FIXED! see below if you have this problem!

my MINI has recently developed an issue which is driving me nutty in regards to the window NOT dropping when i open the door. i know about the fix where you hold the switch up for a few seconds and it resets and that works. BUT, the problem reoccurs after a day or 2. and it will happen on either window at any given time.

the only thing i'm wondering about as a culprit is the aux in jack. sometimes before i roll up my windows i unplug the ipod but, leave the cable jack still plugged in. that's the only thing i can think of as i recently started using the ipod in the car. just wondering if unplugging the ipod and leaving the cable still connected is confusing the system.

that may be a long shot. anyone else had this issue on and off frequently as i am starting to?

it's a 2003 R50 with 38k miles.

 

just discovered another door issue. the driver's side interior door opener latch (chrome handle) is sticking. just started happening. dor opens but, when i pull the latch and release is sticks 1/2 way. have to push it in the remainder of the way.

 

well, door sticky pulls (latches) fixed. pulled on interior handle sprayed in some lubricant and voila, good as new.

no one else has the window drop issue then?

 

50 views and NO IDEAS! just kidding... sort of .

ok it isn't the ipod. i disconnected the ipod cable today and ran a couple errands. on each exit of the car i witnessed the windows drop and rise as normal. so i figure it MUST be the ipod connection as much of a stretch as that is.

so i get home and open the driver's door and window doesn't drop. i just reset the ECU so now we'll see if that fixes it.

any other ideas? i would say the window motor is going bad but, it's happening on both sides of the car. si i'm ruling that out. and i'm going to say that it's happening every other day or so although, it happened yesterday and today....

 

lol i viewed it but i have not experienced this. But i dont have the aux input in my car. its a theory i dunno if it will work but you can try if you want to. Disconnect the aux unit from the radio HU and see if it is still causing this problem. If it is then it aint the aux input device. If this is the case call mini and get it fixed if still under warranty.

 

nope it's not the aux input. hmmm. thanks anyway for responding.

 

Doubt if it could be anything to do with the sound system. I think they are totally different buses in the car's system. If you have the Bentley manual, check the (admittedly crappy) wiring diagrams to see where both windows have common circuitry. It would probably be something from that point back. (Maybe. I hate electrical problems. )
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Well I have had many door issues after replacing both actuators seems as all problems are fixed, I have talked to quite a few MINI techs that say the older MINI's prior to 2005 had actuator problems (something about not being properly sealed from water)

Dont know but thats my 2 cents

 

haven't driven today so not sure if the ECU reset did anything.

i hate electrical issues too. it's the one thing i just can't get my head around. but, it is confirmed it's not the stereo or aux in as the culprit.

maybe it is an actuator issue then, just weird that it does it on both sides off and on. i guess they could both be going... lucky me. well, i guess that $1400 extended warranty i just purchased will come in handy then. between a leaking power steering pump and possibly a couple of actuators i should already break even on that investment . warranty company should be thrilled.

any other ideas are welcome. guess i'll be heading to my mechanic soon...

 

ECU reset did nothing. should have know better but, thought i'd reach for it. must be a coincidental mechanical issue. motors must be getting ready to say goodbye. but, both at the same time?

actually the issue really presents itself when i have the window (s) down and roll them back up before exiting. about 30% of the time the window does not drop when i open the door. if i have them already rolled up seems like they drop every time.

numbers may or may not be the same on the passenger side as i don't use that door as often.

so, i don't know if anyone can or will answer this and again electrical is definitely not my bag. but, is there any module or whatever that both windows would share that is failing that could be causing this issue. or are the windows each seperate and just coincidentally showing a sign of failure around the same time?

FWIW the windows otherwise function perfectly. although i did have the cabling redone on my passenger side window a few months back. but, has been fine until now.

the only thing i can think of that i have changed before the issue started was my windows were tinted. the shop knew all about tinting MINI's and have been recommended here on NAM as well as other local MINI owners. but, i wonder if they screwed something up. i know probably a reach...

the other thing i notice is with both windows rolled all the way down- part of the drivers side window- the part closest to the windshield sticks up a little maybe 1/4 of an inch. whereas the passenger window rolls completely down and out of sight.

 

"the other thing i notice is with both windows rolled all the way down- part of the drivers side window- the part closest to the windshield sticks up a little maybe 1/4 of an inch. whereas the passenger window rolls completely down and out of sight."
Hmmm. On my 02 MC, neither window rolls down all the way. Both stick up at the front about 1/4" and always have. Was told that when I bought it (new) that they all did that. Maybe a change in 03, or the tinting shop mis-aligned something?
-skip-

 

thanks but, i was wrong. the passenger side does stick up too. it was only due to the fact that the angle i was viewing it at from the drivers seat made it appear it wasn't... it is. another blown theory.

lol it's driving me bonkers. the only other possibility and then i give up to possible window motors. is that my drivers door sometimes doesn't catch (latch) properly when i close it. meaning if i don't give it a good tug it will close but not latch. imagine the times when you have accidentally pushed the door closed on a car and it closes but still remains slightly open.

i looked at the latching mechanism and it has 3 bolts holding it in. my drivers side (the wonky side) is mising the top bolt. and looking at the nylon (plastic) latching or locking mechanism it looks scuffed. the passenger side looks pristine. i'm wondering if the latch is sticking when i open and close the door and not triggering the window to drop. obviously something is going on to not allow it to catch completely at times when i close the door. maybe it's jiggling around in there because of that missing screw. alas i do not have a screw here that will fit it and will have to try to pick one up this week. it has a torx head. any ideas on the size? if you open your door and take a look at the inside of the door itself (not the body where the chrome catch for the latch is) you'll see the latching mechanism on the inside of your door (near the outer door handle) and how it is held in with 3 torx. maybe my terminology is reversed- catch, latch.

if it even plays a role in that . but, would be nice for my door to close smoothly. ahhh the little things- they mean the most in life yet can cause the most heartache.

 

The door handle on my 03 MC 'stuck' and I couldn't open it even after flipping the toggle-- had to tighten it at the dealer-- no longer under warranty.

 

well, think my last ditch effort was the one that worked.

i lubed the door latch and it seems to have fixed it. i started thinking it was the latch when i realized that the window drops as soon as you squeeze the outside handle and raises when you shut the door and the latch catches the catch. will keep an eye on it though. but, seems that my latch was sticking.

 

UPDATE- well folks, one week later and i have not had the issue repeat itself once!

so just an FYI for everyone else to mentally store away in case you ever have this perplexing problem:

if you ever have a "chronic" issue of the window not dropping when you open the door syndrome: open said door and spray or lube the latch.

 

Hhmmmm interesting, good info and thanks for all your hard work. I have noticed in the last few days the oposite was happening to me. My windows wouldn't go back up when the door was closed. I'll take a look and see if the same solution will work.

thanks for the info