I tried doing some research and I can't seem to find a similar issue to what I'm having. Just bought a 2003 Cooper S from a used car dealer and am in the process of working out the little bugs throughout the car.

One of which is the remote for the power locks. The key is (what I'm assuming) a Valeo replacement key. I can use the fob to unlock the doors, but it will not lock them. And if I use the key itself in the door, it will also only unlock all doors. But it will only manually lock the drivers door, not all. I'm guessing the issue is something in the drivers door because when I use the key to manually lock the door, it doesn't seem to fully pull the lock down, but it does still lock the door. Can anyone point me in the right direction or to a thread with a similar issue? Thanks!

 

Morning bump, anyone have any ideas?

 

All keys were Valeo keys- the original ones that came with the car and any replacement ones that were ordered from the dealer. A MINI dealer is for all intents and purposes is the only place that a replacement key can be obtained.

Is your key in physically good shape? It should look something like this:



Assuming there are no holes in the key fob (where the rubber buttons have fallen out) or missing switches it sounds like your door actuators have gone bad. It's a common problem with the early MINIs and the only real solution is to replace them. Some have attempted to try to fix the OEM actuators but the new ones that are available are more robust and built to a higher standard (or so it would appear).

Try this: does your key lock and unlock the hatch? One press on the lock button locks all the doors; one press on the wings unlocks the driver's side door and a second unlocks the passenger door and the hatch. If the hatch unlocks and locks as it should your problem is with the door actuators and not the central locking system.

Actuator replacement is possible to do yourself- you'll need some basic metric tools plus a set of metric hex wrenches and a set of "ball-end" metric hex wrenches. Small hands and much patience helps as well.

Way Motor Works and ECS Tuning have good prices on the actuators and good availability.

Good luck with it-

Val

 

Key does look like that, sans chrome Mini emblem. It's just embossed into the key but otherwise the same.

The key will unlock all doors, but not lock any of them. And the lock switch on the center will lock and unlock all doors.

 

Sounds like your key won't even lock your hatch. In that case, it could be your key or your central locking system. Open your key up (there's a place to pop it open where the ring goes through and see if pressing the lock microswitch on the board lights up the LED that you can't see through the cover. It should light up when either of the microswitches is pressed.

If not, the switch might be bad or something else might be bad on the key. If it does light up with the lock switch I'm guessing the central locking system is at fault.

Val

 

Just pulled the key apart and the LED on the board is blinking, so it must be something in the central locking. I'll have to dig around and see how to diagnose it. Thanks for your help.

 

Yes, sounds like something with the key or the central locking system. When the car does not unlock at all on one door its usually the door lock itself.

 

Well it worked once last night, and now won't work again. It has to be something in the central locking failing. Time to dig into it.

 

UPDATE: After wiggling what I'm assuming is the IR receiver for the remote locks on the dash (because it was rattling) I now have remote locks pretty much all the time. I guess the sensor is loose, but I'll take it.

 

The radio receiver for the keyless entry in in the rearview mirror....
The sensor on the dash is for either the auto climate or the auto lights....
So not sure what wiggling an unrelated sensor did...
But can't argued with success.