Software Updates and Stalling MINIs

CVT Owner Jul 23rd, 2003 Link

Issues with the CVT are not fixed, people are still having issues.

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Gabe Jul 23rd, 2003 Link

What sort of problems are you still having with your CVT? I assume you have the 33.1 update.

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John Jul 23rd, 2003 Link

Yes, to stumbling off the line. Also a “lurch” at about 10 mph in first gear and decreased power in low revs in 2nd gear with AC on. I have MCS May `03 build.

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Davisio Jul 23rd, 2003 Link

I too have an almost stall problem with the A/C on. Have to rev the engine pretty high before taking off. Most of the time, as a direct result, I don't use the A/C unless I'm on the highway. MCS 09/02 build. The wind of the compressor is pretty annoying too.

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Gabe Jul 23rd, 2003 Link

Yes the wine can be a bit loud at times. From my experience the sound seems to lag in comparison to the engine RPM.

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Matt Jul 23rd, 2003 Link

i've noticed the same thing with the AC on. however, i attribute the power loss to the parasitic nature of the AC pump on the drive train, not a design fault or engeneering oversight.

remember, our cars don't weight much (relatively) and we have a tiny 1.6l engine running the show. our performance is due largely to our small size with modest power. an AC compressor will suck a few horsepower and our performance will suffer more than a larger, more powerful, similar performance car.

it's not like we're in an M5 with seemingly endless reserves of power.

i could be wrong, but i don't use the AC unless i have to.

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Gabe Jul 23rd, 2003 Link

I very rarely use the AC due to it sapping power. But again that's a fact of any AC system – it's just much more noticable when you only have 115 or 163hp on tap.

The last time I had a stalling incedent was when I was waiting for someone with the AC on and had been siting for 30 seconds – the car began to sputter and would have almost certainly stalled if I didn't rev the engine. This has happened a couple times.

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Steve Rosenblum Jul 23rd, 2003 Link

I also have this happen when the AC is on..
Almost feels like the same type of power loss as when the ASC/DSC kicks in on a slippery start.

Never thought of it as a fixable problem, just something to sometimes expect when starting off the line when the AC is on.

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Gabe Jul 23rd, 2003 Link

I think we've veered off topic here – the power loss is not a fixable problem and is inherent with all cars. Of course it's more obvious when your car doesn't have lots of HP to begin with. What I'm referring to in the actual post is the stalling and other similar problems that people have been experiencing.

AC causing the car to stall is what is interesting to me. The insane compressor whine is also of concern – but that could very well be normal.

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Motorbear Jul 23rd, 2003 Link

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I have a 9/02 build MCS and haven't had any of the stalling/lurching problems described here. I live in Southern California and have the auto AC on almost continuously. Yes, it performs better off the line with the AC off but I expect that of a1.6L engine. I've driven lots of other small-engine cars over the years and this is not the worst AC sapping of an engine I've experienced.

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Davisio Jul 23rd, 2003 Link

Agreed. I had 3 Civics in a row before this (all with the 1.5L) and my MCS 09/02 build has the worst power drain with the A/C on.

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Otto Pequeno Jul 23rd, 2003 Link

Add me to the list for those having near-stalls anytime the AC is on. (2003 MCS, Jan '03 Build, all 3 option packages) While I expect a depreciation in power when the AC is on, this car almost dies, especially when starting up from a complete stop.

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antsmini Jul 23rd, 2003 Link

Add me to the list also. I get the lurching, and a damn astrovan can beat me off line with my AC on.

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Donna Jul 23rd, 2003 Link

Back to the original topic, I have had 2 upgrades, and I still “lurch” with the CVT, but have not had any more stalling issues.

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Scott Jul 24th, 2003 Link

Two comments:

One) I think there is a great deal of confusion on what exact SYMPTOMS everone sees with their Cooper or S. I have yet to see a good description where someone else has what I see, and I think what I see is a combination of supercharger and DSC. I do NOT think what I see is a serious problem.

Two) I wonder how many of us moved to a Mini from a vehicle with a much larger engine.

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Davisio Jul 24th, 2003 Link

The stalling/almost stalling symptom that occurs when starting off the line while the air conditioning is running is a serious problem. Any car that must be driven differently (meaning reving the engine higher in order not to stall) given identical environmental conditions (dry pavement) has issues. You have to remember to rev the engine higher in order not to fall to a stop in front of oncoming traffic when turning left. You have to remember that the A/C is on. Also, remember; I'm coming from a series of vehicles with smaller engines and less horsepower (unsure about torque). 3 Honda Civics, 2 automatics, 1 5-speed all with 1.5L engines. They had acceleration issues with the A/C on, but no stalling issue. In fact, the compressor was to shut off at a stop and re-engage after taking off. I know because I had to have this function repaired when it did start stalling at traffic lights. Maybe this is a programming issue for MINIUSA to address.

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Frank Jul 24th, 2003 Link

ZERO problems after my '02 Cooper CVT was updated with software verison 33.2 3K+ miles ago. Smooth as silk!

My lurching dissapeared completely after update 32.1 was downloaded into the car at the beginning of the year.

Count me among the lucky ones!

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Gabe Jul 24th, 2003 Link

Davisio – very well said. I agree 100%. The last update I had in May muted many of the stalling issues I've had with my Cooper but it hasn't eliminated them. I've also had a stumble from start. While it happens very rarely now it does still happen (even with the DCS off).

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snid Jul 24th, 2003 Link

I'm waiting for winter to come back to see if the cold weather / cold engine stall still exists. My 5-speed would start on the first try, but stall the first time I came to a stop.

I've got the occasionaly “lack of acceleration” problem, too. Feels almost like my old Golf did when it would want to run on less then 4 cylinders in the rain.

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nfo Jul 26th, 2003 Link

my cvt had it's software updated about 2 weeks ago, it's been nothing short of wonderful since! :D if you have a cvt with problems, take it in and do it! :)

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Timothy Sipples Jul 26th, 2003 Link

I just had my March, 2002 build MINI Cooper CVT updated for the first time with the latest software. (How do I tell which version I got, by the way?) The dealer had to replace the whole ECU, since mine wouldn't even take the new software. (One of the downsides of having such an early build, I guess.)

I was never terribly upset with the CVT behavior, but I can already tell that the new software has a tremendous positive effect. Much smoother off the starting line, and perhaps even a little more zip. No “stammering” at a stop light. No stalling so far, although that was mainly a cold weather problem, so too soon to tell.

By the way, I had the heated washer jets kit sent over from Europe, and they're now installed. It's a bit labor intensive (and thus costly), but they're mandatory in the winter, in my humble opinion. (A lot of the early U.S. cars didn't have them, since the Cold Weather Package was in flux early on.) So now my car has heated seats and washer jets but no heated mirrors. It's a strange car. :-)

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db Aug 3rd, 2003 Link

11-02 buiild MC here w/5speed. I had the software update done a few weeks back, but it didn't help the problem while the A/C is running. I agree that there should be a loss of power, but should the car actually almost stall while parked in neutral with the A/C running? I have found that turning the DSC off helps just a tiny bit too.

As far as the compressor whine, I don't notice it so much as I do the fan when it kicks on when it's hot (+85) outside. You can hear it from 1/2 mile away!

with the update that I got (not sure which version I'm on now) and the A/C not running, there is a HUGE difference in performance. more power at lower (2K – 3K) RPM or so says my seat-of-the-pants dyno. I just wish the A/C thing would be fixed. To hot here in SoCal to go without.

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