MINI will never fix this problem i'm sure, they will make excuses all summer, and towards the end of the summer claim they have another fix, but when the heat comes back so will the lag

 

Phil sent me another email and I sent it to you. Yes that was a different email. I remember I had two and deleted the first one and then thought I better keep this one. Thanks for all your help. I will let everyone know what happens. Thanks again for you help. It is nice to know there are still nice and caring people in this world.

 

Thanks to you for your test. I have had that upgrade everyone is talking about, but obviously it didn't help. Wish mine would run that good with the AC on. It doesn't get that hot here. Hardly any humidity so I don't have to run it to often. I live in the moutains of NC so it dont get real hot until about June. Thanks!

 

I live in hot and humid Miami, FL and don't have a single problem when running the A/C on my MINIs. In Miami you are forced to use the A/C year round, but still don't have any performance related issues.

Have version 36 installed on both.

 

Has anybody with a Cooper CVT encountered this problem? I was out driving around today in central Florida traffic and it was quite warm out, my OBC read 93F, and I had the AC on. I haven't really used the AC until recently, I got my car back in Nov. 03 (9/03 build) so there hasn't been a need until now. So while I was stopped at a couple lights, when I tried to take off there was a brief hesitation. I've read through this thread and it seems it only happens with MCS's. I even have the upgrade. Is this normal for a CVT?

 

I have an 03 MC 5 speed and it has a stumble but only when the AC is on. Can defeat it by more RPM's when letting clutch out in first gear. Car otherwise runs well so i didn't let the dealer flash the ecu to v36.

>>You guys are scaring me.
>>
>>I got my MCS in November, and it's just starting to get warm down here in north FL. So far I haven't noticed the A/C causing any problems. I hope it stays that way!
>>
>>Is this a problem with all MCS's, or does it only apply to some cars?

 

I have 03 MCS, V36 fix the original stumble. However, I started using AC for the last 2 weeks, and it's stumbles when I had my AC on. Like someone here mentioned, it's more obvious when the outside temp is high.

Ka

 

Have any of you ever experienced this lag/bog/hesitation in any other (than MINI) small displacement (read: four cylinder) cars before? I have. Our old '94 corolla and our old '91 Nissan SE-R both felt like we were towing a trailer full of bricks when the air was on. Just like our MINI, you had to rev it more and slip the clutch more just to keep it safe. I would think any powertrain mods should help eliminate this "characteristic". Just my two cents.

 

i've read posts of people with 19% pulleys claiming they have no issues with this

 

First, I have a Cooper...and version 36. V36 fixed the rpm dip I experience occasionally when the engine was cold and I made a stop. A somewhat rare problem for me, but totally fixed by v. 36.

Loss of power due to the AC is a separate issue and, as wseattlemini said, I've run into this on many other cars. Its somewhat expected. I've never, ever run into any situation where this was dangerous, but I definitely prefer to run w/o the AC if possible (...for lots of reasons! ) Basically, I just launch my MINI a little differently during the summer similar to what Bob421 said.

Coopers seem a bit less (...or not at all) prone to stumble-type issues which plague some of our S runnin' brethren, but they're defintely less punchy with the AC on. My suggestion....adjust your driving technique and don't expect a "fix".

 

isn't it characteristic of ALL vehicles? AC pretty much saps energy from any engine.

I experienced that in my Mustang, Blazer, Neon, Mercedes Benz, and BMW.

or am I missing this that it's ABNORMALLY different within the MINI line?

when I was in Spain with a rental MINI I did not notice it being much different with any of the other cars I've ever owned.

 

I have a lot of problems getting started with the AC on as well. 2004 MCS.

I wonder.... Not many people here talk about changing the underdrive pulley, but there was a fellow at Flow MINI that had done so. Something along the lines of recovering lost HP that was wasted on some other systems like the AC. I wonder if doing this mod would help the "get up and go" problem when the AC is on....

 

I've done some more "research" on this issue, now that it's in the 90's every day down here in FL.

