Engine code: P10ED

I got the above engine code the other day after the check engine light came on.  The light looked similar to this but was half-filled at a diagonal:

It was accompanied with some wording to the effect that engine performance was reduced and the car should be taken in for service.

The car only has about 37.000 miles on it, so it seemed premature for a major issue.  But stranger things have happened!

A quick Google search for that code revealed... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

Just great.

Over some water cooler discussions at work about this recent development, someone suggested I re-seat the gas tank cap.  I recall my wife's Altima triggering the check engine light with a misaligned gas cap, so it was worth a shot.  It hadn't crossed my mind originally, though, because I've had this car four years now and have never had an issue related to the gas cap.

When I got home, I re-seated the cap. When I unscrewed it, it was slightly more difficult than typical, so I was hopeful. I carefully screwed it back on.

Now I needed to reset the light to see if it returned.  I took the car to Auto Zone, but they said it was against their policy to reset engine codes.  Yippie.

Another Google search surfaced a forum where one poster suggested restarting the car five times would clear any erroneous, non-recurring engine code.  I tried that.  Nope.  Didn't clear.  Maybe it wasn't the gas cap?  I ceded and scheduled an appointment with the MINI dealership (via their website) for the coming Monday.

After scheduling the appointment, I tried one more, last ditch effort...  I called the MINI service department and spoke to a service adviser.  I wanted to know how long it might take (or under what circumstances) the car to reset the engine light/code if it was due to a misaligned gas cap.  The adviser told me that codes could only be reset by the service department and I'd have to bring it in.  Oh joy.

The weekend came and went.  Monday rolls in and I get into the car to begin the commute to the dealership.  I start the engine, hear a friendly chime, and the check engine light turned off!  I drove it to work instead of the dealership just to make sure it stayed off.  It did.  After I arrived at work I eagerly called the MINI dealership and canceled my appointment.  The code hasn't returned since.

I posted this so hopefully it will be picked up by a Google search someone may do for the same engine code.  Motor on!

Oct 27, 2016 update:
I just picked my MINI up from the dealership.  I took it in for an oil change and mentioned the check engine light (as it occurred once more).  It turns out it was a "fuel rail" issue.  Here is the wording straight from the mechanic as printed on my invoice:

37851 FUEL RAIL PRESSURE SENSOR FAULTY CONNECTED BATTERY CHARGER. SHORT TEST FOUND 2BF2 STORED IN DME. FUEL SYSTEM TEST PLAN FOUND FUEL PRESSURE CORRECT AND FUEL PRESSURE ADJUSTMENTS CORRECT.  FOUND RAIL PRESSURE SENSOR SHOWING INCORRECT PRESSURES AT TIMES. REMOVED INTAKE MANIFOLD.  REMOVED AND REPLACED FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY.  REPLACED INJECTOR SEALS.  REINSTALLED MANIFOLD.  CLEARED FAULTS.  TEST DROVE VEHICLE TO VERIFY REPAIRS.

I don't have a cost for repairs, as it was covered under warranty.  Car has 37,894 miles on it.

Well, I'm back (I hope)!  I won't bore you with all the reasons *holidays* but suffice to say *baby stuff* I've been busy...

With the baby just around the corner, I need to start thinking of how to squeeze an infant seat in the MINI.  :)

The first thing I'll note is that trying to perform a straight search for such a thing can be elusive--resulting in results like:

(Nov 18 update:  Hmmm...found this post in my drafts, so I'll wrap it up and publish.)

Long story short, we went with the Britax B-Safe car set with the B-Agile base and stroller.  The base and the seat work just fine behind the passenger seat; although, it would be a tight squeeze to actually include a passenger along with the baby for any ride.  The stroller does not fit in the trunk nor in the other back seat behind the driver.  It may not fit in the front passenger seat either...I don't recall.  In any event, I take the baby with the car seat to the store, etc. and I just haul her around in the car seat in a shopping cart and that works great for our needs.  :) )

Low Pressure

Yea, I know it's been a while.

In any event, I got to experience MINI Roadside Assistance for the second time this past week.

I took my MINI in to the dealer for its first oil change.  A service notification popped up on the dashboard at around the 7,500 mile mark.  In general the service call went smoothly--in and out in about 30 minutes--but they did inform me that I need two new front tires.  (Already?!?)  I declined (for now) and headed home.

