I have a 2011 Mini hardtop (base model). 69,000 miles. I love my little "Chili" however. Northern IL and these cold days do not love my car. We have had a cold snap of 0 degree with negative wind chills of -22 for the last several days. I am having a rough start in the mornings, but once she warms up she runs great. One time I started it at night leaving from work and she wouldnt start. Finally after the 4th try she turned over and the check engine light came on, but once she was running it went off, and didnt come back on. The next morning started her up and it was a rough idle for a few seconds with the check engine light coming on and the off, and it did this a few times, once I started driving and she warmed up it was off and stayed off. Weekend goes by and no trouble. This morning after a -18 degree night. I started her. The engine turned over and i left her warming up and came out to the car to leave for work and check engine light was on, and has now stayed on. HELP!!!! I have two shops I can take it to in town, that can put it on the computer, but it its mini code the shops can not read them. I live 2 hours away from a mini dealer and I do not want to take it there. It is still the original battery, so I know it needs replaced, but is it a battery issue? The car starts fine when its 20 degrees or warmer out.
Feed back Please!!!!!!!

 

Too many options of what the problem is to diagnose it without codes. You'll have to find an Indy shop that can read manufacturer codes and further help you diagnose the issue.

Could be anything from: Ice in the intake, spark plugs, failing thermostat, another leak in the cooling system allowing an air pocket to develop near the temp sensor, etc.

Yes, it could need a battery, but in those temps a faulty battery would almost indefinitely not start the car.

 

Indy Shop? I dont think we have those in IL. I was also thinking a few on those things you listed above as well.

 

If you don't want to invest in a scan tool that can pull codes like this one here for yourself then I'd recommend using this website HERE to help search for MINI indy shops in your area. As stated, you'll want to pull the codes to help give you a better idea of what is going on with your MINI.

 

When its very cold out this problem pops up with the intake and the throttle body freeze issue. Seen it on the S , but not much on the Cooper ( NON S ). Might be worth to check the throttle body for moisture freezing. Or a weak battery.

Get a scan tool to read more into it and oull up hidden codes.


We have one here for MINI specifically.

We just landed this Schwaben by Foxwell tool and it reads allot of things, I used it for ABS testing and it pulls and tells which side is bad. Also found allot of old stored codes for a dead battery in my R58 which is like a history lesson of the car, showed the faults in the climate control for the low battery. Unlike my Actron unit , which took a couple time, this read codes right of the bat. Pretty cool device and read much more. What it all preforms is listed in the Product Details on the item.


Once you have a check engine light or sometimes it will find codes that dont have a Check engine light, you can find that P code PXXXX and then google search it or copy and paste into the MINI forums search box and presto , you have some answers.

Professional BMW/MINI Scan Tool

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/ES2975699/

 

Thank You for your thoughts. I have a appointment on Wednesday to have her looked at. Battery replacement for sure. We'll see what codes pop up from there. I was informed they have a new Scan Tool, fingers crossed......can it reads Mini codes? I hope! I trust this automotive shop very much, 30 year relationship and many cars we have trusted with them. So "Chili" is in good hands. She has been with me 14 months, and I hope it is nothing major.She is my first and won't be my last. I love this little car!!!!

 

Independent, not Indiana.

A BMW or MINI specialist. They'll have the right tools and software to check for saved codes.

 

Hopefully they have the tool to read more then the off the shelf actron unit. Good luck and let us know what they find.

 

Okay...UPDATE!

Took my girl in. There were 7 codes that popped up. Thats right 7 Here are the codes, what do they mean.
27BA
27BD
27BC
2783
2777
277F
2B32
I noticed these are are different then the codes I have seen posted in the forums.

I had 3 cylinders misfiring and the spark plugs were shot. Suppose to last 100,000 miles, uh yea try 69,000 miles.
Got those replaced. The battery replaced. Air filter replaced. All have been in the car since manufactured. The coils looked good. No leaks, or unusal engine sounds. There was a code that popped up for the throttle? Which is one of those listed. That wasnt addressed today. There didnt seemed to be a concern to get that fixed now. I hope that was a good idea.

I dont know much about cars, so I dont know what the throttle does exactly.
It is on the list for the future.

She got her oil changed and fluids topped off. She is purring like a kitten. I noticed a change in acceleration immediately, and smoother.
So, I will see how she will start in the AM tomorrow, its going to 5 degrees. Thats the real test, since the probelms stemmed from the cold weather, however I wouldn't of known about the 7 codes, if I wasn't freezing my A** off.

This is a great tool to get advice and hear other stories of MINI owners. I have learned quite a bit in the short awhile I have been a member.

MINI's are quite interesting and unique. I am smitten, even with thier issues. Someone has to keep the shops in buisness.

 

Glad to see that spark plugs fixed your issue. MINI rates the spark plugs in the Coopers for 100K miles, but we have seen them in severe need of replacing as low as 40K miles, so we've recommended everyone change them around 45-50K miles.

If the throttle body code doesn't come back don't spend money on one until/if it needs it.

They aren't too common of a failure point, but I've replaced a few that had oil ingress inside of them and caused the electronics to go haywire.

 

Hopefully all better now.

27BA Fuel system diagnosis

27BD - Output camshaft regulation - Final stage code

27bc=camshaft control outlet-vanos bank2


2783 carbon build up or carbon covered plugs.

2777 277F fuel related.

2B32 Throttle valve Actuator , stuck throttle maybe. bad throttle , see cold weather intake. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d-weather.html


Thats allot of codes, some might have been older and stored, you clear them all , then see if you get another CEL, then that will be the now issues. But it sounds like they are fixed. Hopefully its ok now.

 

MINI recommends an interval of 100,000 miles however, you never really quite know how long the plugs are going to last, so it's good to examine them. A lot of generic scan tools will give you codes like you have listed.

0x277F (P0302) is a MINI FC for Cylinder 2 Misfire detected
0x2777 (P0303) is MINI FC for Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected
0x2783 (P0300) Cylinder Misfire, Several Cylinders
0x2B32 (P1638) Throttle Valve Position Control Throttle Stuck Temporarily

Glad the spark plugs fixed your misfire issue. Were you able to clear all the codes from the system and is the CEL no longer on? For the throttle code P1683 info HERE. Some advice as it may be throttle body sticking due to the weather or it being gummed up. If it comes back let us know.

 

All codes were cleared.

Makes sense about the throttle. If it she still gives me trouble on these cold mornings, then I will have it looked into. Spring is almost here