My daughter has a 2010 Justa. On cold Atlanta mornings, the doors will lock themselves shortly after she starts the car, sometimes it will try and lock several times....click, click, click, click, click. It only does it when it is sub 50 outside. She has had it to the dealer at least twice for this, and she is getting the usual "can't duplicate the problem". She left it with the dealer last night, and when they tried to recreate the problem this morning, of course it didn't do it. Any ideas?

 

If I had to take a wild stab.. I would unhook the center lower switch panel for a few days.. At least that could rule out a mechanical switch issue.

From there I'd move onto other things.


(Yes, I know this means the loss of power windows.. etc..) but it would be just for a few days.

 

Good thought Dan. If it wasn't the switch, wouldn't taking the switch out of play keep anything upstream from the switch that might be causing the problem out of play as well? Unfortunately, your idea isn't something she has the capability of trying, and I doubt the dealer would try that. I am 6 hours away from her, so I can't help her try your idea.

 

Ah bummer.

I looked at the wire diagram.. its pretty much that switch running over to a control module...

Switch > wires > module > wires > door lock motors

 

does your daughter's mini have comfort access? if so, where is the key? is something pushing the lock button?

scott

 

No, key fob goes in the dash. Keep in mind, this only happens when it is cold outside.

 

i would suggest a battery test

sears, batteries plus and many auto parts stores will stress test a battery for free

these rolling computers called minis need a good strong battery or all kinds or randomness can happen

 

I had this exact problem a while back in 2009. It ended up being sticky door handle mechanisms that needed to be replaced. I'm talking about the mechanism that is in the door handle. I believe there is some kind of proximity sensor there that when the car locks its doors, the sensor tells the ECU that the operation to lock the doors was successful.

 

Your link to Heinrich is very interesting. I am so impressed with your knowledge of MINIs.

Are you doing similar mods with your Lotus? If so, do you have a link to them?

Thanks for the great post on Heinrich.