Later that night, while running an errand, an urgent message popped up on the display:

	Engine oil pressure too low. Possible engine damage. Switch off engine. Continued driving is not possible. Please contact the nearest MINI center.

Long story short, the dealer originally thought it was a bad solenoid.  While driving it home after the "fix", the error message popped up again.  I brought it back to the dealer.  After nearly two days of diags, tests, etc, it turned out to be a defective oil filter.  The dealer had heard about some bad batches of filters but had never experienced one before my issues.  Yay me.

I'm Still Here

I haven't forgotten about this blog. I've just been VERY busy: new tires for the wife's car, new water heater for the house, holiday dinner parties, birthday for the wife, birthday for the father-in-law, Christmas, planning for the new baby, etc.

I did want to stop by briefly to report that I had a 6'4" friend in the front passenger seat and a 5'9" friend in the back left seat today. It was a bit cramped, but we made it work! :)

Also, I'm over 1600 miles now.

1K

I passed the 1K mileage mark yesterday. It's kind of bittersweet. It means my car is slowly wearing and aging, but it also means I'm enjoying the hell out if it! :)

Catch Up

Oops.  It's been a week since I wrote something here.  :)

Since I didn't drive the MINI early last week (rain), combined with extra work activity and also learning the gender of our pending baby, needless to say I've been a bit preoccupied.

In any event, I did go ahead and fill-up on the mid-grade (89), ethanol-free gas last week.  Did I mention that already?

Also, my friend (BMW enthusiast and driving instructor at VIR) told me "there's no substitute for octane".  He says I have nothing to worry about regarding the negative effects of ethanol on my engine/parts.  The impacts due to ethanol are negligible as compared to giving the engine the octane level it's tuned for (93).

It's too late now, so I'll just fill up on premium next time.  For now, there is no perceived performance delta in running the mid-grade, pure gas.  And with my mileage app, I can see if there is any MPG difference (although, I've tested out the acceleration from stop a bit extra this tankful :) ).

PS - I also got to wash it again this weekend.  Nearly good as new!  I even got most of the streaks off the windows.  I didn't get to vacuum the interior, so there are a few leaf/grass bits and some dirt particles, but nothing I need to be OCD about.  I'll get those next time.

The Search for No Ethanol

Sorry, but I have to post this here so I don't lose the info:

1. Triangle Mini Mart, 10420 Chapel Hill Rd, Morrisville, NC; ethanol-free MARATHON 90
   Pump #11, mid-grade only.
2. Dolphins, 5016 Commons Hill Drive, Cary, NC; ethanol-free BP 89
   Pumps #11 and #12, silver-handled pumps, mid-grade only.

Excuses, Excuses

I'm having MINI withdrawal!

With Hurricane Sandy just off the coast of the Carolinas, it's been overcast all weekend.  Even as early as Friday morning it was overcast and misty.  However, the past few hours it's been dry but overcast.

I keep looking for excuses to drive the MINI.  About an hour ago, the excuse was lunch.  I drove about 4-5 miles to Taco Bell for some grub.  The food was meh...but the driving was awesome!  :)

I'm also bummed because I haven't been able to wash it yet.  And the windows, fingerprints, and general dirt are all driving me nuts!  Soon.  Soon...

"Frankenstorm" is Coming!

Although it will only mean a weekend of rain for us.

Drat.

I've been good about not driving it in the rain.  Even today, which was supposed to be partly cloudy (which includes partly sunny) but wasn't, I didn't drive it.  It was misty this morning when I awoke, so I just took the Jeep into work.

My plan was to wash the MINI again this weekend, as parking it under trees and general driving have left dust and some tree "droppings" (sap-looking, but not nearly as thick and also not sticky) on it that are driving me crazy!  Plus, I haven't yet perfected the streak-free window cleaning yet.  :(

All of the cleaning clothes I used last week have been laundered.  Just straight soap, double rinse, no fabric softener, air dried.  So they're all ready to go!

