Last week on multiple occasions, my DSC activated, mad a horrible noise in the front end, lights blinking, loss of power, etc. The problem with this was that i as not accelerating hard, wasnt going fast (20mph) and the ground was dry (no snow, leaves or any thing to make the wheels slip). I restarted the car multiple times and it did it every time. I finally turned off the DSC with the switch so that I could go to work. It happened on two other days. In between each event, everything was fine.

I took it to the dealer on saturday who checked the computer which told them that yes there was a code indicating that the DSC had turned itself off and there was nothing that they could do unless it was happeining when I brought it in. So with the computer reset, I drove it all weekend, to and from work and then last night, it happened again. On the plus side, i had to drive right past the dealer, but it was 9pm so it didn't do me any good.

Has anyone had this problem with the DSC activating, going straigt, not accelerating hard, on dry pavement? If so what was the fix? Thanks

 

i got dsc, it boggs the car down abit but i dont have the problem ur having (thank

 

Not familiar with this symptom as described (moving slowly, light acceleration, dry pavement). Sounds like a computer glitch to me. Have the dealer reflash your ECU, this might do the trick.

 

Its not dsc

 

i have no other option but to start there since that is the ligth that came on. it would be great if it wasnt that. what is your hypothesys?

 

I had a similar problem. I just left my dealer and I started hearing a nasty noise from my right front wheel, my DSC light would flicker everytime I heard the noise, it was already after hours when I picked up the car so I couldn't bring it right back. I called my friend who is a MINI tech and just gone done working on my car, he said the wheel speed sensor is probably bad on that side and the noise is the ABS trying to brake that wheel. I'll be there this Friday to get it fixed.

 

Thanks for the info, i'll call my SA and see if they can take a look at it to determine if that is the problem.

 

A few weeks ago, my DSC, flat tire monitor, and one other (which I can't remember) lights came on. No weird performance problems, though. They were off the next time I started the car. A few days later, they all came on again, and went off again the next time I started the car. The third time they came on, they stayed on and so did the Service Engine light.

Turned out to be the wheel speed sensor in one of the rear wheels was (to use my SA's term) "burned out."

I wonder if a faulty sensor in a front wheel causes more problems - like the ones you describe - than a faulty sensor in the rear?

 

Before I brought my car to the dealer I had all three lights on as well,
ABS, DSC, and Tire Light. No check engine light though.
Sometimes if I turned off the car then started it right back up they would all be out. Sometimes not.
I think the electronics hooked to the front sensors have to be a little "smarter" than the rear, because they not only have to monitor wheel speed, they have to detect wheel slippage as well.

 

...and another cause could be...

the steering angle sensor. If this sensor is jarred a bit by any under dash work (euro shelf, upper steering column work, etc.) it will misread and confuse the DSC system producing random lights, power cuts, and braking. Ask me how I know about this!

Make sure the SA takes a look at the steering angle sensor as well.

Theo

 

That is how it works
Buy a "Ian circut"

You can keep it OFF unless you want it on
Snow, bad weather ect

 

Thanks for the additional insight into the problem guys. I'm going to make an apt for next week to have them check it out, its been fine since the last time it happened (2 days ago). But im worried its going to happen again.

I do have the toggle for the DSC, but to me it makes no sence to turn it off. I dislike the warning light on my instrument cluster and if it is broken, it needs to be fixed. Broken DSC doesnt do me any good in bad weather. I want the auto up circut, its my next purchase.

edit- no disrespect to anyone, i appreciate all the differnt advice from everyone, thats what makes this group so great. thanks

 

This happened to me....today! I've been suspect of my ABS for a few weeks now as it would just engage for no good reason.

And, Ian, you'll love this one. Your circuit doesn't help on this. The only reason I know the DSC light turned on is because it was raining this morning and I had turned the DSC on. When it went off, I couldn't turn it back on.

They now have to go disconnect my circuit to check some stuff.

 

That's exactly what was wrong with mine.

 

Sounds like your wheel speed sensors or slip ring are going nuts.

and yes faulty sensor in the front would cause more problems because the DSC looks at the front wheels because they are the drive wheels. Determing wheel slippage for DSC activation is mainly from front wheel speed sensor input.

 

Yep what he said ^^^ Electro Nanny rearing her ugly head.

 

New development. Mainly me just venting (feel free to ignore)

now instead of it activating and making the wheel do weird things, the light just comes on. For a while it was turning on ever time it when anywhere but then I had to move, so the MINI got very little use. Im only now starting to drive it more. And low and behold, the light is starting to come on more and more.

I did manage to get it to the dealer when the light was on. But (and yes I know how stupid it was) as I parked my MINI, I turned the car off like I routinely do, which wiped the codes out. So now I have to wait until it turns on when I have time to go to the dealer.

 

Codes doesn't get wiped whenever you turn your car off. Even if the fault isn't present at that moment it is stored until however many key cycles later. They can still extract the code and figure out what happened

 

Please take the car in and tell them it is dangerous to drive and they need to look into it - that is clearly not normal behavior and they need to actively look into it beyond plugging it in for codes. There may even be a TSB about it if they look into it

 

What a coincidence. Just yesterday my DSC came on without me even flickering the switch. Then, it would behave like it has a mind of it's own, goes ON, then OFF, ON, OFF, ON, OFF going at low speeds with no traction slip. It didn't affect my performance, it's just troublesome to see that light go ON and OFF by itself. I've tried using the switch with no response. I've already scheduled an appointment with the dealer to go in on Sat, March 18 and we'll see what the problem is.

 

Hey anybody want give geotek some more leads as to a fix.
Someone has to have had this problem and gotten it resolved, let him know what they found.

 

I'm not sure all the previous leads given to geotek were followed up on with the dealer.

It appears that the dealer may not have investigated the issues once geotek switched off the motor. As said earlier, the codes remain after the car is turned off so geotek can take it back anytime to have the codes checked. That the dealer assumed the codes were erased *may* be a sign that they aren't quite up to speed with the details of the MINI. Can another dealer be consulted?

Looks like potential areas to investigate are front wheel ABS sensors and the steering wheel angle sensor. Get it to the dealer then post back.

Theo

 

Update: MINI is at the dealer, i was on my way home on the highway when the light came on. I stopped by the dealer, where they reset the computer and took it for a test drive. I finally activated for the dealer, (lights, vibrations etc) so now its in the shop. Ill let you know what they find.

 

My MINI is back. I'm very happy about that, they gave me a loaner MCSC which was fun to drive, i could really tell the difference in power, I LOVE 6th gear, but in the end i'm really glad i've got my MINI back. Here is what they found:

"Brake System Diagnosis - All
customer states that abs and dsc lights are on intermittently faulty DSC module/sensor. Tech verified complaint that lights would come on shortly after starting down the road but would go back out when the vehicle was starting down the road but would go back out when thevehicle was turned off then on. checked faults. found fault code 5E38 for DSC module. removed '05 style armrest. center console and checked wires from DSC sensor to ABS module (attached to breakout box to the ABS module). wires tested ok, replaced the DSC sensor and took for an extended test drive to make sure lights would not come back on; reinstalled center console and armrest."

Part No: 34-52-0-307-382 DSC Sensor.

So far so good. we'll see after a few weeks if the problem comes back. The SA said that this is only the 2nd DSC module thats bhe knows of since he has been there (~3+ yrs).