So here is a new one for me, I hope someone can help. I spent some time this afternoon troubleshooting and am leaning toward the ignition switch,
So the problem: turn the car off the brake lights come on (all three)
What I checked: switch, brain in passenger foot well (checking for moisture, completely dry), traced the wires back looking for a diode I had read about, never found it, or any bad wires. When finished I started messing with the keys in the ignition. What I found. Turn car on, brake lights off, turn car on, brake light on, turn key to acc, and back off, lights off...

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Nik

 

Reply to myself. Someone else may learn something though. I think I finally figured it out. I found a blow 10 amp fuse (can't remember the number, 3rd column, third down, in cab) for the instrument cluster. Replaced fuse, tail lights work as normal, tach, gauges all good. But the dash lights won't turn off. Pull the instrument cluster, swap in the one from my 03 (the problem car is my dads 05) and everything works normal. So I bought a used 05 speedo cluster off of eBay..... Funny thing (and kind of troublesome) apparently the milage of the car stays with the cluster, so when I put my 03 cluster the 05 now had 363000 miles. Kinda troublesome for those buying used cars, could easily switch the other way...


Nik

 

That's not good about the mileage thing, but glad you found your problem. And 360,000 is also good to see

There's been a few posts lately about crazy electrical problems being fixed by replacing the speedo or the tach.

 

Brake lights being stuck on is a fairly common indicator of a failed BCM, while you can't see water doesn't mean it wasn't there at some point.

Does your car have a sunroof? Have you checked if the drains are attached and draining properly?

Every car that has come into the shop with brake lights stuck on was fixed with a BCM, now that's not to say that's your issue, but in my demographic that has been the issue and fix for multiple cars.

 

I have the same issue as you, diagnosed by MINI dealer as failed speedo cluster. Did you have to get the used cluster coded? Any issues using a used one besides the inaccurate mileage.

 

Clusters are a part of the BUS system and need to be coded to the car for proper function, as well as it being frowned upon having an incorrect odometer reading.

 

Yes the cluster are coded to the car. Some people in 2005 has slow clocks and had the speedo replaced and its need a full reprogram. Did you see a orange dot near the mileage in the ebay cluster ?