FYI Update on cold winter start.

MightyMo · Motorer

FYI Update on cold winter start.

TrixieinNY · Motorer

I've run into the same thing. My car has been there at least twice for it, and last time they said it was the injectors and the same thing happened when we were on our way home. We'll see what happens when the weather is cold since we put the CAI on from VIP Custom Parts this spring.

SPDinNY · Motorer

TOWNEMINI Last Access June 23rd

looks like they aren't listening anymore =(

MightyMo · Motorer

If I recall correctly, there was someone here that had some work done and I think it had turned out ok. I looked for that old post but could not find it.

Trix- Which cold air intake did you go with?

Maybe the car just needs a blankie smile

-- Edited by MightyMo on Monday 10th of August 2009 10:00:09 PM

SPDinNY · Motorer

VIP Custom Parts CAI

TINMAN · Motorist

MightyMo wrote:

If I recall correctly, there was someone here that had some work done and I think it had turned out ok. I looked for that old post but could not find it.

Trix- Which cold air intake did you go with?

Maybe the car just needs a blankie

-- Edited by MightyMo on Monday 10th of August 2009 10:00:09 PM

It was me. I had the problem and Towne replaced the intake manifold. Did not have any more problems.We will see what happens this winter.

MightyMo · Motorer

Since the time cold is coming here is some need info.

If your car has the cold winter start issue do the following.
Start car and let it warm up. Should take about 5-15 mins.
Shut off car. Count to 10 and then restart it. It should run fine.

Next, if you are going to drive it right to Towne you need to do the following before you drive it.
Get the second key fob. Shut the car back off and restart it with the second key.
Since you have not put any miles on the car with the running problem the first key fob will contain information that the dealer may need to download.

The memory in the key fob will only hold the last 20 miles or so. And if Towne is of greater distance it will not contain the information the dealer may need.

VeganBrian · Motorer

good info, last winter i had the issue on my cooper S. it will prolly do it again so ill do what your saying with the second key fob.

SPDinNY · Motorer

MightyMo wrote:

Since the time cold is coming here is some need info.

If your car has the cold winter start issue do the following.
Start car and let it warm up. Should take about 5-15 mins.
Shut off car. Count to 10 and then restart it. It should run fine.

Next, if you are going to drive it right to Towne you need to do the following before you drive it.
Get the second key fob. Shut the car back off and restart it with the second key.
Since you have not put any miles on the car with the running problem the first key fob will contain information that the dealer may need to download.

The memory in the key fob will only hold the last 20 miles or so. And if Towne is of greater distance it will not contain the information the dealer may need.

or call Mini and have the sucker towed to Towne

MightyMo · Motorer

lol... And then we'll car pool to get the cars back. smile

pnf444 · Member

We two are having cold weather starting problems. It runs rough when it starts and sometimes stalls. If you let it warm up, it runs well but the cold weather starts have been a problem since we bought it.
Any other suggestions?

MightyMo · Motorer

pnf444 wrote:

We two are having cold weather starting problems. It runs rough when it starts and sometimes stalls. If you let it warm up, it runs well but the cold weather starts have been a problem since we bought it.
Any other suggestions?

Here is more information for a thread here last winter. It was talked about at length last year too. In the end the only thing you can do if you need the car is let it warm up for 10-15mins and then restart it.
The best thing to do is take it in or have it towed to the dealer. I myself and a few other will shut it right off and have it towed right then and there.
The most important thing is to use a different key fob when you restart it so the information in the key fob you used when it started bad is retained in the chip. Give that key fob to the dealer so they can download the info.

-- Edited by MightyMo on Tuesday 29th of December 2009 07:59:15 PM

tedscar · Motorer

Truly sorry for those having / had problems with this. Knock on wood, I have not had any problems of this nature (or any others for that matter). I think the poll has a typo; if it's fixed I'll vote 'base no problem' but for the record, that's my story so far.

Hope this gets resolved for those with issues soon!

(voted 1/1/10--Happy New Year all!)

-- Edited by tedscar on Friday 1st of January 2010 07:55:29 PM

TINMAN · Motorist

I called Towne Mini and I found out there is a new intake design that replaces the old new intake design. Mark at Towne replaced my intake with the new designed one just last week. Hopefully this will solve the problem.

-- Edited by TINMAN on Wednesday 30th of December 2009 03:49:06 PM

MightyMo · Motorer

tedscar wrote:

Truly sorry for those having / had problems with this. Knock on wood, I have not had any problems of this nature (or any others for that matter). I think the poll has a typo; if it's fixed I'll vote 'base no problem' but for the record, that's my story so far.

Hope this gets resolved for those with issues soon!

