Start-Stop Activating Whilst Driving

[tomm.x]

I know I haven't posted before but I'm having a problem with my '58 Mini One & really need some advice.

The problem started a couple of months ago, as I was pulling off a dual carriageway, uphill, the engine cut out - and the car effectively lost all power. The 'Stop/Start' symbol was displayed as it does when it's activated as normal. I had to come to a complete stop, and re-start the car. It was fine for a couple of days, then on another journey every time I braked or changed down a gear the same thing happened - the engine turned off. Meaning I was having to constantly re-start the car.

The car went to a local garage who did a diagnostic test, and said that it was poor quality fuel (I was using Tesco Unleaded at the time). Since then I have used Shell V-power Unleaded and it had been fine for around a month. This morning however whilst travelling at a fairly constant speed of around 50mph, I wasn't braking/changing down a gear, just driving - the stop/start symbol was displayed, and the engine made a noise as though it cut out but re-started its self, I pulled onto a side road, turned off the car, and it wouldn't re-start at all, the revs would reach 1000 and immediately drop to 0. Turned the car off for 10 minutes, and it was fine...

I'm really concerned this is going to cause an accident with the engine just turning off as and when it pleases! Has anyone else had any similar problems? Or any advice on what it could be? Really don't want to take it to Mini for them to charge me a fortune!

[RABID MONGOOSE]

Suggest you get it into mini and pay the money
Not worth your life for a few extra pounds.
Is car still under warrenty?
Suggest in the meantime you try switching it off before every journey.

[tomm.x]

Quote: Originally Posted by RABID MONGOOSE (original)

Suggest you get it into mini and pay the money
Not worth your life for a few extra pounds.
Is car still under warrenty?
Suggest in the meantime you try switching it off before every journey.

True, might give them a call and see what they say. Unfortunately the warranty expired at the beginning of september. Thanks, tried turning the stop/start off but this didn't make a difference...

[fabster]

I had something similar on mine - it suffered engine failure which was in the garage for weeks being repaired as they couldn't recreate the fault when they were driving it around. I would drive along motorway speeds and suddenly the acceleration would fail, the S/S light come on. Stopping at motorway services for 30mins every time seemed to prevent the problem recurring each time, as did cruise control.

Mine was under warranty though - You deffo need it sorted - the trouble will be in diagnosing this properly if it is an intermittent problem. Good luck though, hope it gets sorted.

In terms of warranty: I would present to them that this problem shouldn't be happening in the first place as this is dangerous and an 08 car shouldn't be failing like this. If you get no joy from dealer, take it up further with MINI HQ.

Keep us up to date though, good luck

[Mattstorm]

It is not your stop/start activating which is the problem. All bmw's with stop start basically go into a semi off state when stalled rather than completely off like most cars, this means you can restart the car by touching the clutch when if you stall it where with most cars yuu have to take the key out, re-insert and go through normal starting procedures. My 3 series when stalled occasionally went into the same mode and displayed the symbol, I then realised thats its a clever function so you don't have to mess about restarting if you ever stall it (which we all do very occasionally). My Mini also behaves in this manner.

The problem you have is that your engine for some resean is cutting out and just like if you stalled it, its going into the same semi off state (where car is on but engine off) and therefore displays the symbol.

Sounds more like a cam shaft sensor problem or lack of fuel / fuel mixture problem. I'm afraid you need Mini to look at it to diagnose it. Most independants don't have the software needed and can look at it and say there is no problem where Mini will see the issue. And no I don't work for them, just lots of experience with faulty cars.

Good Luck!

[Cooper S Jon]

sounds very much like a sensor is starting to fail maybe crank postioning,

corsa's had this issue where when the engine was hot the car just wouldn't start,leave it for a 10-20 mins it would start back up,problem was cps.

am not saying your having the same problem, definately sounds similar..

[tomm.x]

The car's been into Wollaston Mini today, turns out one of the 'inlet solenoid valves' had gone, or something along those lines! Wasn't as expensive as I was expecting either! So the problem should be sorted now.

[Soft -in -the-head]

Glad to hear that you got it sorted and it didn't hurt your Christmas presy money too much