Gidget, make sure you bring our PC into the car with you when you try this so that you can report what happens in case you can't get out.

Sorry, this really isn't a laughing matter I suppose.

 

Update...

I was set up for service on Monday... BUT while I was driving, my windows and sunroof decided to open and close and open and close... I tried usingthe dash lock toggle but it did nothing... so there I was trying to close one window while the other was opening .... It was like a scene out of a "B" movie... I finally got everything closed and drove stright to the dealer/service... they had to replace the driver side lock assembly. It took them about 2hrs... everything works fine ( I hope)... but they also scratched the plastic oval on the inside of my door... Not a happy camper... they are seeing what they can do to "fix" that...

They also said that they had one other MINI that had the same problem.... and the lock replacement did the trick...

Thanks for listening guys...

Paul

 

perhaps a bad lock from the factory was messin' with the CANbus system, causing the computer to freak out (and basically not know what to do).

With technology comes uncertanty and new perspective, and a quick learning curve is mandatory!

 

I hope people don't take offens to this........but perhaps we need to look at this from a different cultural viewpoint. I have worked for a German company for over 7 years now, and have learned that Germans actually assume people have intelligence (imagine that!), and wouldn't do anything so illogical as locking someone in a car with the remote (from their viewpoint - not mine). I understand it seems quircky to those of us who are Americans - but in America we tend to design things assuming the world's biggest idiot will be using it (I fear this is a direct result of our legalistic society!). Germany doesn't have the same legal issues we do, and they just plain think differently than we do.

Now, having gone out on that limb....I simply don't see how this vehicle meets the FMVSS (206?) standard. This standard was put in place to prevent children / people from being locked in (trunks). In this case they could be locked in the passenger cabin! I hope MINI can resolve this issue before someone dies from the heat while locked in the car.

 

Paul,
i think MINI should retrofit the emergenct boot release to all older cars. But what I am wondering about is the road salt IN YOUR DOORS?!? First off, how did you know that you had gotten road salt in there, secondly, how did it GET in there? That's worrysome, as I've been salt-coated several times this winter. Hmmm..




>> A couple of weeks ago service had to remove my door panels and flush them out because they were loaded with road salt... I just wonder if the salt is shorting out the lock/s or electronics... Not a happy camper.... Any thoughts guys???

 

OK, I tested this out on my way home today. Sat in the car, locked it with the remote key. The toggle switch was indeed disabled (I still think this is totally ridiculous), but pulling twice on the door handle opened the door. So, I guess MINI just says that someone won't be able to get out of the car because they might not think to pull twice on the door handle.

Or maybe not everyone's car works like mine does. It seems like the programming is fairly dealer-specific.

 

Going along with the previous posting about Americans being legalistic idiots.... I'll go out on the same limb and agree with that. I read once about this guy who sued his lawn mower company (and won) because they did not specifically mention anywhere on the mower, it's manual or packaging that one should NOT stick ones arm into the blade assembly while it is running...

That being said.... The action of double-pulling the handle is mechanical. When you pull the handle the first time and you hear that *thunk* that's the door unlocking. You pull the second time and, viola, that's the door opening. That's not an electrical issue and Volkswagon has the same mechanism in their rear doors. Since it's not electrical, your battery could be removed, kicked down the block and properly discarded and you're still getting out of your MINI. Not that I have an overwhelming estimation of ANY persons intelligence, regardless of culture, but getting people locked into their car due to one single, electrical exit method is not likely something that a major, reputable car company is going to miss. "oopsie, Heinrich, we missed that one!"

So I think we can all go to sleep tonight comfortable in the assumption that our MINIs will not retain us against our will. And furthermore, if you CAN actually lock a passenger in the cabin, I'm not so sure that's a bad thing.
1. If my boyfriend is particularly annoying maybe he needs a little time-out...
and
2. What's the difference between that and those kiddie-proof locks that keep small children trapped...?

Remember guys, it's not quite a Corvair,
~Kelley

PS (to make this the longest post in recorded history) I don't buy that the mystery jack in the S is an emergency window-breaker, as I doubt the majority, if trapped in their car, would have the wherewithall to crawl into their boot and fuss about with that little bag that it's in.

 

I was kidding about the jack. :smile:

See ya,
JS

 

Thanks folks, looks like we solved this one!

 

I own a Cooper S now however I owned one of the first Cooper's in the UK, my car had a similar problem, windows operating on their own, interior light flashing etc..It turned out it was a door control module which had got moisture inside it causing the problem.It was replaced and was ok ever since..

 

Thanks for the link. I had not seen that about salt in the door's. I do know that in Iowa they spray some crap on the road before the weather comes. It gets everywhere. Garage floor is covered with it. I am sure it works it's way into every nook and cranny of everything. I will have to make a thorough inspection come spring.

 

To get this thread back on track....
I seem to recall that there were a lot of instances of this (mystery window and sunroof opening) reported in the UK prior to the US release so it is probably covered in a tech release of some sort from early in the US history. Is your MINI an early build date?
Just my $ .02

 

I'm thinking I'll just tell the dealer NOT to program my remote to open the windows. I can see me walking across a parking lot, pouring rain, holding umbrella and keys and accidentally push that button. I do not want dirt, dust, rain, etc... coming into my car from auto opening windows.

I can understand why someone might want to open the windows to let the hot air out of the car on a very hot day, but here in Texas, when it's hot it's also dirty and dusty. Why open the windows and let in the dust when you've bought the air filter system to keep it out ?

