Hi guys, I'm in England, and , I have a 2006 Mini Diesel, (Toyota engine) and it has a fault that i'm trying to solve. Hopefully some of you guys may be able to help?

TPMS light and traction control light come on randomly and when they do the car drives erratically, speeding up and slowing down. Other issues have arisen like the throttle losing responsiveness and going to tickover whilst driving.
When the lights are off, the car drives normally.
Fault codes show as;

5E1A Can data fault from DMA DDE
5E16 Can data connection to instrument.

Ive been trying to sort this out by taking apart connectors and spraying with contact cleaner. So far ive looked at the ECU in the engine bay, the ABS unit, and the fuse box and Body control unit.

Can anyone advise on exactly where i should be looking? Nothing seems to make a difference but for 2 months and 2000 miles the car was fine and then the problem returned. Its infuriating to drive

 

Over here on this side of the pond we weren't cool enough to get the 49 mpg 1D option in 2006. But, we did get similar warning light issues. TPMS + DSC + ABS lights also known as 'The Unholy Trifecta®' often point to a wheel speed sensor(s) and/or bad hub(s).

One such discussion of many if you search the board on 'trifecta':
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...r-failure.html

You did not mention ABS light so that part does not check out in this case. Neither does the erratic drivability. Hopefully others will weigh in on the discussion. Would look at the connectors first as you've been doing, failing that get hold of a high end scan tool / INPA to better assess and pinpoint the corner(s). Good luck, looking forward to your victory post.

 

Hi, thanks for the reply.
ABS light does not come on. All wheel speed sensors are working absolutely fine and have been tested with a diagnostic tool, showing all wheels reading correct speeds using live data. I did try another sensor but it was actually faulty and that did make the ABS light illuminate, so we know the sensors on the car are fine, having replaced the hub and also tested the wiring to the sensor.
Ive had a look at the posts regarding trifecta but mine does not seem the same as it is only the traction control light and the TPMS lights that illuminate and only randomly; ie they are not on all the time but once they come on they stay on for the duration of the journey and usually inititate bad performace from the car; self acceleration and then slowing. Sometimes the car drives fine.
The advice ive been given so far is the canbus system is at fault, which backs up the fault codes displayed and this affects the throttle response. causing it to speed, then the ABS system slows the car. So we think it is causing ABS ssues, bu the ABS system itself checks out fine.
Inteerestingly the ame fault code appears on BMW forums describing crankshaft sensor issues but i do not know if this would apply to the mini.
Diagnostic equipment used (borrowed) is professional one worth about £5000 but the fault codes it has produced do not say anything conclusive about where to look and check and thats the big problem. How to make them go away. If i can get those lights out i am positive the car will behave.

 

One other thing that will make those lights come on… the steering angle sensor being out of range. But the codes you show don’t indicate that. Unless it is unplugged or not securely plugged?

sorry can’t be more help, never seen that code combo before.

 

That leads me to believe it's an electrical issue and what you did temporarily fixed the issue. It's going to be a pain to find.
One thing that comes to mind when mentioning electrical issues is the common BCM flooding issue on all Minis with sunroof. Does your Mini have a sunroof? If so, was it left outside during rain? Since you already looked through it, I think you'd have noticed if it was water-damaged, but maybe it was small enough to not notice at first glance.

 

Just a side thought (and a free bump), might be worth a shot also to re-post the issue over on Mini2, believe they have a broader UK/continental audience, notionally with more MINI-1 / diesel owners who may have seen this specific issue crop up. Will be paying close attention to this thread regardless. Agree with @Fradow would check the last x number of things done to the car, even if they aren't electronic related, a connector here, a ground there, something snagged, bent, pinched etc. Also +1 on the sunroof drains; they play hell with these cars.

https://www.mini2.com/forums/#all-models-variants.654
https://www.mini2.com/forums/mini-faults-fixes.733/