Hatch goes "Boonk" - all by itself! (FIXED!)
Hatch goes "Boonk" - all by itself! (FIXED!)
Original problem post:
Well, the Dealer replaced the hatch lock/switches/etc. under warranty.
I thought it was fixed but I washed the car agian... BOONK!
Followed by boonk..... boonk..... boonk as the hatch lock cycled.
Thanks to the dealer for the detective work, I pulled the license plate surround and found wet wiring and a wet plug - not helped by the felt anti-rattle tape - which retained moisture!
I think moisture gets in there, then gets into the connector - and is especially bad when the hatch is opened as water runs back up the wiring into the plug.
Long story short, I unplugged, dried, and moisture-proofed the asssembly. First with liquid electrical tape on the connectors (including a little creative painting on the microswitch):
THEN, I sealed the microswitch with some of that polyethylene that's used for wrapping drinks at Sam's slub - if I can't break it, perhaps it'll last a while! (you may have to look closely to see it)
(sorry blurry pic - basically I put a small square of polyethylene over the microswitch where the handle actuates it, then used a 3/16" strip of electrical tape ("precisely measured" and cut using a pizza cutter) to secure this moisture barrier). If I were to do it again, I'd use the layer of polyethylene over the switch, secure it with a wrap of electrical tape, then "paint" the seam(s) with Liquid Electrial Tape ("LET").
After the LET dried (smelly stuff, that), I lubed the connector with electrical grease (further keeps moisture out), plugged it in, and wrapped the assembly in Scotch 33+ electrical tape - using the now-semi-solid LET as a gasket around the wires so the Scotch didn't leave any gaps. I put a small Ziptie around the end of the electrical tape to prevent future unraveling (I don't want to do this again 5 years on...)
Tested, works. Auto-BOONK feature disabled.
Now I have some driving to do, and some weather later this week - I'll pull the thing in a few months and check it.
UPDATE: many months and 10kmiles later, no further issues! (12/07)
UPDATE AGAIN: No further issues (11/08)
UPDATE AGAIN: I still love this car. Still tight as a drum. No issues (8/2010)
UPDATE AGAIN: STILL have the car, still love it, still no "auto Boonk"
(MODS: Didn't know if this went in the "problems" section or the "electrical" section, but since it's applicable to the coupe I posted in the Couple section. Move at will.)
Keywords: hatch automatically opens, boot latch opens automatically by itself, moisture, hatch problem, spastic hatch)
This was comical.
Mini's in the garage. Kids and I get in, open the door, start the car, drive forward, and the hatch unlatches - "boonk" - as I idle forward through the open garage door. Just as if I'd pushed the rubber button above the license plate... only I wasn't pushing the button, I was driving. Unlatched before the doors even auto-locked.
I get out, close the garage door, and shut the hatch. It latches. I move forward... "boonk".
Stop car, pull hatch up (it's unlatched), shut it. Turn to walk away... "boonk"
Shut hatch. Seems to stick, one-onethousand two-onethou "boonk".
Shut hatch again, hear it latch, seems to be OK, begin to walk to drive the car "boonk".
shut, immediate "boonk".
Say "the heck with it, I'm only going to the corner store" and hear the latch clicking about once every second or two.
SO.....
Disassemble interior trim, no apparent issues, missing or crossed wires, etc. Disassemble license plate trim from hatch, no moisture, disconnected wires, etc. I traced the wires from the latch to the right side fender well and can't find any pinches, crosses, or moisture. I'm headed for the dealer Monday morning as next week is crazy. I'm thinking some salty water or a short somewhere, but didn't see any in the latch or button, and coudn't replicate the problem by wiggling things (wires to hatch, etc.) while the car was stopped, running or not.
Mini's in the garage. Kids and I get in, open the door, start the car, drive forward, and the hatch unlatches - "boonk" - as I idle forward through the open garage door. Just as if I'd pushed the rubber button above the license plate... only I wasn't pushing the button, I was driving. Unlatched before the doors even auto-locked.