Now I only need about an hour or so of rain-free weather to knock this out and back in the garage it goes!  :)

Devil in the Detail

I'm just dumping some detailing notes here for later.  :)

Poorboy's World

Mini Cooper

Minis are made by BMW, which means they are painted by BMW This means that the paint is quite hard, so dont worry too much about using SSR 2.5. I have detailed a Cooper & used SSR 2 & it took me 7-10 passes with a soft compounding pad to totally remove the swirls !. The car was also red, so i gave it a coat of Black hole with a soft finishing pad & 2 coats of Natty's red. The end result was really good.  (reference)

General Cleaning Routine

• Claying - once or twice a year should be enough, but if you live in an area with lots of fall out or other contaminants, you may need to clay more often.
• Polishing -As needed, really. Much depends on the quality of your wash jobs and how much contact the car has when parked. (Scrapes from shopping carts/people opening doors into yours etc.) It also depends on how "demanding" you are about the over all appearance of the finish. Some people need to polish out everything, some don't mind leaving some marring, as it's a fact of life. If you don't use a strong/aggressive polish, you could polish before each wax. For example, if you were to use SSR1 you could polish monthly, or even more often, and not have much to worry about. SSR3, well, that's another story. I tend to use a light polish before each waxing, as I usually have some marring to clean up. I wax about monthly (except during the winter) and have no concerns polishing my 12 year old paint monthly.
• Waxing/sealing -You don't have to do both. You can choose one or the other. Sealants tend to last longer, though. If you are going to do both, apply the sealant first, then the wax. (Generally accepted rule for better bonding.) How often is again dependent upon the conditions affecting your car as well as the quality of the products. You may be able to wax/seal twice a year. You may need monthly applications. (Or even more, with some products! ) If you use a QD or booster wax, the intervals between waxings should be increased. I tend to QD after each wash, so as to get rid of water trails etc. (reference)

Misc.

• The Polish w/ Carnauba will give a deeper look.
• The Polish w/ Sealant will give a slicker and brighter look.

(reference)

• Detailing 101 tip: You can put carnauba wax on top of a sealant, but you should not put sealant on top of a carnauba wax. (Regarding Natty's Blue Paste Wax, you can apply that on top of a polish and just stop there or you can add it after your sealant. Just be sure to wait until your sealant is fully cured before putting wax on top of it. Klasse Sealant Glaze had a very long cure time when I used it. I wouldn't add a wax until about a week after applying Sealant Glaze)

(reference)

• I plan to buy a Porter Cable (PC) 7424.
• The Super Swirl Remover (SSR) series is just awesome. 2 might do the trick, but you'll probably want 2.5 in the long term anyway, so if you can invest the extra money I'd recommend it. Pro Polish (PP) is one of my favorite Poorboys products and is a great final polishing step. For a topcoat I'd probably try EX-P first. It's an awesome sealant, and will allow that metallic to really pop. EX (w/ carnuba) would be a great alternative, or you could also stick with EX-P and top it with Natty's wax for more wetness. Hard to go wrong either way
• I agree. EX-P and top it with the natty wax. But if you're short on time like me, I'm pretty happy with the ssr2 and the ex-p, and a little s&w and s&gloss every weekend.
• I would go with the 2.5 and then PP follow up with EX-P and some Nattys & SG for that X-Tra POP (spit shining). The 2.5 is my goto product as it cuts and polishes in 1 product. You can layer the EX-P and the Nattys. I usually wait at least 24hrs. 1st. coat (layering of wax and or sealant).

(reference)

• Order will be
1. Polish w/ Carnauba blue
2. EX ...two coats and then wait 24 hours before applying Natty's
3. Natty's Blue
• What do you suggest for maintenance? Spray & Gloss/Gloss Enhancer and Quick Detailer (S+G) for after wash maintenance, Natty's every month or so (depending on climate, always garaged, etc.) and re-do the full deal when you notice some marring or that the clarity seems to have lessened. But I hear tell that some people apply a new coat of Natty's after each wash so you may want to consider that option too.

(reference)

• Here are the products and their uses I would have ...
• EXTERIOR:
• Super Slick & Suds ..car shampoo ..very slick and gentle
• Polish w/ Sealant ...nice light cleaning and give the finish a super shine and gloss
• Natty's Blue ..will give a deeper , wetter look
• Spray & Wipe and Spray & Gloss.. for dust and light maintenance between washes
• Bold N Bright ..for tires
• Wheel Sealant ..for Wheels ...couple of coats will make them easy to maintain
• INTERIOR:
• Leather Stuff ...use it to maintain the new look and smell of the seats, it can also be used on the dash and vinyl arm rests
• Engine Compartment: use the Bold N Bright
• Shaker: Spray & Gloss

(reference)

Dirty Gas

Ethanol.  It's everywhere, apparently.

