Hello out there! I need help with a 2002 mini. I took it in to a local shop (not the dealer) for an oil change. I asked the guy if he could check out my running light, the turn signal was working but the running light part did not work. He said the bulb was fine and it seemed to be an electrical problem. The next time I drove the car all the gauges started going crazy, flipping up and down, the tach, speedometer, etc. the brake light. My question could this be a fuse issue or am I looking at another $1500 dealer job. Please HELP!

 

$1500 dealer job. Either the instrument cluster or the associated module have probably gone bad. Sorry!

 

So the dealer is my only option?

 

Given the headlight issue combined with the instrument problems, I would say it is more likely to be the ECM (electrical control module) about $1,100 to replace (parts and labor) at the dealer. I had this happen to me. It started with a headlight out, and then other electrical devices started acting crazy.

 

Thanks for the info... It is currently at the dealer for the diag...

 

keep us posted

 

Hey, thanks for the info, After taking my car to the dealer to get this problem checked out. (after my local auto repair, who said he could find the problem...ha, don't bother, $100 down the drain! Don't take your car to Lusti motors in San Diego) The dealer reset the computer and drove my car till the gas tank was almost empty, and of course the car worked fine. Typical mini, they said they can't diagnose if the problem doesn't present. So I picked the car up had to take a trip to see my Dad about 150 miles round trip, and she ran fine. The next day ran a short errand and all the instruments went haywire. The next time I drove it again no problems? Should I just keep driving until the problem presents all the time? will this cause further damage? any other advice is most welcome. Although the dealer could not find the problem they were nice.

 

Sounds like either the ECM iteself is going bad, or it is getting inconsistent voltage in. The low voltage problem could be cause by a marginal battery.

 

Thanks, for the help, I'll check the battery.

 

is it the original battery?

if so I'll bet two twinkies on a battery issue . . .

don't trust a test .... invest $100 and replace the battery.

 

It is not the original battery, so the tests aren't' reliable?

 

winniemini, can you be a little more specific than haywire, which gauges, what exactly are they doing, If it is soley the center instrument cluster gauges and the tach. that could be one thing, but if windows and door locks and lighting are involved these things are controled by a different computer than the gauges. I may have some experience with this prob. but need to know more info.