Well a new problem popped up yesterday and I am not sure what the source is. For some reason the electronics think the passenger door is open. The window wont go all the way up, and the dome lights wont shut off. If you roll the window up it still goes all the way up, and then dips like the door is open. If you lock the door with the remote all of the dome lights go off, then a few minutes later they turn back on. I have pulled the fuse so I don't kill the battery.

My question is what's up? and where is the door closed sensor? and how does it work. Older cars have a simple push button switch somewhere in the door frame, how do ours sense the door is open/ closed?

Might be related, but not sure. The passenger side door lock actuator has been ca-put for some time, could the sensor be in that same unit, and more of the electronics in it have failed?

Oh, its a 2003 cooper s w/ 247,000 miles - not that that makes any difference.

Thanks,

Nik

 

Ok, I pulled the dome lite fuse, and things seemed to be ok. Then today the window randomly goes up and down, with the car on or off. Arg, not sure what to check.

Nik

 

Check the battery voltage. "Electrical gremlins" and insufficient battery charge can go hand in hand in the MINI.

 

Nope, not a battery issue. I run a scan gauge II and it shows the battery is fine. and the problem is only related to the passenger door. It seems to be in the the sensor that senses the door is open or closed. I put all the fused back in last night and everything seemed fine. Then going to work today the window kept going up and down (just dipping, like when you open the door), and the dome lights kept coming on. So I took out both fuses again.

Anyone know how and or where the door switch works/ is?

 

From what I can deduce, in the Bentley manual, there is a microswitch that is part of the door latch. So perhaps your locking issue is to blame. Replacing the whole unit should fix your lock and the door sensor. At the very least it is the most likely culprit.

I will point out that after any door or window work, the Bentley manual specifically states to reinitialize the windows by holding the window switch up for 5 seconds after the window closes.

 

I was kind of figuring that there was a switch in the door latch mechanism somewhere. I'll go ahead and reinitialize it anyway, but it sounds like it is time to replace the actuator.

It did all start acting up after a large rain/ snow storm, so maybe it somehow got wet too.

Thanks,

Nik