I chose this one gas station moderately close to my house specifically because it sold Ethanol-free gas.  The first time I filled up there, I swear I did not see any signs mentioning Ethanol.   Of course, the very next time I go to fill up, there's a sign at the pump: "May contain up to 10% Ethanol".

Well s#!t.  Back to square one.  So here I am, doing internet searches for Ethanol-free stations.

I found two iOS apps, but they both reference the same two stations nearby (probably the same database) and the closest is, of course, the one I've been to.

I wonder if some pumps at that station are ethanol-free while others aren't?  Or perhaps that station is no longer ethanol-free?  I may have to make a few phone calls in the morning.

Bras and Tints

Clear bra?
I'm inclined to have one installed just to prolong the life of the front end (from chips, scratches, etc. resulting from rocks and other road debris); however, I'm concerned about how to care for it.  I want the car finish to look as uniform as possible now and also 5/8/10/12 years from now.

Window tint?
I'm leaning toward a ceramic tint.  But when I had the windows tinted in my old pickup, it was very hard to see out of the back window at night.  I'm concerns that with the MINI's already limited back-window visibility, adding a dark tint will only make nighttime visibility next to impossible.  Of course, only tinting the side windows is another option.  I should decide quick, though, because there is a Groupon available now for the installer I'd consider going to.  :)

Streaking

I washed the MINI on Saturday (yesterday), and overall it went pretty well.  I was in no rush and took my time.  I washed the wheels, washed the car, dried the car--all according to that article I referenced in an earlier post.  The biggest issue?  WINDOWS!

Just like all of the other products I bought, I purchased the Sonax glass cleaner to do the job, and noticed a waxy film on the windows I had cleaned.  Granted, I used new, unwashed microfiber (MF) cloths to do the job, so there may have been some remnant chemicals on the cloth from the manufacturing process.  But I assumed this was not the case and had also bought this Invisible Glass cleaner from Lowe's Home Improvement.

Invisible Glass seemed to do much better; although even it wasn't completely streak-free.  I got as much of the streaks as possible addressed before I declared my efforts complete.

Shortly afterwards, I got back on the computer and found this article on How Do I Get Streak-free Windows? and this very detailed article on Car Window Cleaning.  Basically what I was doing wrong was attempting to wash all of my windows, inside and out, with a single MF cloth.  No wonder!

Next time I'll attempt it with something like 4 cloths.  :)

One little touch I added:  I used my wet/dry vac to both vacuum out the interior carpets and seats as well as to suck out all the water from the honeycomb grills in the front and rear of the car:

PS - I also finally got a peek at my engine for the first time.  (I was opening everything up to wipe out all the water from the crevices.)  Sexy, huh?

Inconsideration and the Weather

I was driving down the road the other day (as I'm apt to do), and the SUV in front of me proceeds to mist/clean his windshield.  We were both driving about 45 mph and although I was about 4 or 5 car lengths back, the mist from his spray got all over my windshield!

How annoying!

I sometimes wonder how much people are aware of the impacts they have on others.  I bet very little, if any.  I like to think I'm aware (and considerate) of others while on the road, but it's always possible that I don't know what I don't know.  :)

In any event, it did rain the next day (which was another annoyance) and thus my windshield was rinsed of the dried overspray.  (The day called for 10% chance of precipitation all day until about 5pm, then it rose to 30%.  At about 3:30, it proceeded to pour while I sat in a dentist chair.  By the time I was done, the rain had also stopped, but I had to drive home among all the water from the road being kicked up by the tires of the other cars on the road.  A third annoyance!)

Deep breaths.

I planned to wash the car this weekend anyway.  Even a garaged car collects dust, dirt, fingerprints, road grunge...  :)

Got a Package

The "stuff" I ordered to wash the MINI came in today.

I suppose I should start with my sources.  Here is my limited "car care" list of links thus far:

1. Poorboy's World
2. autopia
3. Detailed Image

Sites 1 & 2 were referred to by a friend who meticulously cares for his Honda S2000 and Acura Integra.  While I've only scratched the surface of those two, a web search of "professional car detailing product reviews" landed me on site 3--specifically this page on how to properly wash and dry a car.  In fact, I bought everything on the "You'll need" list, which is the package I just got today.

