Parking lights drained my battery dead but I didn't turn them on! [Archive] - MINI Cooper Forum - MINI2 Mini Cooper Forums

: Parking lights drained my battery dead but I didn't turn them on!


got2ryd
Aug 24th, 2011, 09:35 PM
I went to start my '09 MINI this morning and it was dead. I've had it for a little over 2 years and it has 26K on it.

Had roadside come out and jump start it, he said to leave it running for 20-30 minutes. I called MINI service and they said bring it in while it's running so they could replace the battery.

I went out after about 10-15 minutes and the car was dead again. It died while idling.

My husband jump started it and I immediately drove off to MINI, 22 miles away. They ran diagnostics and said I needed a new battery, the battery was completely dead. BUT, they weren't going to pay for it because I had left the parking lights on. WTF? I never mess with the lights. They are always on automatic and I don't even remember the last time I drove at night.

We asked if they had turned the parking lights off at the shop? They said no. Well seriously, if I didn't turn them on I darn sure didn't them off before going to the shop!

Anyone have any ideas? They won't replace the battery ($249) because of the parking lights which mysteriously came on and then off by themselves.

I opted to pay for a battery from the shop as when the mysterious parking light bandit strikes again, they claim they'll cover the battery at that point.

stead34
Aug 24th, 2011, 10:02 PM
I thought the parking lights are operated from the indicator stalk whilst the ignition is off.. put the indicator stalk up or down depending on what side you want the lights on.

So my point is how do Mini know you left them on. If you drove to them then you would of used your indicators on the way..