2009 Cooper S won't start. It cranks fast and I have spark. I pulled up the back seat and checked for power at the fuel pump connector while cranking and there is power. Problem is, when I put my hand directly on the fuel pump top plate, I can't feel it running. Should I be able to, or because it's submerged in fuel and hanging from hoses, maybe it's isolating the vibration?

 

You should be able to hear it prime when you open the door.

 

Ok thanks, I'll listen for that tomorrow.

So I put 12 volts directly to the pump and it works. It's a very quiet hum, and it hardly vibrates at all. I tried starting the car with it hooked up that way and it didn't start. I was spraying quick start into the intake repeatedly with no results. Then I plugged the fuel pump back into the harness, tried a couple more times and just as the battery started to die, it started! I spent two days messing around, and suddenly it started normally. I don't know if it was flooded, something was frozen or what. It's been very cold here. Anyway I drove it around for an hour and filled it up with fuel, and installed a Battery Tender so it will always crank over fast. I don't have much confidence in the car right now, but that's nothing new haha.

 

there's a high pressure fuel pump on your engine block , that could be your problem , and could still be under warranty if under 120 k ....

 

Low pressure pump failure is extremely rare on these cars, HPFP is a possibility but have you done a compression test yet?

As it gets colder carbon buildup on the intake valves can pose a bigger issue in startup.

Most cars will still start with a dying/dead HPFP, albeit poorly and stall soon after.

 

I haven't done a compression test, but I pulled off the intake and there is carbon buildup. I was going to wait until spring to do the carbon cleaning because I'm working outside in the cold. I didn't realize it affected starting that much though...maybe I'll do the carbon cleaning tomorrow. Thanks

 

I did the carbon cleaning today with oven cleaner, a toothbrush and a set of long picks for scraping. I sprayed oven cleaner in, then scraped and scraped, then poured boiling water in the ports. I taped a small hose into the hose of my shop vac and used that to vacuum the water out. I did this over and over till the ports and valves were clean. It makes great power now and hopefully will start better for the rest of the winter.