I get out, close the garage door, and shut the hatch. It latches. I move forward... "boonk".
Stop car, pull hatch up (it's unlatched), shut it. Turn to walk away... "boonk"
Shut hatch. Seems to stick, one-onethousand two-onethou "boonk".
Shut hatch again, hear it latch, seems to be OK, begin to walk to drive the car "boonk".
shut, immediate "boonk".
Say "the heck with it, I'm only going to the corner store" and hear the latch clicking about once every second or two.
SO.....
Disassemble interior trim, no apparent issues, missing or crossed wires, etc. Disassemble license plate trim from hatch, no moisture, disconnected wires, etc. I traced the wires from the latch to the right side fender well and can't find any pinches, crosses, or moisture. I'm headed for the dealer Monday morning as next week is crazy. I'm thinking some salty water or a short somewhere, but didn't see any in the latch or button, and coudn't replicate the problem by wiggling things (wires to hatch, etc.) while the car was stopped, running or not.
I thought it was fixed but I washed the car agian... BOONK!
Followed by boonk..... boonk..... boonk as the hatch lock cycled.
Thanks to the dealer for the detective work, I pulled the license plate surround and found wet wiring and a wet plug - not helped by the felt anti-rattle tape - which retained moisture!
I think moisture gets in there, then gets into the connector - and is especially bad when the hatch is opened as water runs back up the wiring into the plug.
Long story short, I unplugged, dried, and moisture-proofed the asssembly. First with liquid electrical tape on the connectors (including a little creative painting on the microswitch):
THEN, I sealed the microswitch with some of that polyethylene that's used for wrapping drinks at Sam's slub - if I can't break it, perhaps it'll last a while! (you may have to look closely to see it)
(sorry blurry pic - basically I put a small square of polyethylene over the microswitch where the handle actuates it, then used a 3/16" strip of electrical tape ("precisely measured" and cut using a pizza cutter) to secure this moisture barrier). If I were to do it again, I'd use the layer of polyethylene over the switch, secure it with a wrap of electrical tape, then "paint" the seam(s) with Liquid Electrial Tape ("LET").
After the LET dried (smelly stuff, that), I lubed the connector with electrical grease (further keeps moisture out), plugged it in, and wrapped the assembly in Scotch 33+ electrical tape - using the now-semi-solid LET as a gasket around the wires so the Scotch didn't leave any gaps. I put a small Ziptie around the end of the electrical tape to prevent future unraveling (I don't want to do this again 5 years on...)
Tested, works. Auto-BOONK feature disabled.
Now I have some driving to do, and some weather later this week - I'll pull the thing in a few months and check it.
UPDATE: many months and 10kmiles later, no further issues! (12/07)
UPDATE AGAIN: No further issues (11/08)
UPDATE AGAIN: I still love this car. Still tight as a drum. No issues (8/2010)
UPDATE AGAIN: STILL have the car, still love it, still no "auto Boonk"
(MODS: Didn't know if this went in the "problems" section or the "electrical" section, but since it's applicable to the coupe I posted in the Couple section. Move at will.)
Keywords: hatch automatically opens, boot latch opens automatically by itself, moisture, hatch problem, spastic hatch)
Last edited by DixonL2; Jul 17, 2014 at 10:21 AM.
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 824
Likes: 1
From: Long Beach, CA
Trending Topics
Still get water dripping out when I open the hatch though... I make sure to open it after washing and after a rain, just to drain whatever pond is forming there!
and I wisk I could put an accent on the "CK" part of Boonk, it'd be really perfect then!
and I wisk I could put an accent on the "CK" part of Boonk, it'd be really perfect then!
Hey, thanks for tagging this thread with the keywords, found it with my first search!
I washed my car last night and it kept opening just like yours when it was parked. Now it won't open :(
Guess I am gonna have to call the dealership in the morning.
I washed my car last night and it kept opening just like yours when it was parked. Now it won't open :(
Guess I am gonna have to call the dealership in the morning.
