06 Cooper cranks but doesn't start

[durchland]

Hi,
my first post here in the forum and i desperately need some help!
For the last two weeks our 1st Gen Cooper doesn't start in the morning. I am starting the engine and it starts cranking. I pump the throttle and after quite some time i begin to smell some fuel.

After several attempts the engine will finally start to run. First a bit rough (i believe due to the excess fuel in the system) and then perfectly normal. I can then turn it off an on without any problem whatsoever. Since i hadn't have any track record of the previous servicing, i have sent it in and got all liquids in this car replaced, filters renewed and spark plugs replaced. The air filter and spark plugs were black and that's after 60k kilometers!

Anyhow: The problem with those intermittent start problems is still there. Does anyone here know what could be the problem? My mechanic siad he would start with checking/replacing this coil just in front of the spark plugs but he is only guessing as well.

Thanks in advance.

[The Nun]

Cant your mechanic plug it into his diagnostic machine and see what codes, if any, are shown? Good starting point.

[Macguyvic]

I had a similar situation that turned out to be the high pressure fuel pump. Unfortunately the code reader didn't pick this up. Momentum Mini de-coked, replaced 4 fuel injectors and the spark plugs before getting to the fuel pump.

[James burbidge]

I'm sure you can test the coil if it's bad.
If the car was really dirty have you tried putting redex in the fuel the injector one.
It can be loads of things get the battery tested, coil,
If you jump start it does it start?

[durchland]

Hi,
just a quick update what happened over the last week wednesday:
I brought the car to a workshop. They said: Leave it here over night, we need to see the problem first before we begin and replace parts.
So I did and they told me that every morning the engine fired up without problems. The only error code in the system was that the engine ran with cylinder no 3 off. That's exactly what's happening when I manage to start the engine, it runs rough until I turn it off and then back on.

They say it's not the battery bu suspect its the fuel pump or even fuel level meters. Does the latter one make sense?

Without the problem happening at the workshop they say they can't check the coil. I am leavin the car there now overnight and go in myself tomorrow morning. I can't believe it only happens when the car is at home!!!

One more thing: I have a feeling that the petrol consumption went up. It was anyway never the most fuel saving car but now it's bad. It used to be 11-12l/100km, now it's close to 14!