Stock Problems/Issues Discussions related to warranty related issues and repairs, or other problems with the OEM parts and software for MINI Clubman (R55), Cooper and Cooper S(R56), and Cabrio (R57).

Electrical gremilins

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Old Oct 10, 2023 | 01:36 PM
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Electrical gremlins (SZL steering angle sensor)

I had to remove the engine from our 2009 Clubman S to change clutch/timing gear/walnut blast the intake valves. I've got the engine back in and it's running fine, but I'm chasing down the usual electical gremlins that follow a job like this.

Most of my trouble appears to be with the steering wheel; the turn signals work but don't cancel, the wheel buttons for the stereo don't work, and I am getting codes for Steering wheel angle (9E29 SZL), Multifunction Steering Wheel Timeout, Telegram ((E2C SZL), and Footwell Module (although I had this code before I pulled the engine). I have cleared codes several times so I suspect these are real.

Is there a common bus or module that controls all these functions? I'm wondering if something might have gotten unplugged or had a ground interupted during the work, but I can't see anything obvious under the dash.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
 

Last edited by idickers; Jan 20, 2024 at 01:16 PM. Reason: Now SZL
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Old Dec 6, 2023 | 07:59 AM
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Anyone?
 
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Old Dec 6, 2023 | 02:42 PM
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Did you remove the frame from the vehicle or loosen the steering shaft......
 
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Old Dec 6, 2023 | 02:46 PM
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I did have to lower the subframe at one point, and disconnected the steering shaft from the rack in order to get clearance.
 
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Old Dec 24, 2023 | 04:04 PM
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Did you, by chance, not disconnect the battery during the repair, and arch something that popped a fuse?
 
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Old Jan 13, 2024 | 12:40 AM
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Thank you showing how to see the valves without pulling the whole engine down. That's helpful. I'm up for doing the job myself, but not if I don't have to. Just changing out the plugs and coils made night and day difference. I will be changing out the injectors next and will take a look at the valves then; in the manner you show in this video. Tons of videos about how to clean the valves. your's is the only one that shows how to see the valves (Mini Cooper) without pulling the engine apart. We need more videos like this one. Thank you again.






snaptube vidmate
 

Last edited by ahdyu; Jan 13, 2024 at 07:33 AM.
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Old Jan 13, 2024 | 04:30 AM
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Originally Posted by texasmontego
Did you, by chance, not disconnect the battery during the repair, and arch something that popped a fuse?
No, the battery was disconnected during the repair, and I checked the fuses and they are all working.
 
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Old Jan 15, 2024 | 12:49 PM
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Did you reattach the engine to body ground?
Sometimes a new ground strap is needed.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2024 | 05:15 AM
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Thanks, the ground is firmly connnected.
 
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Old Jan 19, 2024 | 01:08 PM
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I removed the steering wheel to see if the SZL was broken or needed cleaning, but in the R55 Clubman S it appears that the SZL is integral to the steering column switch module. So I'm going to reconnect everything and try disconnecting the steering shaft from the steering box, and see if I can get it to read 0 degrees when straight ahead. My problem is that I think it read 0 before I removed the steering wheel, so I'm concerned something else may be wrong.

While I had the steering wheel off I noticed the clock spring is pretty grungy, is it possible to remove the clock spring from the switch module? It could use a cleaning, but I'm hesitant to remove it if puts things further out of adjustment.
 
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Old Jan 20, 2024 | 12:41 PM
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So now I'm confused. I'm trying to fix the Steering Angle Sensor problem after I reconnected my steering rack.
I did a scan and went to the DSC interface (pic) which includes the SZL, and then went to live data (second pic). Sure enough it shows an out-of-whack steering angle (-1440) when the wheel is straight ahead and the wheels are pointing straight ahead. My problem is that when I turn the wheel in live data I don't see the angle chnge, suggesting that the SZL is not detecting the rotation of the steering shaft.

What connectors are there for the SZL that might have come unplugged? I see two connectors at the back of the steering wheel, but they run up into the dash. I unplugged them and cleaned them with electrical contact cleaner. I don't see any connectors or wires coming out of the lower steering column.
I'm not sure what to do next, as the SZL appears to be integrated into the switch module on the 555/r56 cars.





 
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Old Jan 20, 2024 | 12:48 PM
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One other thing: I removed the steering wheel thinking I could clean the SZL, but I couldn't see how to get to the SZL. I did check the clockspring to see if it was centered, but contrary to the Bentley manual it did not stop turning after 2.5-3 turns. It just kept spinning. Could this cause SZL errors, and if so is there a way to replace it without replacing the entire switch cluster module?
 
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Old Jan 20, 2024 | 02:41 PM
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While I'm trying to eliminate possible errors, can anyone confirm the plug order at the power steering pump? I'm pretty sure I've got it right because the car steers fine, but I keep getting error codes. In the attached pic there are two smaller plugs, one that has 3 wires going to the harness and one that has 4 wires. The plug with 4 wires fits the receptacle on the driver's side (right in picture) and the harness wires are bent in a manner that suggests this is correct. But it's 14F today and I'm working in an unheated garage, so my fingers may not be the most sensitive instruments for plug engagement.


 
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