Engine cuts out intermittently while driving!

[Flangemonger]

Hi folks, I have a 2002 Cooper and yesterday it started to misbehave on the way home. When travelling along on light throttle, when I pressed the accelerator the car hesitated for several seconds before accelerating. (This was PARTICULARLY fun when it happened while I was overtaking something... just as well it was on a climbing lane rather then when I was on the other side of the road!)

Out of curiosity, I pressed the clutch while it was hesitating, and discovered that the engine isn't just stuttering- it's actually cutting out COMPLETELY when this happens. The reason it accelerates again after a few seconds is because the car's momentum is actually push-starting the car!

Unfortunately I have no explanation yet for why this is happening, so I beg any readers- do you know why the engine would cut out while driving? I did some experimenting while it was happening, and it seems to happen at a particular point in the accelerator pedal's travel (pushed about 2/3 way down). Now I don't know if that's just a coincidence, but I thought I'd mention it. Any pointers greatly appreciated!!

In the interests of full disclosure: the car has a history of spluttering a bit (but does not cut out) when accelerating while cold. But it was fully up to temperature when this cutting-out behaviour began last night.
It also has a history of the engine cutting out immediately after starting, when the engine is warm. But as it always started on the second attempt, and only happened when stationary, this wasn't a big issue.

[kingjayson1]

Hi,

Seem to be having the same problem, did you find out what was wrong with it?

Thanks

[minicoopers53]

The car is probably going to need a diagnostic check doing on it, it could be a number of things including a faulty pedal best to take it to a local garage or a dealer to have it checked.

[Flangemonger]

Hi Kingjayson1,

On my car, the problem turned out to be fuel starvation. The filter on the end of the fuel intake pipe in the petrol tank had fallen off- they found it lying in the bottom of the tank. So when I put my foot down, the sudden increase in suction would suck a passing piece of crud up against the pipe, blocking it. Then when the engine cut out, the suction would cease and the piece of crud would fall away again, allowing the engine to restart.

EDIT: This next paragraph was proven incorrect re: accessing the intake pipe and filter. It's still accurate if you ever need a tank strap changed though!
I'd advise taking it to the garage to get it sorted, rather than doing it yourself. So far as I know, you have to drop the fuel tank to get at the intake pipe and filter (no handy access hatch under the rear seat, hoooo no that'd be way too sensible). And to drop the tank, you have to drop the exhaust and its shielding. And the bolts that hold the tank strap onto the chassis? The nuts they screw up into (the ones built into the chassis) can come loose and spin, leaving you in a world of pain. I know this because it happened to the poor garageman I left it with!

Hope this helps.

PS The spluttering while cold and the cutting out immediately after a warm start are still present, so they're not related to fuel starvation.

[silverous]

Isn't it called BMW Efficient Dynamics or something ? Sorry, couldn't resist ;-)

[minicoopers53]

Quote: Originally Posted by Flangemonger (original)

Hi Kingjayson1,

On my car, the problem turned out to be fuel starvation. The filter on the end of the fuel intake pipe in the petrol tank had fallen off- they found it lying in the bottom of the tank. So when I put my foot down, the sudden increase in suction would suck a passing piece of crud up against the pipe, blocking it. Then when the engine cut out, the suction would cease and the piece of crud would fall away again, allowing the engine to restart.

I'd advise taking it to the garage to get it sorted, rather than doing it yourself. So far as I know, you have to drop the fuel tank to get at the intake pipe and filter (no handy access hatch under the rear seat, hoooo no that'd be way too sensible). And to drop the tank, you have to drop the exhaust and its shielding. And the bolts that hold the tank strap onto the chassis? The nuts they screw up into (the ones built into the chassis) can come loose and spin, leaving you in a world of pain. I know this because it happened to the poor garageman I left it with!

Hope this helps.

PS The spluttering while cold and the cutting out immediately after a warm start are still present, so they're not related to fuel starvation.

Beg to differ but you can gain access to the fuel tank under the back seats. Lift lower section of rear seat out to reveal 2 access panels (round black plates) undo the nuts and remove plate revealing the top of the fuel pumps. There is a metal ring securing these pumps into the tank, unscrew the ring and unplug the wiring hey presto you can lift out pump and get into the tank.

[Flangemonger]

Thanks Minicoopers53, I stand corrected so. I had never actually looked; I had just heard that the 'fuel filter' on petrol models was hard to get to, on account of they don't expect it to ever need replacing.

The reason my garageman had the pain of working on the tank, was that he was replacing the steel strap that secures it to the chassis. Even though we use less salt on the roads here (Ireland) than you lot, the original strap was almost completely rusted away. I'd been half expecting the tank to fall out when I hit a bump some day

[Flangemonger]

Silverous, Efficient Dynamics includes a stop/start system. Whereas MY car currently has a stop/start/stop/START DAMMIT/stop/Oh FFS QUIT P!$$ING ABOUT, WILLYA?!/start system.

[shades of jae]

hi

I had this problem too, i actually had a lot of problems that would make a very long list.
I took my mini one d to the dealer to sort this out and they told me it was due to filthy fuel. They poored some diesel additive in the car and send me running again. The car would still drop out every now and then.
After some testing of my own i figuered out that it was indeed the fuel: My regular fuelstation changed from esso to total. Not that i think total fuel is "dirty" but it seems my old mini doesnt like the excellium fuel they have.
I found myself a new esso station and gone where all my problems.
At least the ones with engen dropping out.

[dotedbitsh]

hi
seem to be having the same problem.
past few mornings my mini one 02 has started no bother (despite the cold) but then after driving for about a minute the engine cuts out.
most mornings i can catch it by hitting the accelerator but this morning it totally died.
it also resets my fuel dial ???

any ideas as to what it might be?

thanks

[flowersk]

Quote: Originally Posted by Flangemonger (original)

Hi folks, I have a 2002 Cooper and yesterday it started to misbehave on the way home. When travelling along on light throttle, when I pressed the accelerator the car hesitated for several seconds before accelerating. (This was PARTICULARLY fun when it happened while I was overtaking something... just as well it was on a climbing lane rather then when I was on the other side of the road!)

Out of curiosity, I pressed the clutch while it was hesitating, and discovered that the engine isn't just stuttering- it's actually cutting out COMPLETELY when this happens. The reason it accelerates again after a few seconds is because the car's momentum is actually push-starting the car!

Unfortunately I have no explanation yet for why this is happening, so I beg any readers- do you know why the engine would cut out while driving? I did some experimenting while it was happening, and it seems to happen at a particular point in the accelerator pedal's travel (pushed about 2/3 way down). Now I don't know if that's just a coincidence, but I thought I'd mention it. Any pointers greatly appreciated!!

In the interests of full disclosure: the car has a history of spluttering a bit (but does not cut out) when accelerating while cold. But it was fully up to temperature when this cutting-out behaviour began last night.
It also has a history of the engine cutting out immediately after starting, when the engine is warm. But as it always started on the second attempt, and only happened when stationary, this wasn't a big issue.

Hi there, had the same problem with a mini I had just bought second hand. It would cut out intermittantly particularly when you were slowing down and changing down gears. Revs would just drop from 1000 RPM to nothing. After sitting at mini service department for two weeks (refused to take it back until fixed) they found out that it was a dirty idler valve. Once cleaned everything is fine now!