On my '04 MCS, I do notice that there's less power with the A/C running. But it's not dangerous, or really that severe for a 4 cylinder car. I just have to remember to get the revs over 2500 or so before I let out the clutch. As long as the revs are up, it gets going fairly well.

 

I honestly have not experienced the problems being posted here. Today it was 90F here in Miami, FL and my '04 MCS (9/2003 build) running with V36 of the ECU software has been performing flawlessly in the hot South Florida sun. Again, not a single problem and the car takes off with GUSTO with or without the A/C, they way it should be.

Ditto for my '02 Cooper CVT also running with V36 of the ECU software and has been completely unbothered by the high heat and humidity.


I don't know what to say to you guys but if your car stumbles, hesitates, etc with your A/C on there is something wrong with it, there is no other explanation!


Any new car today, is designed to operate safely with or without the A/C. If you have to turn it off to be able to safely merge in traffic, then there is something systematically wrong with your car.


I wonder if some of you know how to drive a manual (Please don't take offense). Do you give the car enough gas?? This is a 1600cc engine and needs to be revved to get the most out of the low end torque. Also do you release the cluth right away without giving the engine enough gas?


These problems have to be a combination of pre-existing technical issues and lack of proper skill when it comes to drive a car with a small engine and manual transmission.


What can I say? My cars run great in the summer heat, so yours should do too.

_________________
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Oh yeah, and before I forget, both of my MINIs are factory stock, no mods whatsoever. MCS has ASC+T (No DSC) and Cooper CVT does not have either ASC or DSC.

_________________
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>>I have a lot of problems getting started with the AC on as well. 2004 MCS.
>>
>>I wonder.... Not many people here talk about changing the underdrive pulley, but there was a fellow at Flow MINI that had done so. Something along the lines of recovering lost HP that was wasted on some other systems like the AC. I wonder if doing this mod would help the "get up and go" problem when the AC is on....


I honestly think your problem is related to improper start off from 1st gear. revise your skill/procedure because no amount of extra pulleys will ever compensate for letting out the clutch early and not give the car enough gas.


My '04 MCS is bone stock and performs flawlessly in the South Florida heat. Your '04 MCS should do the same as designed and build from the factory.

 

>>I honestly think your problem is related to improper start off from 1st gear. revise your skill/procedure because no amount of extra pulleys will ever compensate for letting out the clutch early and not give the car enough gas.
>>
>>
>>My '04 MCS is bone stock and performs flawlessly in the South Florida heat. Your '04 MCS should do the same as designed and build from the factory.

I mentioned the underdrive pulley just for the heck of it. Who knows. :smile:

I probably do let the clutch out a bit more than I should before I give it gas. It's the way I was taught. Find the spot in the clutch where teh engine starts to stall. That's where you mash the gas.

I'll pay more attention to how I start off in 1st. Perhaps you're right.

 

Yes I believe there is some merit to what Cooper4us is saying. Small cars do need to be revved more than others like, say, a viper or vette. Having the a/c on means you may have to rev it a bit more than usual. But...the stumble is altogether a different problem. Until recently I thought it was normal for the engine to act that way. Now that V37 has been installed I can honestly say there was something wrong.

Besides, I live in Seattle where a/c is for whimps

 

I talked to a service tech from my dealership yesterday afternoon about the hesitation I was having and he said that it was normal. I was just curious to know because I've never driven a car that had a decrease in power due to the A/C, but I've also never had a CVT. It doesn't pose any danger really since it only happens at stoplights. I guess the worst that can happen is I get honked at from behind

 

Actually it has been talked about before but there's good reason why it's not talked about much. The supercharger ALSO runs off of the engine. So if you got an aftermarket underdrive pulley to slow down the accessories guess what? You'd also slow down the supercharger pulley! This would have the opposite effect of using a smaller pulley on the supercharger! You'd get less boost and actually LOSE power in the S.

 

I was under the impression, mistakenly possibly, that the underdrive pulley system was separate from the supercharger system. Then again, I am not very engine savvy either. :smile:

 

That's incorrect. If you slow down the accessories (on the S), you'll slow down the supercharger.