Intermittent Electric Problems in '05 Cooper S

[BlueDudley]

Hello,

First time post here and I'm hoping for some ideas to a problem I'm expriencing in my '05 Cooper S.

Basically, sometimes when I start the car the I notice the following;

• No dials (speedo, tacho, oil temp, oil pressure, engine temp and fuel) move
• No dash lights (but headlights are still on)
• No air-con fuctions
• No indicators
• Check engine light is on and stays on

Everything else seems to work as normal.

It's been to the mechanics and no problems could be found. They held onto it for over a week and the problem never showed up for them.

I've been reading for a while and although I haven't found any others with matching syptmons I've noticed many with strange electrical problems being caused by water damage to the BC1. Most of the time it was in the earlier models and my car is '05. I managed to get a picture behing the bonnet release - can anyone who is familiar with the BC1 tell me if this car has the protector that was later added?

Link to photo on flickr (sorry it's in 2 bits as I dont' have 15 posts yet):
ht
tp://tinyurl.com/9kka8dt

As a first step I was hoping that this could be identified without needing to remove the surrounding plastic.

Would really appreciate any help on this!

[BlueDudley]

Sorry, just realised I can attach a photo rather than link it.

[mab01uk]

Hard to see, you need to look down more.....I think I can see part of what may be the black plastic water shield, a 2005 MINI should anyway have this fitted as standard unless it was removed and not replaced. There have however been cases of water hidden in cavities under the carpet 'wicking' up the cloth covered cable looms into the BC1 connectors causing problems and this would not be prevented by the later water shield on top.

[BlueDudley]

Hi mab01uk. Thanks for the reply, been flat out all week and haven't had a chance to get to this forum.

Sounds like it's worth taking the panel off and checking the BC1 for water damage despite being a model where the water sheild should be standard.

I'm guessing that previous water damage can continue to cause problems even though the car is now garaged and the weather here (Perth, Western Australia) is fairly warm?

[mab01uk]

Worth checking for any past corrosion causing issues in the BC1 wiring connectors, etc, and to ensure everything is dry and making good contact.......water from any previous windscreen/door/sunroof leaks can sometimes collect under the carpet in the underfloor cavities where cables run and remain trapped there, even in a nice warm climate, soaking the cables, etc.
The BC1 (Body Control Unit) - Forums