My Mini runs great especially after installing a Sprint booster, my problem is and has always been accelerating from a complete stop. If I floor the pedal it is slow to get up and go, once I get the rpm's up she moves pretty darn good. It feels like it is starving for air or perhaps the electronic throttle plate opens very slowly.

I have owned the car or about five years and do keep the car tuned up and have had the injectors cleaned. I did install a cold air intake and do keep the filter clean. New tires are properly inflated, trans seems to shift properly especially with the sprint booster. I have not replaced the timing chain yet.

I am the second owner, the previous owner had all her work done by the dealer. It has just over 100,00 miles on it, I replaced the fuel filter this weekend but it did not do much in the way of performance.

I do not believe this is how it performed when it was new, it is a safety concern of mine. I always fear that I could be hit from behind after making a right turn with traffic.

HELP HELP HELP!

 

Hello,


Have you cleaned the throttle body ? I would do that first, it might be sticking. Have you have EP error come up on the transmission display ?

 

I did when I first got the car, since I have put about 25K miles on it but do keep up with injector cleaning and fuel additives. I did not notice a difference when I first cleaned the throttle body but I can try it again. I don't drive it much but did this morning, It feels like perhaps the timing chain is either off a tooth or just a bit worn not giving me the throttle response I believe it should have. The correct mileage is 113,450, again to my knowledge the timing chain has never been serviced.

No transmission code either.

 

The timing chains are not the issue on Gen 1 MINIs for that ( you would here the timing chain slap or chatter), nor skip , if it did you would have major issues. Most of the time its the throttle body, pedal unit ( which throws a code) or the CVT has a issue and slipping. Do the throttle body first and see what the response is.

 

10 4 thanks, keep you posted.

 

Timing chains are not an issue on the gen1 cars....they are pretty much a lifetime (till rebuilding the motor) item....
If you hear a timing chain diesel type noise...then the tensioner for it, a 15 minute job, needs to be done before damage occurs.

The elephant in the room for non-supercharged gen1 auto cars is the CVT transmission....
Treated nice, with regular fluid changes some last a bit....but 75,000 miles seems to be their typical life....the metal chain in them wears....and gets the car stuck in a set "gear" or ratio, or fails entirely with chain parts filling the pan....so.etimes the cones that controls the chains wears....
I hope it not a CVT issue....
Does you have "EP" displayed on the odometer or any check engine lights?

 

No codes, the transmission seems to be shifting fine.

 

Poor acceleration is a trait of the CVT transmission, your car is running fine.

But a CVT replacement will always be looming on the horizon.