I'm having some trouble with my mcs and need some baseline numbers to compare to. If you have pda or similar scan tool I would appreciate it if you could tell me what you are seeing for "calculated engine load" at idle. It will only take a second and would be a big help.
Thanks

 

If you are close by. I know friends with those scan tools..

 

I have one. I need numbers from other cars to compare with. I don't want to base my diagnostic path on numbers that may be normal. THanks for the offer though.

 

Give me a couple moments to run out and hook it up.


Back shortly!

-Carl

 

Calculated Load was 34 @ 800 rpm idling (2005 MCS w/ JCW)
Auto Enginuity PC scan tool

 

Thanks. That's what I'm getting. 34% load at idle seemed high to me. I tried some bmw's at work and got less than 10% so I thought that was a lead. I guess not. I ran through all the vacuum connections and gaskets and replaced the map sensor. I didn't see an Immediate change in the load calc. I may need to drive it and check it again.

For those that are into this stuff,
I noticed my mcs's drivability swinging. It would feel great than like a dog with flat spots and a general lack of response. I started getting p0171 lean running and p1237 map sensor values codes. I could feel that the car was "off" and these codes were on deck and had not yet set off the light. Just before it got bad, I noticed the fuel trims go from 1.6 to 2.5 to 4 to 5, 6 and now at 7%. I suspect a bad sensor or leak somewhere as this sounds like an unmetered air situation. I can read the values from the t-map, but not the map sensor, so when I saw what I thought were wierd load calcs I bought the map sensor. I will go drive it and see if it helps. If anyone has any thoughts or experience with this, please share. I do this all day at work and don't really feel like doing it on my own time in the hot garage.
Thanks for your thoughts.

A special thanks to finalstatic for answering back so quickly.

 

I'll check mine today. My copy of AutoEnginuity should be delivered.

When you got the load at idle was there anything else on in the car? Like AC or something that might cause a heavier idle load. I'm not entirely sure, but couldn't something like that cause a heavier load?

 

34.1% calc load @ 788 rpm

 

Yes, all other loads are off. It looks like 34% is normal. I went over all the connections and gaskets and swap the map sensor. I did find the throttle gasket had blow by oil on it and possibly leaking. The intercooler boots were spitting out oil too. It looked like they were leaking. It seems to be running better now and the fuel trims have drop down to 5%. Hopefully that's it and they will get back to normal. Anyone know if alta sells thier intercooler boots seperately? Thanks again for the responses.

 

You are quite welcome!

On a related note, Autoenginuity will be releasing BMW/MINI specific support add-ons to allow us to get at more information than is provided now, more sensors etc. I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with! I was told it will be an additional $99 to get the model specific support stuff.

 

Okay, my software came, I loaded it and took a reading.

the load seems to fluxuate from around 29% to 34% at an RPM from about 740-800.

 

Thanks again everyone. I think I have it figured out. After trying all the usuall stuff the car still ran like a dog. The only change I have made was a new battery after the old one died the other day. In my hury to get the car on the road I didn't clean the battery terminals. I gave it a shot and sure enough the car runs great again. Hopefully that was it.