Are you referring to competely replacing the body wiring harness? I'm currently having a nightmare because the dealership is saying our problem is due to the wiring harness and quoting to replace it for $9000! They won't do it under warranty because they're stating the aftermartket guages that were installed caused water to leak in and corrode the harness.

I can't beleive if these things are being replaced so often, Mini would be eating $9000 each time?

 

No - I am referring to the engine wiring harness which runs about $1,200 parts and labor.

I am really hoping that they erroneously added another zero to the $9K - number............there is no way that's a $9K job.

There are also TSBs referring to the body harness and specifically damage due to moisture. When I get some time - I'll look them up.

 

Hmm I only see harness issues with 05 Automatic MCS. If you could can you give me the SIB or STB #'s please?

 

Body or engine harness?

 

Well, for what it's worth, I had almost the exact same problem(s) this week. Drove home during a flash snow/sleet strom. The roads were covered in like teflon *****. The ABS and tire pressure lights came on. The DSC is hooked into an Ian Cull auto off chip and would not go out (wanted DSC on for the road conditions). Engine would only run at very high rpm's or stall. Ver damgerous conditions . . . either get rammed from behind when the engine craps or go out of control when the engine would occasionally kick back in

Car towed 175 miles to the dealer at Mini's cost. Turned out to be the MAP sensors and wheel sensors for ABS, wheel speed and steering angle. Dealer said ECU kept throwing a code after repair they couldn't track down, but it disappeared after reset. IUnrelated, they also replaced the clutch and fywheel under warranty because of a "tick" at idle. Sure glad I'm not the one stuck with the bill for all this.

But, becaue of the great info on this thread, I'll make it a point to document my claim that the wiring harness may be implicated so I can claim down the road that the issue was submitted during the warranty period.

 

Ok, its the body wiring harness that is my problem (2003 MCS). Original quote from the dealer was $7000, then when we started making noise with Mini/BMW they raised it to $9000. Talking to some other dealerships, this isn't that shocking (at least not to them), since it requires them to completely tear apart the vehicle, they say the cost is due to labor @ 50-60 hours.

I've since taken the car to another dealership to get a second opinion, though I'll have to pay for their evaluation out oy own pocket, since the other dealer (Nick Alexander BMW) put in the DCS comments "wiring harness not covered under warranty". So no other dealers will even look at it unless we're willing to pay for it.

 

PM me with your e-mail address and I will send you the TSB that deals with the body harness and moisture issues.......

 

MINI fixed
Tech replaced both MAP sensors. He said that during diagnostics the CAN (Controller Area Network) BUS would not communicate with the ABS. There weren't any visuals or other indications from the ABS that it was in trouble that I could tell. Now I'm not sure what the relationship is with the ABS disabling the DSC but that was the case.
As soon as the MAP sensors were replaced trouble cleared. He did not have to reset the ECU. He also took it out for a thorough test drive, used about 1/2 a tank of fuel. I mentioned that and that I was glad he did the testing. He then replaced the fuel from their supply.
This just happened to be MINI Night out #4 hosted by the dealership. All the Techs were there giving Technical demonstrations in the shop area so I got to meet him and debrief about the problem.
MINI is running strong
For more on CAN BUS;
http://www.interfacebus.com/Design_Connector_CAN.html

 

The CAN bus doesn't communicate the MAP values at all! BUT it is used for the ABS/DSC/Tractioncontrol! It's a high speed bus, but the MAP goes straight to the ECU!

Well, aren't computers wonderful!

Congrats....

Matt

 

I knew that MAP values weren't part of the CAN bus, but didn't know it was used for DSC directly. Glad you got it fixed though!

Computers can definitely be puzzling...and they can only get worse in the future! :D

EDIT: All I can find is that DME talks to ABS/DSC over the CAN bus for torque reduction requests. As for not communicating w/ the ABS module via CAN...All I can think of is a terminal resistor, but have no idea how they're linked to the map sensors.

 

When I get a chance I'll try and scan the Tech report in. I want to understand this too.

 

Any word on that tech report? My MINI (2003 MCS, 42000 miles) just went into Universal MINI here in SoCal for the exact same problem that's been described here! DSC light on and won't go off, SES light on, almost stalling, etc) Do you think replacing the MAP sensors could be DIY job?

 

I haven't gotten the scanner to work yet to much other stuff to do.
Yes,
Replacing both MAP sensors is a DIY job, they are easy to get to.

 

is at the end of the head by the air box. Undo a couple of electrical connectors, and it's easy to remove (2 SHCS, 3 mm allen wrench) if I remember correctly.
The T-MAP sensor is on the front of the intake manifold. Right there for all to see when you open the hood!

Changing both should be less than a 15 min job....

Matt

 

Since my car is still under warranty (to a certain extent), I'm bringing it to South Bay MINI to see if they can resolve this problem.. I also purchased a Peake Research R5/EMX tool (pretty simple and straightfoward to use!), and it diagnosed what has been discussed on this thread, kicking out these errors:

p0108 - MAP/Barometric Pressure Circuit low input
p1109 - MAP too high in deceleration

 

Well, South Bay wants $150/hr to fix my problem (aftermarket 15% pulley voids their warranty). So, I think I'll be swapping out the MAP and TMAP sensors myself. Any other kind words before I embark on this journey? I haven't figured out how much these sensors are.. Anyone know? Is there any visual indication that the sensors would need replacing?

 

and sadly there is no visual identifier if they need replacing. You need a test bench that can do temp, pressure and vacuum. At least they are easy to replace.....

Matt

 

Update.. Installed MAP sensor last night. Pretty straightforward, but had to take my airbox off to have more room and see what I was doing. Went out for a quick 30 min drive, no hiccups, surging, or stalling. So far so good! Going on a 700 mile roadtrip this weekend, we'll see what happens and if I have to replace the T-MAP sensor as well. Price for sensor was $43.50.

 

Rune, thanks for the update. Did the DSC light go off and toggle switch activation/deactivation return to normal?

 

Doh.. Spoke too soon.. Drop up to San Francisco over the weekend.. Fine going up, no surging, no stalling. When we got there, car started acting up.. Same symptoms. :( I guess I have to replace the TMAP Sensor too. Ugh. Will try that and see what happens. Nope, the DSC light is still kicking on, but when I replaced the first MAP sensor, it went off on its own.

 

Ok! Well, finally put in the TMAP sensor last night.. When I immediately started the car up, the SES and DSC light switch off on their own! So, that's a good sign. Ran it last night a little while and this morning, and no chugging or hesitation or stalling! Revs kept to a minimum of 800. Finally. So that seems to have worked. Thanks for all the helpful commentary!

A small peeve.. When I removed the MAP sensor, I needed a 3 or 4 mm hex.. When I removed the TMAP, I need a T20 torx! What kinda of crazy backasswards way of putting parts into a car is this?

 

Rune, once again thanks for the update.
There is another thread about this same problem in MINI Talk
Would it be possible to merge the MINI Talk thread here?
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...hlight=DSC+SES
This is exactly the type of trouble shooting info we long term out of warranty owners need to keep on hand or available for others.

 

Can you merge in the thread from MINI talk into this one in Beneath the Bonnet?

https://www.northamericanmotoring.com...hlight=DSC+SES

It may help others in finding it for trouble shooting their MINI's.

Would someone report this to the Moderators, it won’t let me.
Thanks, norm

 

Bump

 

Bump for chris, I think this is the same problem your experiencing, follow this one too;
https://www.northamericanmotoring.com...hlight=DSC+SES