 

<<I was kidding about the jack. >>

 

I posted this thread on the 19th. It chronicals my experience with the very some problem.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...amp;topic=6200

 

Jsun,
The idea here is "deadlocks" to prevent someone breaking a car window, unlocking a door and making off with your MINI.
From bitter experience, it is a big issue in England so that is likely why MINI is set up the way it is ... when I lived in England my HOUSE was set up the same way; if I locked the door with the deadlock, I could not get out without a key.

I agree that there might be a risk if
1. all electrics fails while you are in the car with doors locked, or
2. some joker decides to lock someone else in the car.
But for me ... priority one is keeping my MINI; I am prepared to make sure that I do not lock anyone in my car, and I have had the auto-locks disabled so my car is not locked while I am in it.


>>Sorry guys (and gals), but getting locked in ones car so that the only way out is to break a window is UNACCEPTABLE!!!! I simply can't believe that this is the case, and if it IS, then MINI's got a major lawsuit waiting to happen (warning stickers aside), and a recall for reprogramming must definitely be in order.
>>
>>I may be misinterpreting something here, so I'll check with my service dept as soon as they're open again on Monday. This is just too weird.
>>
>>Phobol, did you have to break a window to get your girlfriend out? I'm serious, what happened?

 

I and my wife tested this today on our October 2002 build MCS. If you use the remote to lock someone in the car all they need to do is pull twice on the door handle and it will open.

The manual says you need to hit the door lock toggle and then pull twice but we didn't find that necessary.

Keith Hamburger

>>Jsun,
>>The idea here is "deadlocks" to prevent someone breaking a car window, unlocking a door and making off with your MINI.
>>From bitter experience, it is a big issue in England so that is likely why MINI is set up the way it is ... when I lived in England my HOUSE was set up the same way; if I locked the door with the deadlock, I could not get out without a key.
>>
>>I agree that there might be a risk if
>>1. all electrics fails while you are in the car with doors locked, or
>>2. some joker decides to lock someone else in the car.
>>But for me ... priority one is keeping my MINI; I am prepared to make sure that I do not lock anyone in my car, and I have had the auto-locks disabled so my car is not locked while I am in it.
>>
>>
>>>>Sorry guys (and gals), but getting locked in ones car so that the only way out is to break a window is UNACCEPTABLE!!!! I simply can't believe that this is the case, and if it IS, then MINI's got a major lawsuit waiting to happen (warning stickers aside), and a recall for reprogramming must definitely be in order.
>>>>
>>>>I may be misinterpreting something here, so I'll check with my service dept as soon as they're open again on Monday. This is just too weird.
>>>>
>>>>Phobol, did you have to break a window to get your girlfriend out? I'm serious, what happened?
>>

 

My MINI was parked in the garage for a week. Then today when I entered the garage, I noticed both windows were in the dipped position and the sunroof partially tilted up .

So I closed everything and went on some errands. When I retured home, I noticed the again, the sunroof was partially in the tilt position. But this time not as much as before.

 

This also points out you must be careful on S models when disconnecting the battery. I stored my car with the battery disconnected, both windows down, both doors unlocked and the rear seats folded down. It occured to me that with the battery disconnected and the hatch/doors locked there's no way to get back to hook the battery back up!
I remember my MA showing me that the lock button on my keyfob for some reason didn't work when the fob was in the car. Maybe this was something done to later models for this same reason.

 

Wow, an almost 4 year (3 years, 11 months) gap between posts in a thread. This must be some sort of record.

Zip

 

Okay, so we have resolved the issue of the door locking someone inside the car forever, and also the radio frequency moving the windows/sunroof open. I'm not satisfied that we have resolved the issue of the salt inside the doors! We have the same kind of preventative brine spray on the roads and I hate it, but they don't care about me, so never mind. But how did you get all this salt spray inside the doors? How did you know it was there? And should we all be concerned about this?:impatient

 

Doesn't look like this was properly answered...The GM controls all of these things, windows, locks....First thing, like was mentioned, is to check for water under the RF carpet area. Maybe a faulty AC drain, or have been flooded at one time.

 

I need help disabling the auto window and sunroof opening. Woke up this morning after a terrific thunder storm and found my 04 turned into a bathtub.
This is the second or third time it happened. The dealership wants to charge for reprogramming and would prefer to do it myself if possible.
Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

My 03 R50 does the same thing, if I face the buttons of the key towards me and the key jiggles, windows roll down and sun roof opens, if I have the buttons facing away, all is ok, with the windows down and roof open when you get to your car? hold the key as steady as you can and walk away til you are out of range, same with walking up to it. I dont have a dealer close enough to me to de-activate that feature on my car. I can shake the key when I am around my car and it will open everything up. Quick fix is to remove the battery from the key fob............ Hope that helps

 

I've "butt called" the windows open several times on my 03MSC. Usually during violent rain storms (that I notice) i.e. like Hurricane Frances several years ago here in Florida. Just finish drying the interior from the last incidence, 4 hours open in a driving rain storm.

It's similar to "butt dialing" a cell phone in your pocket. Ever find a phone call to Russia on your phone bill you probably sat on your phone and actuated it. "Butt Dialing" your windows open is the same thing. My solution leave my keys on the dining room table and only pick them up when I'm going to be driving the MINI. Now I just walk out the door without my car keys - don't get very far that way but my windows don't open during rain storms either.