I was getting a quick car wash before work this afternoon, when I heard what I thought was the hatch popping about half way through the wash cycle. All was well until the dryer kicked on and tried to suck the hatch open, which would have smashed the crap out of it on the dryer. Fortunately, I caught it and slammed it shut from the inside.

Anyone experience this little eye opener yet? 2008 MCS.

 

The switch sounds like it is getting faulty from the water, between the plate lights, in that handle. Shouldn't be too bad to replace.

 

That's what I was thinking water past the gasket in the handle or entering in through one of the plate light lenses.

Here is the lens, if cracked or not set in correctly also if the grip handle inside is not corroded from the inside. Otherwise that handle will need replaced. There two of them on the back I would check there first.

Rear License Plate Light Lens - Priced Each Part # 51132756227


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/51132756227/



Here is a thread on the rear handle.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...k-release.html


Thanks and good luck.

 

If it is anything like the R53 it's time to replace the gasket on the handle to seal it.

 

My 09 pops it's boot on weird occasion, but it has never had anything to do with water. It seems to only do it within the first couple of minutes of getting in the car, and for some bizarre reason usually only happens if I have a passenger. I've yet to figure out why.

 

Could it be your key in your pocket and you accidentally hit the button. I know I have done that a few times.

 

Not with mine, they key is in the ignition when it happens. I don't have any other keys hanging on it that could cause it either.

 

Yep, mine does that exactly. Is random, nothing wrong with the handle, happens when the wife is with me and shortly after we leave the house. Weird..

 

What year? And does yours have the emergency pull cable under the rear seat? I was thinking the cable could be hung up or shrinking, but was told my 09 doesn't have one. I haven't pulled the seat to look, however.

 

Weird is that when mine was acting up and it wouldn't open all I had to do was tun on the parking lights and it would pop open, that's weird lol, the I said to myself...... It's a MINI lol

 

It's a 12, late 11 production date. I wasn't aware of an emergency pull cable. Next time I drive it, will take a look.

 

Hey, Peckerhead *snicker*

I was thinking of you when I went through a car wash today. I locked my doors, just in case. Any chance the high pressure spray pressed your boot release button? They do squirt really hard. Heck, I thought I was going to get blown away in the drier! It lifted my wipers odd the glass and pulled open the fuel door

 

Thanks for all the replies. I'll definitely have to pull apart the trunk handle / license lamps and see what's going on there.

Ha ha Errant...suppose it's possible that the force of the water spray popped the trunk for me. With these cars, anything is possible. My favorite quirk is how the wipers and signals work with the engine off, but not the power socket ha ha. I'd love to hear the reasoning behind that one.

 

Peckerhead - let us know what you find , most likely its the handle.

AZ - emergency pull cable was on late 2007 , think in 2008 up they discontinued it. But its might have returned ? Link below.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...k-release.html

 

You were pretty much right on...one of the license lamp lenses is gone.

FYI, the only time it has popped the hatch spontaneously was the time in the car wash. But immediately afterward, it started spastically locking and unlocking the door locks, which comes aad goes. Also, the clocks reset to zeros overnight now as well. I'm ordering the license lamp lenses today. Given the fact that this is a **** - wagon, I guarantee the clock thing is related to the license lamp issue...that's just how they roll ha ha.

 

Double post.

 

Thanks, glad that was it.

I hope its not shorting and then messing with the LCM and body ECU ?

Clean the handle out of any surface corrosion and replace those lenses in pairs , if one side is broke the other side might have a tab broken. It happens when people change the burn out bulbs and don't set them in right. It might be good to take the handle off and inspect the inside. To have the lock be related is one thing. To have the time loss on the lock might also be a battery or electrical thing. Check your battery and make sure the handle can be reused. You have the link for all the handles and such.

Thanks and good luck.

 

Thank you for the information. I'll post an update when I address the issue.

 

My car had the same problem where the trunk would pop on its own. The car definitely has some conditions built in into the body ecu to only open the trunk with no speed detected from car. My trunk would pop as soon as I came to a stop. New trunk switch solved the problem at the dealer.

 

My hatch only popped that one time. Then the doors sporadically locking themselves and clock reset issue began the next day.

I took the hatch handle apart and found the little 3-pin connector was green from corrosion. I cleaned everything up and packed the connector with silicone grease, which should eliminate the issue going forward. The clocks have only reset once since then, and no issues from the hatch handle.
The locks are getting worse though- so much so that I have to carry an extra key so that I don't get locked out. I'm going to have to look into this soon if I want to preserve my sanity ha ha. I plan to look it over this weekend with a scan tool, as well as test the battery.