My MINI won't start...sometimes
 

I go out in the garage about 6:00 p.m. and get in my 03 MCS and it will not start! Acts just like the coil wire is out of the coil. Take my wife car and come back in about 2/3 hours and my MINI fires right up like no problem.

Next day same time same thing except when I get back it will not start. Try the next morning -- fires right up.

Last night won't start again try an hour later won't start. This am go out and it starts right up?

Haven't had time to check falt codes yet. New plugs on order and looking at replacing coil pack.

Anyone have this problem???

I had the same problem on a Chrysler years ago and dealer or anyone else could not find the problem so I got rid of the car! I AM NOT GETTING RID OF MY MINI!!!!

Any help?

Here are my mods:

ALTA PULLEY, ALTA INTAKE, THROTTLE BODY, PLUGS, WIRES, COIL PACK, SSR COMP WHEELS, MILLTECK HEADERS, MILLTECK SPORT CATBACK, H-SPORT LOWERING SPRINGS, P/S FAN COVER, H-SPORT REAR SWAY BAR, H-SPORT CONTROL ARMS, UNICHIP ECU, WEBB’s STAGE ONE BRAKES, AUTO UP WINDOWS, VOICE OPERATED GPS SYSTEM, M7 OIL CATCH CAN, UPPER AND MID GRILLS, ALTA SHORT SHIFTER,WHALEN SHIFT KNOB, DRIVER’S KNEE PAD, ALTA INTERCOOLER DIVERTER, ESCORT PASSPORT 8500 X50 BLUE, RACING DYNAMICS STRUT BRACE, AUTOMATIC GARAGE DOOR OPENER, LICENSE PLATE BRACKET, DOOR HOLE PLUGS.

And I have a little over 90,000 miles

Thanks for any help

Earl

Wow... I did not know you were havig trouble.. But I do now :-)

A few things that come to mind.
Check the battery voltage? - look at the battery and see if the "green eye" is bright or not glowing..
I have a new code reader on the way that should read the fault codes (if any) and a few other OBD parameter..

Have you had the battery replaced? I think there was a "recall" on early MINI batteries...

The other thing might be a little "friend" nibbling on wires. But that would cause it to go out and stay out..

Lets keep talking...
Blair

Earl, last weekend, while on a club run, my car refused to even turn over. Nothing. I clutch started it to get home and it was misbehaving all the way.
Turns out the battery needed replacing (done under warranty). I'm at 34000 miles and coming up on 4 years in October.

ARGO,

Mine cranks strong, just like if you pull the coil wire out, but just won't start. Going to check it out tonight. A friend has a code reader. I'm sure (:confused: :confused: ) it's not the battery as it just turns over too strong.

Earl

Have you counted the spark plugs? :lol:

Oh yeah, mine blew out on the way to AMVIV II, so I know they are there. The funny (:cry: ) thing is it runs fine once started, just sometimes won't start, come back later and it starts right up. :confused: :confused:

Earl

Yeah, I remember you having to get rides at AMVIV 2. That's why I said that. :lol:

Maybe you need more black on the car?

here in the Northeast, there have been numerous threads about the effect of ethanol now being added to gas.These have been mostly about the car not starting on the first turn of the key, but usually always on the second, but then running like sheeot for the first couple of minutes.The ethanol, it seems has an attraction for any moisture including condensation in the tank at the gas station or your car.The resulting cocktail of water and ethanol is heavier than the rest of the gas in the tank and subsequently sinks to the bottom of the tank and becomes the first thing your motor sees when first starting up.Don't know if this is your problem, but gives pause for thought.

The "bodge" fix for water in the petrol on old cars was to throw some methylated spirits in the tank. The metho chemically bonds to the water and burns just as well as petrol. I've since discovered that the US calls metho "denatured alcohol".

I used to use meth. spirits to start my primus stove.How much would you recommend adding to gas tank ? added when filled up? who's "Bodge" :confused:

A bodge is a "bush remedy" or maybe something your granddad told you. The mechanics at the dealership would be horrified but it gets you out of trouble. Like using a pair of pantyhose as an emergency fanbelt, or an egg as an emergency radiator sealant.

I had a classic Mini with a full tank (a whopping 4 gallons or so) from a petrol station that had water in their tank. I used maybe a half a cup or so of metho and the car stopped coughing and spluttering immediately.

I'm not sure that "Remedy" and "Bush" belong in the same sentence, but hey , they deep sixed the politics forum on this site a long time ago, so I guess I shouldn't go there , huh? :roll:

I actually googled "Bodge fix" and came up with quite alot of definitions.My favorite involved the use of Duct tape for things that needed sticking together and wd-40 for things that shouldn't be stuck together :lol: .There seemed also to be a direct correlation to a word called "kludge"

I meant bush remedy in the Aussie sense - something that you wouldn't do in the city, or if you had the correct part, but it will get you out of trouble.

Yes, I've seen the theory that a complete tool kit only needs duct tape and wd40 before. A "kludge" is a programming concept. It's a "quick and dirty" piece of code to temporarily fix an error, that usually never gets replaced with the correct, "elegant" solution.

This is exactly what my 05 Mini is doing. Any solutions?