OK I miss my car. Please forgive me if this question has been posted. But I am stumped and so is the garage that is working on my car; so they say.

Took car to an independent shop to get timing chain repaired. They repaired it and changed oil. Timing chain was not replaced or taken off of sprockets. Got the car back and it had no power taking off, NONE. I could probably have pushed it faster. Took it back to them after a couple of frustrating days. The replaced the intake cam sensor, got car back still the same....I probably caused that code to pop up, while trying to find vacuum leaks...so my bad there.

Called shop up and told them that my car still was not running right, and said that when I had a chance I would bring car back to them. In the main time I am back under the hood and on forums trying to trouble shoot car. no luck cant find any hoses loose or anything.

Day before I take the car back to them I start hearing a hissing sound from under the hood. From the valve cover on right hand side ( while sitting in car). This is where the PCV hose is attached. so when I take car in I point it to them. Engine has enough vacuum on it that it is difficult to remove the oil fill cap. The inde shop orders a new crankcase vent valve thinking that is the problem. The shop ordered part from dealer after giving them my VIN #. Mechanics say it is the wrong part and last time I talked to them they where scratching there heads.

I want my car back, any advice for me and shop working on would be appreciated.

Any DIYer's out there that could help me please feel free to chime in.

 

What year MINI and is it, a Cooper or a Cooper S? You should put the year and model of your car in your signature, to avoid confusion

The PCV valve is integral with the head cover on an S, so that would mean changing the head cover, not just a PCV valve, if it is a Cooper S.

Dave

 

Thanks Dave
Its an 07 MCS. I will add to my sig. Hope that solves my problem, I will call the shop tomorrow and tell them it is integrated in to valve cover....good shop. But mine is first Turbo cooper they have worked on..

 

Dave

I noticed in your sig, you brag about being a gifted shade tree mechanic. I have a question for you. Could timing being off a little have missed up my PCV valve. Reason I am asking because you responded to a thread I started and told me that the PCV valve is built into the head cover.

 

It is likely that they changed the valve timing if they were working on the timing chain. There is a special factory tool that is needed to lock the camshafts together, to prevent unintentional valve timing changes, when working on the timing chain.

The high vacuum on the crankcase is an unusual occurrence, incorrect valve timing could explain it.

What exactly did they do? What was wrong and how did they "repair" the timing chain without replacing it or taking it off of the sprockets?

Dave

 

They replaced the timing guide rail, it was broken and timing chain tensioner, I was told by the shop owner that when they had valve cover gasket off they felt the chain and was not much give in it. He told me that there should not have been enough play in it to jump timing.

After the shop replaced the head cover car is still running poorly, head mechanic said that all they can do now is check the timing, which he is probably wishing they did in the first place.

 

Good news now. Got Zana doom back last week and she is running great. Some how the timing got off. Shop didnt charge me as much for it since they should have checked it the first time.