I did have to go buy the 5-gallon buckets from Lowes Home Improvement, though.  I also bought a couple of storage bins with tops to store 1) the cleaning fluids, 2) the clean cloths, 3) the dirty cloths (until I launder them).

Ta daa...

I hope to give it its first wash this weekend--time (and weather) permitting.

Wish me luck!

PS - I think the Esoteric Wheel Care Kit referenced at the end of this article may be my next purchase.  :)

It Rained Again Today

Today was the second rain event we've had since I bought the MINI. And, for the second time since I bought it, I didn't drive it today.

The first time it rained, I just opted to leave it in the driveway. I drove my Jeep Wrangler to work instead. The MINI remained in the driveway, exposed to the rain, but not exposed to the dirtiest part of rainy weather.  Typically, rain in and of itself is pretty clean (acid rain and salty rain near the coast nonwithstanding). It's the road grime and dirty spray cast off from the tires of other cars that I'm trying to avoid.

Don't get me wrong. The MINI is already a bit dirty from dust, a small drop of bird poop, random tiny insects, fingerprints and some granules of dirt brought in by shoes. Most of these can be addressed by some targeted cleaning. If I were to drive it in the rain, however, I'd have to give it a full wash--and that's what I'm trying to avoid.  I'm not adverse to washing it. Quite the contrary, I WANT to wash it, but I want to do it right!

You see, the paint is the closest to perfect as it will ever be. I only have one chance to treat it right, from square one, and I want to make the most of this chance. First, I need to limit the contact I (or anything/anyone) makes with the paint. Second, I ordered some cleaning supplies that will hopefully help me wash it most optimally. (I'll leave what I bought and why for another post.)

In the interim, I managed to move around/clean out just enough of the garage to park the MINI in it. It's not ideal and a bit cramped, it works.

And that's where it sits for this most recent rain event. So technically, it's only been exposed to the rain once. Hopefully that will be the only time. :)

Here are some pics of the garaged MINI:

Future Blog Post Ideas

Remind me to share some thoughts on:

1. Car cleaning products/sites
2. Joining the local car club
3. Decision on an extended warranty (if any)
4. Satellite radio
5. Parking the car in the garage :)

First Fueling

I just filled it up just moments ago at an Ethanol-free station I found just a few miles from my home.

13.042 gallons at $4.179/gal for a total of $54.50.  It must've been really low, as MINI Connected now shows about 13.2 gallons in the tank!

Come to think of it, Mission Control (an app within MINI Connected) did warn me twice about low fuel levels on the way to the gas station.  (To be more accurate, the first warning was in my driveway just after I started it up.)

I also broke down and bought a $3 smartphone app to keep track of maintenance details on the road.  At home, I use a different app (but that's for another post).

It looks like my average fuel consumption over the coarse of the first tank is 21.47 MPG.  I'm not sure if that's typical or not.  It is what it is.  :)

Hunger Pangs

It's almost time for a re-fueling:

Of course, something else I learned on the day I picked up my MINI was that it requires premium gasoline.  High grade is recommended, mid-grade is acceptable, but low grade is not recommended.

This is my first car requiring premium fuel, so I hope I don't forget!  I'm kind of expecting that the pump nozzles will be different enough that I cannot accidentally mix grades...but that may be wishful thinking.  :)

To add to this, I've peripherally noticed that some stations are advertising "10% Ethanol".  I'd like to avoid Ethanol, if at all possible, but I haven't been paying enough attention to know which ones do and which don't.  I hope I don't run out of gas jumping from station to station looking for the optimal mix.

Accessorized!

While at the dealership today getting my stripes installed, I had a chance to talk to the Parts Guy about the Smartphone Adapter for the center armrest. While the USB/audio cable combination that came with the car works just fine, I hated having to sacrifice a cup holder to hold my phone while it was connected.  Even further, the way the phone sat in the cup holder housing was just awkward.

So I splurged and got the armrest adapter, and I love it!  It's a very clean look, gives the phone a proper resting location and frees up my cup holder for more important things!  (Not that I plan to consume food in the MINI any time soon. :) )

If I remember in the morning, I'll get a picture of it.