Seems like no matter how many time I proof read, the moment I hit "accept, enter or post" I scream. Well at least most of us have a mind still. Future tax may come for brain cells. lol

TINMAN wrote:

I called Towne Mini and I found out there is a new intake design that replaces the old new intake design. Mark at Towne replaced my intake with the new desined one just last week. Hopefully this will solve the problem.

Glad to hear! I would say let us know if it works but how would you know that it does if you did not know that it was a moment when it would not have. I guess if you see a lot of post with us having issue and you are not that would be a sign.
How long did the repair/mod take?

PepperMINI · Motorer

I'm a "base, no problem" too. I think that the "s" was hit worse with this issue. But then again, Pepper is a hangar queen during the winter, so she doesn't really get started on the coldest days either.

Happy new year to all! I'm looking forward to 2010!

TINMAN · Motorist

I had called Mark and we set a date. I took it in on Monday morning 12/28/09
and picked it up at about 4 pm the same day. They also did a computer update for the window dip problem. They did a great job and gave me a Mini as a loaner. So far I am very happy with Towne and their service.

-- Edited by TINMAN on Wednesday 30th of December 2009 04:00:48 PM

SPDinNY · Motorer

Holly, this effects the new gen, your car is an R52 old gen like Winnie was. Completely different engine. =)

-- Edited by SPDinNY on Wednesday 30th of December 2009 05:21:05 PM

PepperMINI · Motorer

I stick with my answer.

MightyMo · Motorer

R52 or R56, both still have to get around the "wicked step child" thing. Maybe we could have a sticker for the UK show next year. lol

SPDinNY · Motorer

PepperMINI wrote:

I stick with my answer.

lol go for it. But it wasn't a problem with the S that was "supercharged"
only with the new turbos and the puegot engine. Your's has neither. Your's is a Chrysler derivative =P

PepperMINI · Motorer

Say whatever you will. I'm not having any problems.

SPDinNY · Motorer

and neither is the horse you ride on. That is my point, your car is related to this problem as much as the ponies you ride =P

pnf444 · Member

Well, here is my update. We took it in on Tuesday the 29th. We left it sit there overnight so they could try and start it in the morning. And, as you can guess, they could not duplicate the problem of rough starting and rough running until it warms up. They "cleaned" the spark plugs (something I haven't done since my 1976 Pontiac) and put it back together. They also recalibrated the transmission for city driving.
We shall see if it makes any difference.
But, after reading your thread, we did take the original fob up to the dealership for them to work with. We left it with mine, but Carol is the primary driver and it's her key in the car, most of the time. I appreciate that thought when considering what might be the problem. Funny how they don't ask "which key" is used most.
I should go out there this morning to see if she acts up again....

gvcmel · Motorist

The 07 MCS was at Towne on Wednesday for cold start problems. Got the new intake manifold installed. From the looks of the weather forecast I'll get to try it out starting Saturday and see how it does.

MightyMo · Motorer

pnf444 wrote:

....
But, after reading your thread, we did take the original fob up to the dealership for them to work with. We left it with mine, but Carol is the primary driver and it's her key in the car, most of the time. I appreciate that thought when considering what might be the problem. Funny how they don't ask "which key" is used most.
I should go out there this morning to see if she acts up again....

The reason to not use the key fob that was in when the car ran rough is that it only holds the information on the chip inside for around 20 mins of use or 20 miles. I forget which. But the thing is if you live far enough away from someone like Towne, and are using the same key fob to drive there, it may loose the information. Somethings we have to remind the service dept of it. Not that they don't care but they may not know that we are that informed. lol

I have told my wife that we can never give them my remote. If the police ever got a hold of it we would have a stack of tickets to make a book. Then I got thinking. They can't have hers either. "zig around zoom zoom".

Happy new year all

-scott & maureen

pnf444 · Member

So far so good. Even as cold as it is this weekend, we are having a little more luck with it. I had it hesitate a little pulling forward but it was very cold. They did seem to get the lag out of the transmission by readjusting the computer for that. We had a terrible lag (automatic) and they didn't seem to "find" anything when I had them look at it once or twice before.
They do seem to discard whatever you say and do what they want. I haven't heard a tech there yet that I should ask for. It's always nice to get a good one.

TINMAN · Motorist

Well it has been 2 weeks with the new intake and extemely cold weather. So far so good. No cold weather starting problems and the start up noise is gone also. Maybe just lucky, I don't know. I leave the Mini outside at night and so far no problems. Just thought I would give an update.

tedscar · Motorer

Really glad to hear the fixes seem to be working. The last few days seem to have been cold enough to give the new setups a good test. Hope it continues to go well for you!

MightyMo · Motorer

Well no fix here and still not cold enough I guess.