I searched the forums already for this, but I didn't see anything that matches my question. My apologies if you've seen this before...

05 MC (just purchased in May) - When it's hot out (~100 F) and I'm running the A/C, the DSC/ABS/Flat Tire Monitor warning lamps go on. The first two times I've checked everything and it all appeared to be OK. When I "reboot", the lights go off and don't come back on. This has happened maybe four times this summer.

Has anyone seen this before? Maybe it's just a computer glitch, since everything seems to be working? Marissa just had an engine oil service with visual check, and nothing was reported except for brake pads.

 

Haven't seen this one before... sorry!

 

a pulse genarator could be failing interminitinly or the the heat is causing the air in the tires to expand enough to trip the tps, or it could just be going nuts... Ive had mine go off a few times when I pull off a steep hill and an angle just to find out one of the tires is in the air thus triping the sensor, and as you said reset and go and back to normal.

 

Thanks, Phantom. I'll check out the pulse generator.

 

This happened to me once on trip last month.

The reset switch is under area of my e-brake handle and I must have bumped the switch with my hand. ( No arm rest )

The light came on, I pulled off highway, checked air pressure in tires and all was ok.

I just reset system and no problems since, and I now know to stay clear of the reset button.....

 

any word on what is causing this, i am haveing the same issue

 

This happened to me today on my way to work and on my way home, seemed to happen when I was stopped or slowing down, but I wasn't really paying much attention, just glancing as I cruised.

Here is what I noticed:

Tire Pressure light on
ABS light on
DSC light on
Temperature gauge would spike to the high end, and as I sped up it would slowly go down to mid point
Speedo would plummet to 0 for a split second
Tach dipped down to 0 when stopped and nearly 0 when I was driving slowly.

Any other idea's on this?

My car is an 03 MC. I also noticed that there is a slight anti-freeze leak that I will make a new thread about.

 

This started happening for me again. I've poked around a bit in the Stock Issues forum, and two possibilities I see are:

1. Dirty ABS sensors
2. Battery

Going to investigate these.

 

Ok, so the lights hadn't come on for a while, and then last week they came on and the gauges started to flop around again, so I books an appointment at Oakville Mini and took it in the for a diagnostics check. $125+ tax for the check and then they call me and say, we brought up 2 codes besides the two that you told us about (the you being me). I said ok what are they, and was told it came up with an ASC Control Unit and Instrument Cluster Control Unit. I don't know what or where either of these are but ok. He says, you can do one of two things, we can do some more investigating with the wiring and try to determine which is bad, but that will cost you at least one more hour at $125+ tax, or we can just go ahead and replace the parts and see what happens. So I do what everone else would do and I ask how much the parts are, and he tells me the ASC Control Unit is $847+ tax and install and the Instrument Cluster Control Unit is $995+ tax and install. So I said that I'm not spending that kind of money this time of year and I will pick the car up tomorrow.
So anyone know where these two items are located and have any ideas how I can check to see which one is faulty?
Also, any idea where I could get these parts at a cheaper price?
Thanks,
Tim

 

Before you go and get expensive CUs, you DEFINITELY need to get a 2nd opinion. Look at the threads listed below, under "Similar Threads". There are the same symptoms shown in at least two of them, and it looks as though it could be a tire pressure or wheel speed sensor, rather than the very expensive control units that your stealer, er, dealer has suggested.

 

I just had this condition and figured out what the issue is.

First i have had my '03 since new and do my own work. All mods etc. So once I moved from MI to CA the garage is no longer at my immediate disposal! In MI the ASC light and brake light etc would come on. Ran a code and found out it was a bad passenger pulse generator.

In Ca, same thing again but this time the ASC, Brake light and check engine all came on. The the speedo stopped working. Well this time due to work and new area I took it to a dealer. Brecht BMW/MINI. They ran a code and we discussed a possible bad generator, ABS Module, etc. Well it turned out to be a bad HUB. The material broke down that the pulse generator picks up. Now that the cars are getting older this is happening more often. So $230.0 later, a diagnostic and a reprogram for the speedo...Don't know why it went out but it all works now.

Check your hubs first!!

 

Please excuse my ignorance, what are HUBS?

 

Hello,

I'm new here with whole bunch of problems on my 2003 Mini Cooper non-S Autometic trans...
My problems is about the same as Wolfe but it has some pulse ticking sound from the bottom of the engine. Does anyone know what the problem might be?

Please help and thank you very much,
J-

 

Sounds like 2 things might be going on....just a guess...
These cars have odd things happen the batterys get old..check it out...
And then check thecwheel speed sensors...failure of one can cause the tri-fecta lights as it is sometimes called to all light up.
Thses are the simple things...once those are checked, you get into reprograming the computer ( dealer) and parts replacement...so hopefully the first 2 work. I would also check the grounds...and do not underestimate the havoc a nearly bad battery will cause in a electronic car like a mini...many wild goose chases have been done for nothing!!

 

The "pulse-ticking" sounds would be something else I think....

 

Thanks for your response. I've just pm'ed Wolfe_13 directly. I'm hoping getting a response/feedback from him.

Does anyone else have similar problems like this?

 

I need the car fixed asap. How am I going to go and get laid tonight??? T_T

 

It's an abs sensor dude. Plug in a diagnostic to see which corner needs replacing. Simples.

 

Yup...simple....to get rid of the 3 lights...the trifecta...as it is called, and solved NUMEROUS TIMES is the sensor 90% of the time...
The sound...might be something mechanical or a belt....but different issue.
Odd gauges...often like I said earlier, odd things happen in these cars with old batteries....do a load test..bet it is an old OEM bat on the way out, or a bad ground....most common anyway. Then again, the guage thing MAY go away when the wheel speed sensor is replaced....

 

Thank you for your reponses once again guys.

I just borrowed a code reader from my boss, I'm going to run it and see what could be wrong. From my research on this forum, it seems to be bad ABS sensors. If that the case then I'm good but if it's something else then I'm fvcked.

I will keep you guys posted as I go along solving this issue.

Thanks,
J-

 

Oh by the way, where do you guys buy ABS sensors and Mini OEM parts from? I called a Mini Stealership and they wanted $197.50 each. I looked on the eBay site and found almost $200 a pair.

Thanks much,
J-

 

I haven't poked around too much, but Way sells 'em (wheel speed sensor) for $99 ea.

 

They're less than $15 at pelicanparts.com

Edit: my mistake - see posts below I was thinking of the brake pad sensors.

 

Is that reliable part source?

 

I looked up the part numbers with the ETK (for a 2003 R53/56)to make sure I had the right part number.
For some reason the part number isn't listed on realoem although it's shown and numbered on the pictures.
Front was 34356761447 now superceded to 34356778175, and
rear p# is 34356761448 for a 2003 MINI Cooper Auto or Manual (although cars before around 3/2003 don't have a rear sensor).

I've ordered stuff from www.pelicanparts.com a half a dozen times or so
in the last 8 years without problems, except when I made a mistake myself
with a part number for a bolt.
A quick google search shows prices from $15 to $30 from partsgeek,
bavarianautosport, autopartswarehouse, minimania, etc. for these.
It's reprehensible how some dealerships mark up parts so much.
Classic MINI in Ohio will give a 20% discount to NAM members for most parts,
but you have to call them up or email them for a price quote. I've bought
from them a few times as well and can recommend them.
http://www.driveclassicmini.com
email: bmwparts@classicautocampus.com

Edit: my mistake - I gave the part #'s and prices for the brake pad sensors, as TimL pointed out below. Sorry.