The little red light on top of the dash? Looks like an alarm indicator, but I've never been able to light mine up. I don't think my car has an alarm (never heard it chirp when I lock up the car).

Thanks for any info.

Donald

 

I believe you are talking about the temperature indicator for the automatic A/C. If I am correct then no all MCSs do not have this.

 

Do our cars have alarm systems? I have been trying to figure that out for a while now.... *fingers crossed that we do*.

 

Somewhere on the MINI-US.com, there is a "little known facts" list that describes this - only a tempurature sensor I believe. Apparently nothing else on the car has caused as many questions over the years....

All cars have the wiring harness for the alarm system - but to buy the components is an additional option. This is NOT the red light for the alarm though - my flashing red alarm light is on the end of the left steering wheel stalk. The alarm has interior sensors (ultrasonic - so don't leave your puppy inside) and a tilt sensor (for preventing ramping up the car and driving it off).

Bill

 

some early models have it some don't, it seem the *boys* at the plant were not getting the right instructions all the time...
out of 5 cars we checked at our club 2 did 3 did not and no one has the alarm system , but we have other similar options.

 

An alarm system is not standard on USA MINIs - but all MINIs have electronic immobilization. You must have the key to start the engine.

There's a chip inside every key.
Proof: open door; hold key fob NEAR the slot in the steering, but don't insert it. You'll still hear the "door open with key inserted" warning bell

 

I have an early build '02...the little red thing on the dash is the temperature sensor for the auto climate control.

 

The red thing is a light sensor, so your dome doestlight up during the day (at least on some cars) if you have any A/C you have the interior temo sensor; making the OBC DIY mod possible, exactly where its located I do not know (maybe under the light sensor, I thought maybe as part of the rear square with vents that I also think has part of the alarm system if choose to add it)but I have light just a blanking plate

 

I thought it was a light sensor for the headlights.

 

I have one on my dash, Had no Idea what it was for. I have auto a/c but not the auto lights.
Learned something new.
Cheers

 

The light sensor for the auto headlights is part of the rain sensing unit.

The interior temperature sensors for auto a/c are behind the tiny grilles in the auto a/c unit:


The "little red button" on the dash measures "sun load" (ie: the amount of heat pouring on to the car) - although what the auto a/c does with it is a mystery!

 

Hey all,

The purple / red "button" on top of the dash is a UV sensor used to tell the AC how much sun is getting into the car - it , coupled with the temp. sensors on the front of the AC tells the AC what to do.

At least that is the "official" purpose I have heard:impatient


Good luck

 

Yes, in the Bently service maual, its called a "solar" sensor and its' part of the Automatic AC system.

 

I does work. When it's sunny outside, my A/C blows more air than when it's cloudy... So it does work great!!

 

off topic ...today i realized the faster i went the faster my wipers went .... this little car is packed w/ so many cool little tricks

 

I always wondered what that silly thing was!!! Thanks for clearing it up for me.

 

You could say that it "works great" or you could say that when you SET YOUR A/C ON HIGH you want it to blow a lot of air, but that d*mn little light on the dash makes it not blow hard enough b/c there isn't enough sunlight . . . at least i think it's to blame for my a/c sometimes blowing hard and sometimes not on a single setting

i use my auto climate control like a manual one if i use it at all . . . i usually only use it in the winter to blast heat to try to counter act the cold air rushing in from not having a roof