All my lower switches and climate control stuff all of a sudden all stopped working. Any clues guys. Is there a fuse that powers all that stuff or some thing else that would cause this?Everything else in the car works great. With winter here it's going to be tough with not heat, defrost, windows, or fog lamps. Oddly enough the lock on the lower switch set still work and the sunroof is fine. I did plug in a gps into the lighter socket today and that still works.
Any thoughts would be helpful. I've owned the car for two weeks. 2008 S hatchback. Fun as hell to drive!

 

I have a 2010 R56 Cooper S, and a couple of weeks ago, I lost functionality to the following: Power windows, fog lights, all dash lights, and blinkers. The headlights froze in the "on" position at all times, but the high beams would not work. The warning light was the picture of the car up on a lift defined as "major electrical failure".

I searched this forum, and ended up trading messages with a gentleman who told me the same thing happened to him, and that this mini is controlled by multiple ECUs and the one that controls all of this is out.

Took it to the dealer, and they confirmed that is was a control unit that was out. Cost $1485 to replace. Luckily for me it was covered on my MINI Next Warranty

 

I went through and checked and none of the fuses are broken. Is the ECU that controls these functions in the actual climate control unit in the dash or in another area?
Does anybody know which ECU it is that controls the windows, climate control fog lights and defrosters? My headlights, sunroof, door locks and radio all work fine.
2008 r56 s.

 

Sounds like the footwell module . Check for water in the footwell ( from a leaking sunroof or windshield or a damaged Footwell module.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-diagnose.html

 

Thanks for the tip! Any idea of how to actually access and find water if it's in there? I'm seeing no water in the foot well area near the paddles is there a special way of tapping into where water might be near the footwell Module that area? I did notice a moving water sound in the dash last week but couldn't make out where it was coming from. Also would a damaged footwell module throw a code specific to that guys? Any thoughts?

 

Welcome, feel the footwell carpet and if you have a sunroof ( clear sign of clogged drain tubes ), you will have water soaked carpet , pull off the kick wall trim and feel under the carpet pad for moisture then look at the foot-well itself and the terminals plug connection, last but not least you would have to open up the footwell module and check for corrosion.

 

Thanks so much. I find it odd that the windows won't respond to the up/down switch yet they are lowering and rising back up when I open and close the doors to keep a seal fine. If I buy a new module is it just plug and play or does need programming. I'm nowhere near a dealership up here in Maine.

 

Ok so now that I've looked into this into more detail, the only thing that the frm controls that is not working is the windows. Everything else that the frm is responsible for is working fine and my climate control is still dead. Any other thoughts about what is the problem other than the frm. I checked the sunroof drains and they were clean as can be and no moisture in the footwell.

 

Go to the dealer for the diagnostic.
If the diagnostic is "FRM module must be replaced" then, I believe you can learn how to find and code an used FRM before paying $2000 to the dealer!

It is an easy job.
But you need the diagnostic first of all.

 

Will do thanks so much for the help guys. I knew I would be paying to play with this car. I just thought it would be $2000 for a timing chain, not a footwell module. This sucks!

 

Let us know how it works out. My 2010 MCS has been a maintenance nightmare. I've owned it less than 2 years and my CPO warranty has been used for over $7000 worth of repairs, including that timing chain you mention.

I personally will never own a German product unless it is under warranty.

 

So the adventure continues. I went to a local battery shop(all they do is battery work) and was told my battery has never been replaced ( so 8 years old) and that after testing it was having trouble holding a charge. I'm thinking when I left my car on while I was in the store so my wife could listen to the radio it dropped the charge and triggered one of the ecu/ footwell module into a safety mode. Again everything works except my side windows and climate control system. I have an appointment with a local bmw car shop that works on minis to do some diagnostics and I'm staying the hell away from the dealership on this one.
Also the battery place said reprogramming the car for a new battery is a load of crap and a money making scheme. Just put the correct battery in and you'll be fine. I'll keep you guys posted.

 

Just pay for the diagnostic. If your problem is your FRM module, you can do it yourself (replacing it by another one used).

Totally agree if the battery is equal o better

 

Hey guys so the conclusion to all this chaos....
It turns out that my glove box light ended up burning out and basically melted, kinda scary.
The car windows, entire climate control, fog lights and blower all are connected to a relay that is connected to the glove box light. Because the light was melted it was causing a short and blew the f18 fuse. The mechanic an I put in 2 fuses that blew on contact until we found the glovebox light causing a short.
We pulled out the glovebox light, popped in a new fuse. Bang!!!
Everything works perfect now.
Got out of the shop for under $100 for 3 fuses and an hour of labor.
No charge for the first 30 of diagnostics and code clearing.
I am now pondering who designed a car that leaves it driver without major features like windows, lights and heat/defrosters because of a faulty glovebox light.
Luckily the sound of my intake on the highway ramp made this bullsh!t all worth it. Still love this car. But that was a little ridicules.

 

Hope you also replaced that 8 year old battery...

 

Sure did!

 

Hi to anyone who can help..... i recently changed the blower motor in my 2007 mini cooper, after the motor change I lost power to the heater control and electric windows which I have r3solved but I am now having some other issues.....when I start the car my windscreen wipers wont switch off the headlights wont turn off and the indicators wont operate either....i have not got much electrical experience and really need my car back on the road.

 

Pull the fault codes. Are they FRM/footwell module related?

 

I am unsure tbh, I don't have a tester either! Everything was working before hand also.

 

hey there,

How did you resolve the loss of power to the windows and the heater control? I have also just changed the blower motor and have no power to the windows, heated seats, climate control etc.

radio works etc

thanks

 

This same situation just happened to me exactly and it sucks.

 

Does anybody have a solution? the only one I saw was the whole car was having problems because of a footwell light problem. Is that even possible?

Peter