1st Gen R50 Cooper Most liked posts in thread: Urgent help needed!

I love you but I hate you relationship! haha ah yes with everything I've only the short block is original. I changed the key, crank sensor and now the fault is gone. No popping at 3000. This has to be the strangest fault ever or maybe I'm the strange one!

As much as I liked posting all the issues and receiving the advice I'm glad it's over. Thanks to everyone who helped and stuck with me.

Time to watch the Monte!

 

Alex: answered in the Projects section.

I feel a void in my life....I have been 2 weeks without researching misfires...LOL

 

2 developments. the fuel we had tested positive for water contamination and the Insurance guy is going to see the Mini today with my co-driver. We might have a strong case brewing here.

 

My ugly sweater !

 

My worse fears came true! the ECU checked out fine. They sent me a video of my ECU on their donor Mini, they have the video showing the RPM at 3000 to 4000 rpm with no issues for about 3 minutes. Which means the problem was not ECU related. Leaving me with a nasty thought that they just charged me for fixing nothing! No No folks don't do that do they?

Anyway now I'm faced with an issue that is going to be a bugger to find! I hope the engine harness or crank sensor are the answer. Next week we shall see. Stay tuned folks for another excited series of "WTF is wrong with my engine"

 

Nothing like a few days off work to read up on other potential misfire issues. I keep thinking why would changing the shorter V belt for a longer one narrow the misfire range? Then I thought maybe the shorter V belt put a strain on the harmonic balancer causing vibration that the sensors pick up. See an article I found and an section from it.

Diagnostic Dilemmas: The Misfire Code As a Symptom

During the inevitable research involved in a case like this, I recalled a Nissan Pathfinder with a loose harmonic balancer that caused a similar false misfire coding problem. In addition, I discovered anecdotal evidence that rare factors like serpentine belts with an over-lapped splice and the occasional rough defective timing belt would cause timing deflections that might be mistaken by the PCM as an engine misfire.

I did notice the rubber on the balancer looked tired so maybe the outer part has slipped causing vibration? looking at what I've changed the issue has to be something weird.

I got the word that the battery checked out fine so the above could be a valid theory.

 

Hahaha I remember those cars...ugly! I tried the key at lunch and now the engine fire the first turn and not forever cranking. With the Duff key maybe the EWS was searching the coding? 1 issue less.....this is becoming fun again. LOL

 

The latest email! Looks like the problem is found but I've no idea how this happened.

Car Make
Mini
Car Model
Cooper - R50
Car Year
2004
Car Transmission
Manual
ECU Manufacturer's #
S118012001 N
PO Number *
6231
Technician's Test & Inspection Diagnostic: *
After testing the unit, it was found to be defective.
What is defective?
ECU/DME is defective
Defects found on the ECU/DME: *
Other...
Other defects on the ECU/DME...
We tested the ECU in our tester vehicle and found misfiring and rough running after the car is revved over 3000 RPM .
Defective Unit Recommendations: *
The unit needs to be rebuilt.

 

Didn't see this one coming. Seems the Way Motors tune was corrupted which is strange as its been in since 2012, so they put the factory tune in. I'm not sure what affect a standard tune will have on the performance. most likely none..hahaha

Car Make
Mini
Car Model
Cooper - R50
Car Year
2004
Car Transmission
Manual
ECU Manufacturer's #
S118012001 N
PO Number
6231
Repairs done to the Unit:
Other...
Other repairs done to the ECU...
First we found a defective Physical memorie that was getting too hot and will make the unit fail , we replace it and found same problem , we uploaded a Factory software file and cured the problem .
The unit is fixed but does not contain the Tuned file anymore as it was corrupted .
Service Charges:
ECU rebuilt
5 year warranty
Technician follow-up recommendations:
Everything tested OK. Plug & Play.
ID
7184

 

Tmap sensor is not available from Mini CR,a 1 month wait, the local used Mini parts want $75 for a used one. Or Eminiparts to the rescue for the same price new plus shipping. Lucky for me an engineer is coming to CR on Wednesday......so this could be the day! The day Mini is back!

 

My money is on the chain. I bloody hope so as this so called fun Mini is like the black hole for time and money! it will be all worth it and forgotten when I'm back on the road!