PMd ya back, LMK if you need any more info. Unlatch your hatch using the under-rear-seatcushion handle (pull up on front PS corner of seatcushion to find it). If you have the right Torx screwdriver the repair is pretty straightforward, but that liquid electrical tape smells until it dries, do this in a well ventilated area...
Oh and no problem with the keywords, I couldn't find anything on this when I first had the problem.
Oh and no problem with the keywords, I couldn't find anything on this when I first had the problem.
grrrr
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: Western MA
Thank you for the info, I didnt have the tape thingy. But when I pulled this off there was water and grit everywhere! I brought it inside and dried it next to a heater, cleaned it, then loaded the foam backing with dieletric silicone grease and also put some inside the connector on the wiring harness. Had to remove the inside trim panel to reconnect the connector, but all is working now. In fact now that its resecured, I dont have any give in the body panel when pressing the release. This may even solve my other problem of water building up inside the hatch when it rains! Again thanks for the pictures and write up.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 3
From: Washington. No, the other one.
Thank you for the info, I didnt have the tape thingy. But when I pulled this off there was water and grit everywhere! I brought it inside and dried it next to a heater, cleaned it, then loaded the foam backing with dieletric silicone grease and also put some inside the connector on the wiring harness. Had to remove the inside trim panel to reconnect the connector, but all is working now. In fact now that its resecured, I dont have any give in the body panel when pressing the release. This may even solve my other problem of water building up inside the hatch when it rains! Again thanks for the pictures and write up.
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: Western MA
I did that not too long ago, but I didnt find any evidence of water coming in this way, and the water issue continued. This is the first time I found water making its way in, not to mention stopping my hatch from opening this time.
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
I actually ran into this problem after washing my car a few days ago...no super pressure wash or anything either. It took a day or so for things to finally dry out and was able to motor down the road without worry...
However, I am worried about washing it again...I think I will follow these steps to prevent it from happening again...
Thanks for the write up!
However, I am worried about washing it again...I think I will follow these steps to prevent it from happening again...
Thanks for the write up!
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
had the same problem on "09 R57. problem solved by dealer---crimped seal on hatch lid. If water gets in the hatch will continue to pop open. dealer replaced the hatch lid but first took off the lid and let it air dry all weekend. made sure the rubber seal was put on correctly and 8 months later no problem, rain or shine.
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 133
Likes: 3
My '05 R53 started acting up yesterday. Whenever I would turn off the running lights (or headlights, which include the running lights) the hatch would open. Damn British wiring 
.
I traced it back to being in the license plate light/hatch switch in the handle above the license plate area. Everything that I can see is fine with no frayed or exposed wires. I even opened up the microswitch and it all appears to be fine.
I tried the suggestion of putting it in a warm area for a while to let it dry out thoroughly and it now works fine. Thus, I used butyl tape to seal everything up thoroughly and re-installed it. Seems to be sealed up nicely now.
.I traced it back to being in the license plate light/hatch switch in the handle above the license plate area. Everything that I can see is fine with no frayed or exposed wires. I even opened up the microswitch and it all appears to be fine.
I tried the suggestion of putting it in a warm area for a while to let it dry out thoroughly and it now works fine. Thus, I used butyl tape to seal everything up thoroughly and re-installed it. Seems to be sealed up nicely now.
Another big 
for using keywords.
Schultze has been experiencing the same "boonk" issue and my plan is to fix this issue myself while he's in the shop in the next week or so.
Who knows what I will find when I remove the boot latch...wouldn't be at all surprised to find lots of sparklies! It's been how many years since my sparkly Dragon Draggin' entry and I'm still finding sparklies in the oddest places!
for using keywords.Schultze has been experiencing the same "boonk" issue and my plan is to fix this issue myself while he's in the shop in the next week or so.
Who knows what I will find when I remove the boot latch...wouldn't be at all surprised to find lots of sparklies! It's been how many years since my sparkly Dragon Draggin' entry and I'm still finding sparklies in the oddest places!