[~sugar~]

Starting yesterday morning, it took about 4-6 pulls on the handle (inside) to open my driver door. Now the door will not open at all, I have to roll down the window and use the handle on the outside. How sad does that make my MINI and I look? Plus I can't get into service for a couple of weeks because I can only go in on Saturdays. I'm really ****ed.

[RedUn]

I've never heard of that one before??
Surely if the unlock mechanism was broken you wouldn't be able to open the door at all???

Well at least you can shut the windows with the key instead of climbing out the passenger side.

[~sugar~]

I've tried the lock system, my doors automatically unlock when i turn the car off. But I checked it just to make sure and it won't open. The handle is a little loose too. Sometimes it looks like it is just hanging there. The passenger door is fine. I don't know if it has something to do with the heat.

[RedUn]

Wouldn't the heat effect both doors??

[~sugar~]

i dunno - might just be a loose connector too - who knows

[mr.bill]

Do a search for "lock" or "trapped" and you will find lots of complaints on this. It has been around since launch day. The locks are electromechanical, so the door will unlock but won't open from the inside if the solenoid doesn't move. There are reports of people being trapped in their cars. The outside handle overrides it, but the inside handle doesn't. I was told this was a "safety feature" to make the locks "child proof," but they need to rethink it. Your dealer should be able to sort it for you.

[brett]

If you have the Remote controled Window activated you can enter your mini Dukes of Hazzard style

[randap]

My doors are set to lock on moving off. To open any door,I have to pull the interior handle twice. I'm guessing that the first pull disengages the deadlocks, then the second pull actually opens the door. Naturally, when you flick the c/l switch, you only need one pull.......

Are you sure you are fully pulling the handle and not just tickling it?

P.S. Sugar: Love your custom headliner - where did you get it etc.....?

[Smokey 4]

The connecting rod from the interior door handle to the door latch release has come off at the interior door handle side of the equation.

In most cars there is small diameter steel rod making this connection, held in place with small clips, hasn't changed in years.

I would think that your interior guy (headliner dude) would be able to remove the door panel and confirm.

Should be a quick fix, if that's the problem.

I'll have a look at me EtK and see if I can post a picture.


Edited:
Sorry Sugar, just noted the date of your post, is this still being a problem?

[gromit]

Call MINI assistance and have that sucker flatbedded to your dealer. An inability to get out of your car would be a 'safety issue' and I would argue that driving it puts you at risk. If your dealer doesn't offer a loaner (and you need another car) contact MINIUSA and explain your situation. The main lesson I've learned in dealing with dealers and MINI is that the initial answer to everything is 'no'. If you push them and refuse to thake 'no' for an answer they will ultimately do the right thing.

Quote:

Originally posted by ~sugar~
I can't get into service for a couple of weeks because I can only go in on Saturdays. I'm really ****ed.

[Smokey 4]

Ok I'm sitting corrected:

No longer are they using a rod for the connection at least in the MINI they are using a Cable. More precisely a Bowden Cable (PN: 51 21 7 042 905)

Reminds me of a bicycle hand brake cable

Here have a pic, this is a view from the outside through the right side door. The cable is item 5.



Better pic is in my Gallery.

[Sejanus]

My MINI is starting to exhibit the same problem that Sugar mentioned. The door handle on the driver's inside will not open the door if it is locked. If I unlock it using the toggle or the key it takes repeated pulls on the inside handle to open the door. My guess is soon even that won't work and I'll be rolling down the window to open it from the outside. Passenger side is fine. Can't get the car in for a fix because I'm tied up serving on a jury every day for the next two weeks. Sugar if you are still out there, how did this get resolved for you?

[sjbartnik]

Just pop the door panel off and have a look. If it's cable actuated there is probably a tension adjustment which might need to be tweaked if it's not working all the time.

[mr.bill]

From what I was told, the locks are electromechanical. Pull the inside handle and the window drops, then a solenoid opens the latch. It all happens very quickly so you won't notice. This is part of the "child proof door lock" feature to prevent the door from being opened from the inside if the locks are down. But there have been many cases reported here where the door would unlock, but not open. That's because the solenoid wouldn't operate when it was supposed to. It opens from the outside handle because it overrides the solenoid. I suspect this is so the door could be opened in the event the battery was dead, plus there is not much chance that a child would try to open the door of a moving vehicle by reaching outside through the window. The problems with the locks have been traced to dirt or water getting into the window, a bad or misaligned position sensor or a bad connection in the wiring. Your dealer should be able to sort it.

[Sejanus]

Thanks for the info.