MINI2

Razor · Sep 28th, 2006, 11:38 AM

I just noticed this morning that the backlighting on my dashboard has started doing it's own thing.

One minute it's bright, the next it's dim and pressing the switch doesn't affect it at all.

Could this be a dodgy switch (even though I've hardly used it) or something else - a loose wire perhaps?

In fact has anybody else had this problem?

Root Ginger · Sep 28th, 2006, 01:11 PM

Have a look at this post I just er... posted!

Could be a possible BCU gremlin.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...ml#post2672181

Razor · Sep 28th, 2006, 03:13 PM

Cheers for that

I'll give it a go!

Razor · Sep 28th, 2006, 07:50 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Root Ginger (original)

Have a look at this post I just er... posted!

Could be a possible BCU gremlin.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...ml#post2672181

Reset the BCU as per your instructions (great instructions BTW

) but it made nor difference

any other ideas?

Lorri · Sep 28th, 2006, 07:58 PM

Hello Razor

Hope you get it sorted.

Razor · Sep 28th, 2006, 09:08 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Lorraine (original)

Hello Razor

Hope you get it sorted.

Thanks Lorriane

I hope I get it sorted too - otherwise the inside gonna be like Blackpool Illuminations on those long dark winter evenings!!

deanquartermaine · Sep 28th, 2006, 09:39 PM

I would say nip it to a dealer they will be able to tell you what it wrong (even more so if its still under 3yr warrety)

Razor · Sep 29th, 2006, 07:57 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by deanquartermaine (original)

I would say nip it to a dealer they will be able to tell you what it wrong (even more so if its still under 3yr warrety)

I'm sure they would but my MINI is now over 4 years old - so they're likely to charge me quite nicely for the privilege!!

cristo · Sep 29th, 2006, 09:45 AM

If you're talking about the brightness of the odometer and temperature display,
there is a light sensor that varies its brightness depending on the ambient light.
If you shine a penlight on the sensor (near the bottom center of the speedo) the
odometer light gets real bright, and if you put your hand over it, it gets dim.
If you're talking about the rest of the background lighting, then you have something wrong
with the switch, wiring, or BCU..

Razor · Sep 29th, 2006, 11:25 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by cristo (original)

If you're talking about the brightness of the odometer and temperature display,
there is a light sensor that varies its brightness depending on the ambient light.
If you shine a penlight on the sensor (near the bottom center of the speedo) the
odometer light gets real bright, and if you put your hand over it, it gets dim.
If you're talking about the rest of the background lighting, then you have something wrong
with the switch, wiring, or BCU..

It is the brightness of the odomter, etc that's affected - however pressing the switch to adjust the brightness of any of the lighting makes no difference.

cristo · Sep 29th, 2006, 01:04 PM

The switch should change the background lighting. . . I think it's push steadily to brighten
and tap several times to decrease (unless it's the other way around). This doesn't affect the
odometer and temp gauge, however, which respond to changes in ambient light.

Sounds like your switch is wonky.

Razor · Sep 29th, 2006, 05:08 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by cristo (original)

Sounds like your switch is wonky.

Is it easy enough to change myself rather than take it to a dealer and pay their extortionate prices?

minitoo · Sep 30th, 2006, 01:36 AM

I'm thinking Cristo may be on the right track. My Blazer does this and it is related to the daytime running lights which are always on. During the day some of the dash lights are bright and when it darkens at night (or in tunnels or parking garages) they dim so as to not overwhelm the driver in the dark. During rainy days or near twilight the dash lights will often hunt dim/bright depending upon the ambient light. Not sure if MINI's with DRL do this also as I have mine turned off but I would think that a MINI would at least be as smart as a Chevrolet. If MINI dash lights don't come on with DRL's ....well never mind and good luck.

Razor · Sep 30th, 2006, 10:44 AM

Okay sorted it!

Cristo was right

and in fact I don't even appear to have a problem with the switch - I was holding it in instead of tapping it to reduce the brightness!

Although Nikki (she was in the passenger seat at the time when I noticed it) says the brightness of the lights didn't appear to be affeted by ambient lighting - it was more random - so perhaps reseting the BCU did do something after all - cheers Root Ginger

Anyway problem sorted so I'm a happy bunny.

Thanks to all those that replied.

Sep 28th, 2006, 11:38 AM	#1
Razor MINI2 Scooterist Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Pudsey, Leeds Local Time: 11:57 PM Posts: 792 Offline	Problem with dashboard backlighting I just noticed this morning that the backlighting on my dashboard has started doing it's own thing. One minute it's bright, the next it's dim and pressing the switch doesn't affect it at all. Could this be a dodgy switch (even though I've hardly used it) or something else - a loose wire perhaps? In fact has anybody else had this problem?

