And so begins what I believe is the death of my CVT...but I want to make sure it couldn't possibly be anything else before I start hunting down a used one.

Intermittently (as in, it'll do it 3 times in one day, then not at all for 3 days, then 2 days in a row, then not again for a week, etc), I will have an issue getting going in either reverse or "1st gear" (since CVTs don't really have gears). I will move the shifter from park into R or D and touch the gas, the car doesn't move. I make sure the shifter is fully engaged, try again, no go. If I push more on the gas (to about 3000 RPMs), the car will lurch (and not typical CVT lurch, this is a more violent-whiplash lurch) and then go. And then, generally, it will be fine for awhile. I can put it back in park, then back into drive or reverse and it'll go with no problem.

The remedy to this little glitch so far has been, when I put the car into gear and it will not go, to put it back into park, rev the engine to 3000 RPMs, put it back into gear, and off we go, no problem.

It's almost like something is getting stuck somewhere, and it has to be revved up to get it loose.

So aside from a CVT with 75k miles, what else could be the culprit here? Anything?

 

Bump.

 

No idea what's wrong w/ your car. I can't believe you haven't gotten a single response.

 

I know this is an ongoing discussion and that you are aware of the CVT issues but did you have the fluid changed by a MINI service center? If not, that would be the first thing on the list. There is an electric stepper motor inside the trans that moves the pulleys to change the drive ratio. It could be confused or sticking. The only serviceable component is the fluid and with that comes a resetting or calibration routine so with any luck that would help.
SteveB

 

Ooo, I missed this response until now. Today it became somewhat apparent that this is ambient temperature related. It was really really warm here the past week and I had no occurrences of this issue whatsoever during that time. However, today the temperature outside has dropped below 85 for the first time in over a week and had what would have been a lurch except the whole "put it back into park, rev the engine, and put it back into gear" routine kept that from actually happening. It *could* be a coincidence but I'm not so sure...

A fluid change is on my list. Any idea what it normally runs? $100? $300? $1000?

 

The fluid change should be under $300. The fluid is expensive and they do some reprogramming or reset voodoo on the transmission controls. I would not wait too long...

 

Bumpity-bump-bump.

Had the CVT flushed today, and the programming reset "voodoo". It solved a few smaller problems (the general CVT "lurch" and a rough idle), but the problem with engaging is still there.

The good news is there was no metal in the pan...I would think this means the CVT itself is okay.

So what else could be the problem causing the "engagement" signal not to get transmitted? Thoughts?

 

Answer: engine harness!

What a great mystery this has been.

 

Melissa,
Does this mean your car is fixed? Did they install a new harness?

 

Crazy - so was part of the wiring harness compromised? Please share more details!