I have a 2007 Mini Cooper base model (standard transmission). I have an issue where the reverse lights are always on, even when I am in gear and not in reverse.

All other lights (interior and exterior) work fine.

I took it to my local mechanic who said that I have a faulty footwell module that needs to be replaced.

Without any additional information, does this seem to be the right diagnosis? Could it be anything else?

For a local shop, what should I expect the average cost be for the footwell module part and labor be?

Any help would be much appreciated!

 

sounds goofy to me,,

the little switch is located somewhere on ther trans and its sticking

 

I would disconnect the reverse light switch wiring and see if that clears the problem.

It is located on the top of the transmission. Shown as item 13 on this diagram




If that does not work. Disconnect the battery and leave it disconnected for 30 minutes and see if that will reset the module. all of the controls in the MINI are computers now so sometimes they need to be reset.

 

Hey, Mine is doing the same thing, was there ever a resolution to this?

 

Have no idea. The OP has only had one post and from the activity report that can be seen on their user panel is seems they never came back to check on the posting as the last activity was the same time as their original post.

But most likely that is the cause as shown in the diagram above.

 

Thanks Schatzy. Do you have any idea how to get to that on the transmission? Everything I'm reading online says to remove the wheel/wheel well and it should be right there, but I can only find instructions on an R53. I have an R56. Just want to know what I'm getting into here; it doesn't look that difficult if I can locate where the switchis and how to get to it.

 

According to my Bentley service manual, the back up light switch for both the manual and automatic transmissions accessed from the top of the engine. The first step is to remove the air cleaner or intake air ducts. On the manual transmission the switch is located between the shifter cable boots. Good luck.

 

Thanks, I'll give it a shot and let you know what I come up with.

 

I was talking with someone who suggested this might be a closed switch which when triggered is open and turns the lights on. Before I rip this whole thing apart again, does anyone know if this switch is always open or always closed? My next trouble shooting method is to short the wires to see if the lights go out but I'm going to have to tear it all apart again to try this.

 

The Bentley manual indicates that this is a normally OPEN switch connected to a brown and a blue/yellow wire. If you have continuity thru the switch when the transmission is not in reverse, I would consider the switch to be bad (internally shorted). I had the same problem on my Miata yrs ago. The switch was a simple screw in spring loaded plunger that shorted internally resulting in a closed position regardless of what gear I was in.

 

Thanks, that was my assumption as well which I would assume I could test by shorting the terminals however I don't want to screw something up even further. I think I may just buy another switch and give that a go before I mess with it further. My only other option is to take it to a shop and see what they think but I hate spending over $100 for a switch that costs $11 if that is the problem.

 

Ammodave I just thought about your post a little more and if the switch is normally open, wouldn't it stand to reason if I disconnect the switch entirely that the lights would go out? The reason I ask is because I did, in fact, disconnect the plug from the switch that is in the transmission housing and the lights stayed on. This would indicate to me that there is a short elsewhere unless there is some sort of other safety built in to make the lights stay on when there is a problem. Any thoughts on this?

 

Your assumption makes sense to me. I'm basing my premise that the switch is normally open solely on the statement in the Bentley manual that switches in the wiring diagram are shown in their normal position. If you have accessed the plug going to the switch, you can always short out the connector with a jumper wire (or paperclip) to simulate the switch being closed. If the lights stay on no matter what you do, the fault must be elsewhere. While you're there you might as well confirm the switch works by checking for continuity with the transmission in and out of reverse.