Sep 28th, 2006, 01:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
Root Ginger Amiga 500 to PS3 20 Years Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Slough, Berkshire Local Time: 11:57 PM Posts: 4,673 Offline	Have a look at this post I just er... posted! Could be a possible BCU gremlin. http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...ml#post2672181 It was acceptable in the 80's

Sep 28th, 2006, 07:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lorri I can feel it Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sheffield Local Time: 11:57 PM Posts: 11,157 Offline	Hello Razor Hope you get it sorted. M2CB09 ~ It's a Golden Celebration

Sep 28th, 2006, 09:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
deanquartermaine MINI2 Senior My Classifieds Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Worksop, Notts Local Time: 11:57 PM Posts: 517 Offline	I would say nip it to a dealer they will be able to tell you what it wrong (even more so if its still under 3yr warrety) http://www.nottsminiclub.co.uk Winner of Your Cars in Modern MINI Magazine July 2008

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Sep 28th, 2006, 03:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
Razor MINI2 Scooterist Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Pudsey, Leeds Local Time: 11:57 PM Posts: 792 Offline	Cheers for that I'll give it a go!

Sep 28th, 2006, 07:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
Razor MINI2 Scooterist Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Pudsey, Leeds Local Time: 11:57 PM Posts: 792 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Root Ginger (original) Have a look at this post I just er... posted! Could be a possible BCU gremlin. http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...ml#post2672181 Reset the BCU as per your instructions (great instructions BTW ) but it made nor difference any other ideas?

Sep 28th, 2006, 09:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Razor MINI2 Scooterist Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Pudsey, Leeds Local Time: 11:57 PM Posts: 792 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Lorraine (original) Hello Razor Hope you get it sorted. Thanks Lorriane I hope I get it sorted too - otherwise the inside gonna be like Blackpool Illuminations on those long dark winter evenings!!

Sep 29th, 2006, 07:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
Razor MINI2 Scooterist Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Pudsey, Leeds Local Time: 11:57 PM Posts: 792 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by deanquartermaine (original) I would say nip it to a dealer they will be able to tell you what it wrong (even more so if its still under 3yr warrety) I'm sure they would but my MINI is now over 4 years old - so they're likely to charge me quite nicely for the privilege!!

Sep 29th, 2006, 09:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
cristo BLIKSEM (my brg/brg mc) Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: york, pennsylvania Local Time: 06:57 PM Posts: 2,202 Offline	If you're talking about the brightness of the odometer and temperature display, there is a light sensor that varies its brightness depending on the ambient light. If you shine a penlight on the sensor (near the bottom center of the speedo) the odometer light gets real bright, and if you put your hand over it, it gets dim. If you're talking about the rest of the background lighting, then you have something wrong with the switch, wiring, or BCU..

Sep 29th, 2006, 11:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
Razor MINI2 Scooterist Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Pudsey, Leeds Local Time: 11:57 PM Posts: 792 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by cristo (original) If you're talking about the brightness of the odometer and temperature display, there is a light sensor that varies its brightness depending on the ambient light. If you shine a penlight on the sensor (near the bottom center of the speedo) the odometer light gets real bright, and if you put your hand over it, it gets dim. If you're talking about the rest of the background lighting, then you have something wrong with the switch, wiring, or BCU.. It is the brightness of the odomter, etc that's affected - however pressing the switch to adjust the brightness of any of the lighting makes no difference.

Sep 29th, 2006, 01:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
cristo BLIKSEM (my brg/brg mc) Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: york, pennsylvania Local Time: 06:57 PM Posts: 2,202 Offline	The switch should change the background lighting. . . I think it's push steadily to brighten and tap several times to decrease (unless it's the other way around). This doesn't affect the odometer and temp gauge, however, which respond to changes in ambient light. Sounds like your switch is wonky.

Sep 29th, 2006, 05:08 PM	#12 (permalink)
Razor MINI2 Scooterist Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Pudsey, Leeds Local Time: 11:57 PM Posts: 792 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by cristo (original) Sounds like your switch is wonky. Is it easy enough to change myself rather than take it to a dealer and pay their extortionate prices?

Sep 30th, 2006, 01:36 AM	#13 (permalink)
minitoo MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Juneau, Alaska Local Time: 02:57 PM Posts: 31 Offline	I'm thinking Cristo may be on the right track. My Blazer does this and it is related to the daytime running lights which are always on. During the day some of the dash lights are bright and when it darkens at night (or in tunnels or parking garages) they dim so as to not overwhelm the driver in the dark. During rainy days or near twilight the dash lights will often hunt dim/bright depending upon the ambient light. Not sure if MINI's with DRL do this also as I have mine turned off but I would think that a MINI would at least be as smart as a Chevrolet. If MINI dash lights don't come on with DRL's ....well never mind and good luck.

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Sep 30th, 2006, 10:44 AM	#14 (permalink)
Razor MINI2 Scooterist Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Pudsey, Leeds Local Time: 11:57 PM Posts: 792 Offline	Okay sorted it! Cristo was right and in fact I don't even appear to have a problem with the switch - I was holding it in instead of tapping it to reduce the brightness! Although Nikki (she was in the passenger seat at the time when I noticed it) says the brightness of the lights didn't appear to be affeted by ambient lighting - it was more random - so perhaps reseting the BCU did do something after all - cheers Root Ginger Anyway problem sorted so I'm a happy bunny. Thanks to all those that replied.