it wont accelerate, even when let sit for 10-15 minutes but after driving it for a few miles it will get up to about 30 mph but no faster than that, any ideas?? Its got 41xxx miles. Thanks guys.

 

I'm willing to bet you do not have the updated intake manifold designed for cold climates. What's happening is your throttle is getting stuck with ice and causing your issues.