I have an 09 JCW with a small list of modifications. I took it to the dealer to help with a loss of power code p2884. No-one can seem to tell me how to diagnose or solve this issue. I can clear the code and car drives fine until it throws the code and engine goes to half power. Any suggestions? Car only has 30,000.

 

"No one can seem to tell me".... Did you research anything yourself yet, or just ask people frantically?

A quick google search yielded info that the P2884 code is telling you that the pressure the turbo is providing is not what the computer is demanding.

This leads me to believe it could be a wastegate failure or other turbo part failure.

Possible a boost leak. Check all your hoses and couplers.

Could also be the recirculating valve is sticking open or letting pressure by when the computer is not demanding it to be open.

There are a few variables that could cause that code, but I'm reading of a lot of wastegate failures causing it.

The fact that the car drives normal after resetting the code tells me it's most likely not the wastegate, but more likely a slow boost leak.

With only 30K miles, I would be inclined to say the wastegate and turbo are OK, but the over all maintenance of the car (specifically frequency of oil changes and checking the oil level) could cause a premature failure.

 

A quote for you to keep in mind when diagnosing it with a failed wastegate:
"There are several things that need to be checked for this code, but in most cases we are unfortunately finding that the turbo has failed. Due to extreme heat in the turbo, the waste gate system is malfunctioning and causing the turbo pressure to divert before it reaches its full boost pressure. Most cars act fine under standard driving conditions, but as soon as the car sees a load condition like climbing a steep hill or overtaking on the freeway, the car will go into limp mode."

 

Thanks for the response. Sorry i didnt see much online or in this forum for a P2884 CODE. I am hoping for a boost leak. I am going to have a smoke test / boost leak test done. The mini dealership i took it to couldn't preform this test which i thought was crazy. They said they checked the waste gate and it seemed fine. Not positive if they knew exactly what they were doing. I was worried that i took the car to a dealership and they admitted they couldn't fix the issue.

 

How did they "check the wastegate" and it seemed fine? the waste gate is internal to the turbo. If they didn't drive it and note how it reacted then I don't know what they checked.

You should do a quick inspection of all hoses and couplers under the hood. If everything is unbroken and tight, clear your code and instead of putting miles on it to see how LONG it takes for the code to come back. Do a hard load test. Find a small hill, be in a gear that would have you at about 2000RPM and put the gas pedal to the floor. If you suddenly lose power and throw a code, there's a very good chance it's the wastegate.

 

There is a way to test the waste gate. You use a manual vacuum pump and bypass the cars vacuum system. I don't recall the correct vacuum amount to control the wastegate, but anyway you hold the wastegate closed manually and drive the car. If under hard acceleration the wastegate opens an you lose power then that is the test.

When it comes to these boost relate p-codes there is a whole series of parts that can be involved.

First question is are you under warranty? If so, let them sort it out cause it is time consuming to step thru all these things.

Here are the things I went thru for mine.

• Smoke test. Dealer performed. replaced valve cover and gasket. No fix
• Sensors. MAP and MAF. No fix.
• Test vaccum lines. No fix
• manual vacuum of recirc valve and wastegate actuator. no fix
• Back pressure test of Cat Converter. Posted 1.5 - 2.0 PSI. Not a good sign. Indicates clogging in Cat. Probably from oil.
• Pull top O2 sensor. Insert flexible snake inspection camera. Manually vacuum the waste gate. See how it works.
• Pull the turbo and inspect.
• Replace the turbo.
• Drive Happy

Mine is also is an 09 but I got 100,000 miles out of my turbo. My wastegate failed. I bought a replacement turbo exhaust housing. It is a borg warner turbo. You can buy just the housing. Just not from MINI. Once I pulled the turbo I realized the turbine seals were bad and had to replace the whole unit.

Here is a video I made of my waste gate.This is not how one should operate. The gate should be one piece, not the 2 floating discs you see. I was not able to get a good seal with this.

 

So If the wastgate is bad. Im replacing the whole turbo? If so what should this run and should i go with an upgraded turbo?

 

anywhere from 800-1500 depending on upgrades or stock, new or rebuilt etc.

 

I am also experiencing P2884. The code reads "charge pressure control MAX"… so, am I correct in reading this to mean:

Charge Pressure = the air on the intake side of the turbo
Control max = the ECU is reading pressure higher than it wants

I can cause the code to be thrown by driving in a higher gear, and accelerating (adding load/boost/pressure) and then lifting off. This would tell me there is an issue with the boost being released. If the issue was on the exhaust side, would I be getting a different code?

Here's my thinking:
1. Its not a vacuum thing, or a leak as my issue is with pressure ABOVE what's expected
2. Are there issues where a BOV (diverter) sticks? or is the primary issue with the BOV that it "leaks" and makes it harder to build boost>
3. I note that there are issues with "sticky waste gates". Would a waste gate that sticks (closed) cause a P2884 (error due to too much boost)

last, any advice on how to confirm 2 (in the scenario where it does not release boost vs just leaks boost) and 3 would be appreciated

 

hey guys any updates how to fix it?i have same issue :/