Central locking gremlins

[DrD]

OK I know this seems to be a common theme with the MINI but every post I've read describes a problem similar - but not identical - to mine....

My central locking has been a little 'erratic' for a few weeks now even though I only picked my car up at Christmas (a '54 reg low miles MCS).

Today, when I got home from work, I could not lock the car with my key. I went in and fetched the spare key which was dead as well. After a few minutes of trying, I was able to lock the car but then not open it again. After the 5th or 6th press of the key the car opened so I went for a 20 mile drive to try to recharge the (spare) key.

Got home and ..... yes, you guessed it, I couldn't lock the car again!!!!!!!!

I called MINI breakdown and they suggested I temporarily use the key to open the door and defeat the alarm by starting the car. This is a 'fix' until I can get the car booked in to my local dealer (which is 20 miles away).

The MCS is a lovely car but I am deeply unimpressed. I have to say I expected more from a 'quality' product having owned Japanese cars for the past 5 years...... I hope this is not a sign of more troubles to come????

Cheers, DrD

Any suggestions what could be wrong

[MINI-Morgan]

Try the key again but somewhere else Only takes a bit of interference to screw the key up! I get it every time I go to the Co-Op! Grrrrrrrr! But at work I can unlock it a good 150yards away by holding the the metal bit of the key tightly

[fordcymru]

I know this may sound a little strange, but i saw Jeremy Clarkson do it on T.V. once and its works. Hold the remote fob on your temple (the side of your head) and press the buttons.The transmitter in the fob uses your body as an ariel. Sounds stupid but it might work..

[oldmots]

You may be losing your battery and the BC1 body module is telling you it is not happy with the power it's getting. Erratic electrical items are often related to the battery strength. It can start thecar and still be trouble. I lost my CVT tranny programming due to this problem.

[AndyV]

The locking on my driver side door has started playing up. The remote will lock it but not unlock it - I need to use the key. The switch on the dashboard will neither lock nor unlock it, although there is a "clunk" sound from the driver side door.

Does anyone have any views on which bit may be broken?

Thanks

[MINI-Morgan]

Does the switch on the dash do the passenger door?

Lock the car with the remote and the window down. Can you unlock the door by pulling the interier door opener? What about after pressing unlock on the remote? Trying to work out if the dead locks are working or not too...

[AndyV]

Not with the car but I know the switch locks the passenger door.

I'll investigate further.

Thanks

[AndyV]

Tried this, when I lock the car with the remote I can't open it from inside. If I try and unlock it with the remote I can open it from inside (so the deadlock has been deactivated and appears to be working).

Does this help identify where the problem is?

Thanks

Andrew

[MINIMANIAUK]

The drivers door lock mechanism plays up -quite common, so common in fact I have listed them on our website!! no fix other than replacement ,which requires the door trim removing,and bolting in the new one plus 1 connector -there is a restricted space and it is fiddly!!
the internal switch wears out and the lock does not recognise that it is in locked or unlocked position-this confuses the BC1
Most lock/unlock problems are down to this ,intermittent at first then get worse,and worse

[super c00per]

My passenger door has been playing up all week! It doesnt open/lock on the fob or on the toggle switch on the dash. It only opens from the inside door handle which is a bit fustrating.

Took it in to BMW today for its MOT and got them to check it out. Its been booked in for next week to have a new lock which will apparently take an hour to fit. Luckily the warranty is still valid...only till the 7th March though!!!!!!!!

[MINI-Morgan]

Thanks Adam I would have said the same.... except without the excellient background knowledge of the fault