Electric Problem

[iancallaghan87]

All,

I turned on my MINI this morning, and the windscreen wipers just started going. I checked to see if maybe they were on when i turned the car off and they weren't. After about 30 seconds they stopped. Anyway i started on my journey about 3 miles down the road, without touching anything the windscreen wipers just started again. Then the airbag warning light came on, but not at full brightness is very Dim. i returned home, the windscreen wipers going all the way. MY radio also kept intermitently going on and off.

When i got home, i disconnected the battery for about 45 minutes, plugged it back in and started the car up again, the wind screen wipers are still going. Radio has come on. I turned the car on and off a few times, once the Airbag light turned off completely, but the wipers were still going. Is crazy.

Anyone have any idea's as to what could be wrong? Any ideas for me to try and fix it myself.

I think i am going to have to take it to BMW tomorrow, can people please advise me what they think might be wrong or need replacing, so i can stand up for myself if they try replacing stuff they don't need to, and any idea's on prices as my MINI is out of warranty.

Thanks for any help or suggestions in advance,

Ian

[iancallaghan87]

All, further to my last message, i have been out and followed the instructions to find the fault codes.

i went into the menu 19.
L off
14

14.0 522021
14.1 112000
14.2 102000
14.3 000000
14.4 000000

I presume there all meant to read 000000. Anyone know what the others mean??

Thanks

[MrLee2006]

Hi, that's so weird because i have exactly the same problem as you At the moment im driving around with the fuses out (put them back in when it rains) because im too scared to take it to the $stealers$. Mine started off doing it every few days , and then progressed to doing it constant. Is your rear wiper affected too? Both of mine are going off. And my airbag light is just the same, goes on and off and flickers very dimmly! It did stop briefly yesterday - the light went out and the wipers stopped wiping, but as soon as i turned them on again they wouldn't stop. Arrhg&*^$.
I also tried the battery disconnect - didn't work! So far it seems like it's just the wipers and airbag light - nothing else it affected. How did you check the fault codes? I've never done that before. And what year is your car? Mines a 2002. Cheers.

[iancallaghan87]

Hi MrLee,

Mine is a 2002 One. To find the fault codes, put the key in the ignition (Don't turn it) hold the little reset button on the speedo. Turn the key to the 1st posistion and you will have the little digital screen in the middle of the screen will say something like test_ 1. Press the reset button until you get to 19. leave for a second or so, and it will flash log off, log on, wait for log off to re-appear and tap the reset button. now tap the reset button until you get to number 14. leave for a second or so, this will then show the fault codes. you can cycle through these by tapping the reset button.

I have taken mine to the dealers today, as i this were a rare case, and no-one seems to have any advice even on here. £140 for the diagnostic. Hopefully they'll have a solution, but no doubt will be costly!

Ian

[iancallaghan87]

Keeping everyone else up to date.

The first problem is the ignition switch. Am getting that replaced, hopefully that will resolve the issue. Will let you all know how that goes.

Ian

[MrLee2006]

Thanks for the update! Mine's also a One!
That's kinda what I was afraid of. £140 for a diagnostic check is just crazy. I was thinking maybe it's just the switch or relay but then why would the airbag light come on Why are they replacing your ignition switch?

[iancallaghan87]

Hi MrLee,

Sorry for the delay in my response.

Changing the ignition switch resolved the problem, it makes sense actually.

**Not that i have** but... if you hot wire a car, and damage the ignition the windscreen wipers are prone to going off, and dashboard lights come on.

Cost me £202, so not too bad at all really and now the people at MINI2 know for next time.

Ian

[MrLee2006]

Hi ian, thanks for replying!
That's interesting, so has your airbag light gone off now? I was under the impression that once it had come on it had to be reset? Did they say whether your ignition was damaged? or just faulty? Where abouts is the ignition switch located? I will have to get mine sorted soon , I've had enough of switching the fuses every 5 mins Thanks

[MrLee2006]

**UPDATE**
Big thanks to Ian. Replacing the ignition switch has indeed fixed the problem! The part is about £30 from bmw and is not too hard to fit.

[iancallaghan87]

MrLee,

Sorry hadn't replied sooner.

Glad we resolved the problem, and glad it only cost £30.

Hopefully this thread will now help others with the same problem.

Did your airbag light turn off once you had replaced the switch, did you do it yourself??

Ian

[MrLee2006]

Hi Ian,
Yep, once i reconnected the battery after fitting the switch the airbag light went off. It was never actually fully illuminated - just on very faintly. It's so nice not having my wipers going off every few seconds Appreciate your help, and yeah hopefully if anyone else has this prob they will find this thread. The mechanic at BMW said he's only seen this happen once before so it's pretty rare i guess. Cheers!