I've had this issue too...with my 2006.

 

I had it again Sat. Went from 75F Friday to 50F and damp on Saturday - the car sat for 24 hours and didn't want to start. A local NAM'er who was there with me told me to turn the ignition on but don't start it, to allow the fuel pump to pressurize before starting. Perhaps this is the issue - there's not enough fuel ready after sitting and the ECU sends the car into the other loop for emissions control.

I'm going to start doing this as a normal habit....giving it a three count before turning over. We'll see if the problem comes back.

 

according to mini your fuel should not drop below 3bar after sitting overnight. which it will do anyways. tried it on several cars. this will help slightly the stalling/no start concern. but the issue will still be present.

 

Hi there,

I have a 02 MCS that I bought last December.

It's had "problem 2" (needs two attempts to start after sitting up overnight or during work). Once started, it drives fine..no stalling...no obvious stumble.

Yesterday I brought the car to the dealer and they confirmed that there is a problem, but have suggested it is hardware related. They said there was a fault code indicating low fuel pressure at start-up and they are going to fit a new fuel pressure regulator.

We'll see what happens, but I'm not holding my breath.

BTW, something I noticed that sort of points to the problem being software rather that hardware related. I drive home from work, park the MCS, about 5 hours later I have to move it down the driveway (cold start problem occurs as expected). Then next morning the MCS starts first time.

I have never had the car start first time in the 4 months I've own it, but if I do the "driveway shuffle" the previous night, the next morning it will start first time.

This is telling me it couldn't be a hardware issue?


Cheers

 

I had this before, took it to the dealer for regular maintenance and it went away even though they said they didn't address it. It has been happening again for the past couple of months. It is daily, doesn't take longer than a work day to happen. I'm due for another maintenance so will see if it goes away again.

 

Mine is currently do this exact same thing....

 

Hi TampaMCS,

Your MCS has a lot of modifications (including the ECU ?). My MCS is bog standard. If we are both having the same problem (cold start), then it might be an outside cause such as the current petrol/gas formulas?

Cheers,

Dave

 

Actually, it could be hardware and would fit with what the dealer told you. I had that situation with my 190E Benz. It was bleed-down of the injector pump.

 

That's what I'm a bit worried about.

First they'll try the $150 fuel pressure regulator, then the injectors and fuel rail, then the fuel pump. I can see this being a very expensive exercise.

I've read a lot of threads and posts about "problem 2" (needs two attempts to start car) and there doesn''t seem to be a definitive cure. Some say that a SW upgrade has helped, but I can't see any posts mentioning that hardware part X fixed the problem.

 

I suppose my lack of knowledge about the MINI fuel injection system doesn't help my understanding of the possible causes.

Sure, the fuel pressure may be low (under 3bar) when trying to strt the car, but surely the fuel pump starts running when the ignition is turned and so will very quickly build up the pressure again whilst the motor is being turned over by the starter.

 

I don't know about the problem with MINIs, but with the Benz, once it bled down, it did not pressure up quickly.

 

Seeing as the supposed pressure loss occured over about 8 hours, it would seem unreasonable for the pump to build up the pressure in a couple of seconds ?? Or would it ??

 

Mine will stumble a little after I start it unless I turn the key to the ON position for 5 seconds, then start the car. My guess is the fuel pump starts and pressurizes the line. When I don't pause on the ON position, the engine starts but then is suddenly starved for fuel until the pressure builds. I have an 05 MCS.

 

HAVE AN '06 S CONVERTIBLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM COLD OR WARM WORSE IN WARM WEATHER 17800 MI. HAVE TAKEN ONCE TO UPDATE PROGRAM AT DEALER PROBLEM FIXED FOR ABOUT 1 MONTH. ALSO CAR NOW STALL'S WHEN TAKING OFF SOMETIMES ONLY WHEN STILL COLD.

 

A number of pages back, I posted that I had the problem of having to start my MINI twice. I should report that the problem is gone. Can't remember when it disappeared and I do not know why it's gone.

 

I just wanted to reiterate that this problem went away for me with little more than 2 cycles of Chevron Techron Fuel system cleaner (the big up to 20gallon bottle). I used it twice in a couple of fill ups over about a month's time (yah i dont get to drive that much). And I have yet to see this problem resurface. Give it a try, it's only $5 a bottle at Autozone and similar places. Plus I gained about 2-3mpg from it!

 

I just had this problem the last couple of days (number 2 where it requires two starts) I don't think it is related, but i normally fill up at a 76 but on sunday I filled up at a Chevron. It start stumbling the next day. If I hold the key longer when starting the car it kind chugs a little but it eventually maintains idle.

 

I to have this problem only in the morning. It used to be only on cold mornings but I'm in new mexico and it is about 50 in the AM. I have taken mine to the dealer once but the problem is back. 2004 cooper

 

I removed the Shrick - starts just fine again....

 

I've had the stalling on first attempt problem - it only seemed to have happened when the temperature changed drastically (20-30) overnight and it would then start up fine on the 2nd attempt. I have had it happen a couple of times after it had just been sitting for about 8 hours during the day too, but not recently... It's an 04 MCS w/a "hot air" intake and 15% reduced pulley. It did this before the mods too though...

Tim

 

It is amazing. What we should is and find a firm and sue BMW/MINI about this BS. This should be class-suit, how many people have gone from this? This is unacceptable. Japanese cars don't have problem with fuel/temperature/weather; Hondas, they just work.

BritishGuy

(I am going to be "RiceBoy" soon if I don't get some help on this.)

 

nah....my Subaru did this too. It's a fuel pressure thing. This happened to me with the MINI again this morning. It sputtered.....I shut it off immediately. Turned the key to ACC, let the pressure build, started fine and ran like normal (which is the opposite of what happens if I just try to let it go after sputtering).

 

This morning, I had a similar, but not the same, kind of problem. Temp dropped about 20 degrees overnight and it had rained. Started my MINI fine. I then searched through my CDs to find something to put on and the car stalled. I restarted it fine, but felt a slight roughness at a stop sign about a mile from home. I don't know if it's a one-time thing or a MINI thing, but unlike many MINI enthusiasts, I am not willing to put up with malfunctions as a standard and expected part of MINI ownership.

 

For me, this happens only with the auto AC on. When the compressor fires up (a couple of seconds after starting the car), the car stumbles to where it almost stalls. A slight tap on the gas at this point keeps it happy.

 

... that was well put and, well founded...