Hello,
I have been having a reoccurring problem that started about 4 months ago. I will be driving my car (manual transmission) and suddenly I will lose all acceleration / power. Sometimes when I’m changing gears, but also when in gear too. I come to a stop. Sometimes I can turn the car back on right away, other times it takes a few attempts (when it doesn’t start, the engine revs up but then fails and flutters off). When I get the car going again it is fine, and I can drive for days before it happens again. Oil level is good, engine and turbo don’t sound too bad.
I’m wondering if I damaged one of the transmission gears? I recall one time I was driving while talking on the phone (bad idea) and I mistimed my shifting and heard a high pitched zipping noise, maybe something being stripped?
I find this issue odd because I feel like my car breaks down, but once I get it going again it’s like nothing is wrong.
Car details:
2010 Mini Cooper Clubman S (R55 S)
96k miles
Thank you for any guidance at all,
Jackson
If the transmission were stripped out the engine would rev up but there would be no corresponding motion.
You have not given us much to go on. What diagnostic steps have you taken so far? Checked filters and fuel pressure? Spark plugs? Scanned for codes and live data?
Hi Chuck,
Thanks for your response. Here is what the car sounds like, right after stalling while driving: https://youtu.be/XYDDj21lh1k
Most recently (today) a shop said the engine requires a replacement high pressure fuel injection pump, and quoted me $2500. These were their notes:
Found code P2880: high pressure fuel system failure.
Monitored fuel rail high pressure sensor and could not replicate engine stall, but rail pressure was very erratic and would drop low. Recommend replacing high pressure fuel pump.
The first shop I brought it to in June didn't have a clear explanation, but recommended a new battery, replacing intake manifold gasket, carbon cleaning, and new valve cover gasket. Notes were:
Codes found
2783: Combustion misfire several cylinders
277F - Cylinder 2 misfire
2773 - Cylinder 1 misfire
Compression tested cylinders 1 & 2 and found 150 psi each.
Borescoped cylinders and see a good amount of carbon buildup.
Could not replicate loss of power (stalling).
I replaced the battery.
A third shop, in July was also not able to replicate the stalling, and said it may have been a fluke.
I'm wondering... after researching a little, couldn't it be the alternator?
@jacksoneon While a bad alternator can cause all kinds of problems it should be a simple matter to check if voltage is within specification.
Has the feeder fuel pump in the tank been tested? If pressure is too low or the pump cuts out that would affect the high pressure pump.
Here is a video that describes troubleshooting P2880:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJDLphgE3XU
Thank you, I will test these this long weekend.