2001 Cooper Power Loss

[SamHarrison]

Ok here goes...

I have only owned my cooper for 7 months, i bought it 3rd hand off my friend.
After having spent over £2k on it getting things repaired and upgraded (brakes exhaust lights tyres clutch gear box etc) and having the displeasure of being car-jacked and then getting the car back (unharmed) i thought i could finally start to enjoy my mini....AS IF


It had been having a few problems starting with it turning over on first attempt but not firring up then starting as soon as the key was turned on the 2nd attempt

The other day i was driving it in some very slow moving traffic and came to a stop... the car cut out like i had stalled it (i don't stall cars)... i started it again and was left with a warning light and reduced power, no matter how much i put my foot down.
Read the owners book and it said that i have an electrical fault and i will be able to drive at a reduced power. on the way home the tyre indicator light came on too.
The next morning i started the car and it started first time.. drove it to the station and it drove better than ever before...that night coming home i was doing 40mph and then entered a 70mph zone.. went to put my foot down and the light came on and the power reduced immediately... instead of 115bhp it's more like 15bhp and if i dip the clutch and floor it the revs just do not climb at all...

Things to consider
I have just topped up the oil
I had just filled up with Super unleaded 99 octane (although i have used this fuel before with no problems)
The exhaust tail pipe is jet black after i had recently cleaned it as the car was used in a magazine photo shoot

Any ideas people??

Sam

[crooksm]

It's either down to the ECU or throttle housing (control) - I would do some digging around on this board as this problem has been discussed many times before.

I don't think any of your recent work will have caused this - my (limited) understanding is that this reduced power is a protection mechanism as the ECU no longer 'believes' the settings sent to it by the accellerator .

I had this problem three months into owning my September 2002 model - both parts needed replacing under warranty (haven't had any problems since - and sold it on 55,000 miles).