Central locking problem driving me mad - locks then unlocks straight away - MINI Cooper Forum

mightymetro · #1 (**permalink**) Jan 13th, 2013, 04:06 PM

Hi all, new to the forum and have been tasked with looking after my girlfriends mini cooper (2001).

When we bought the car the central locking or passenger handle did not work, and the boot would not lock. I think that the previous owner disconnected the outer handle on the passenger side so you could not open from the outside, and then locked the drivers side manually with the key. All fine but it failed the M.O.T. on the passenger door handle and the boot has no way of locking. So.......went to a mini breakers who fitted two second hand door lock actuators.

Re-connected the battery, and all good. Car will lock and unlock. I pay the money and drive off. As soon as i get home i lock the car with the fob, and the locks go down and then straight back up again. I thought, ah i have read lots of this, and just bit the bullet and bought 2 Brand new door lock actuators from mini. I have just finished fitting them, reconected the battery and all working perfect with the fob and toggle. Get in the car and turn the ignition on, get out, try to lock it with the fob......AAARRRGHHHH same again, it locks then unlocks straight away. I really do not know what to try next.

So in summary. If i disconnect the battery and then reconnect the central locking will work fine. As soon as the car ignition is turned on / car starts, locks work with toggle switch perfect. Turn off ignition and leave car and as soon as you lock it, it unlocks itself. The only thing i have noticed is that after i connect the battery the windows dont seem to drop until i put ignition on, then i can drop them with the switches and normal service is resumed. Also at somepoint it looks to have had an aftermarket alarm fitted (it came as standard with no alarm) but when i purchased the car this had been deactivated. I am at a total loss and after throwing £400 at it with second hand / and new actuators i dont know where to turn next. It just seems odd that after a battery reset it all works fine, then as soon as the car starts it reverts to locking/unlocking dance

Any help greatly appreciated

The Nun · #2 (**permalink**) Jan 13th, 2013, 06:39 PM

It might all be connected with the alarm system and how it was wired in thats why it was disconnected, however the wiring might still be modded in some way.
Cant you get hold of the previous owner and ask them? they might say, yes thats why I sold it, you never know?

Valvashon · #3 (**permalink**) Jan 15th, 2013, 09:22 PM

We have a Sprinter van at work that does something similar, because it senses that the rear door is not closed when it really is. Hitting the lock button a second time after it has unlocked locks it- like it "forces" a lock. Try that, or you may have to fix the boot latch as well to get the system to "sense" that all is well, connected and working.

Val

mightymetro · #4 (**permalink**) Feb 19th, 2013, 12:43 PM

Thanks for your replies. Just had an auto electrician out to the car and they have removed all the old alarm wiring but it still does the same thing. argh. Any more suggestions?

The Nun · #5 (**permalink**) Feb 19th, 2013, 01:57 PM

Almost then as if a door, rear hatch or bonnet isnt saying its closed properly and causes the car to reopen.
Is the bonnet switch being operated properly? if its maybe just making, then not, might be giving the system a false input?

mightymetro · #6 (**permalink**) Mar 7th, 2013, 02:18 AM

Thanks Nun, ill give it a try. So far i have replaced both door actuators and the BCM1 Module but its still doing it. Im at my wits end with it!!!!!!

What does the mini 'see' before it will lock. Does it have a sensor for the doors shut, boot shut, bonnet shut and also does it have to sense the windows are up too?

Would a BMW Diagnostic check bring up a specific fault such as bonnet not shut or would it just bring up a generic central locking fault

thank you again for any advice

mightymetro · #7 (**permalink**) Mar 7th, 2013, 02:23 AM

Oh, and also.....as the first post.......if i disconnect the battery then reconnect it works perfect and locks everything and stay locks. Then as soon as you turn the ignition on and off its back to locking then unlocking straight away. If it was a sensor i would have though it would not matter if it was reset or not as the sensor would not 'sense' just because of a reset

Leopardbug · #8 (**permalink**) Mar 7th, 2013, 06:37 PM

Hi, did you find out how to fix this? My 2003 cooper is doing the same

mightymetro · #9 (**permalink**) Mar 17th, 2013, 08:09 AM

Hi, well, yes and no. Had a diagnostics check etc etc and it is coming up with a comms error and the garage said there is nothing they can do except change the whole wiring loom as it is a comms error between the ecu and BCM1. So unfortunately i am going to have the put a battery kill switch on the inside of the car to just reset it when i stop. Annoying, but certainly better than changing the loom

booo

Tigercub · #10 (**permalink**) Mar 17th, 2013, 08:26 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by mightymetro (original)

Hi, well, yes and no. Had a diagnostics check etc etc and it is coming up with a comms error and the garage said there is nothing they can do except change the whole wiring loom as it is a comms error between the ecu and BCM1. So unfortunately i am going to have the put a battery kill switch on the inside of the car to just reset it when i stop. Annoying, but certainly better than changing the loom

booo

That seems a bit exessive a whole new loom ? Cant see why a auto electrician cant get round that problem with out changing the whole loom ???
Think I would be contacting mini but then again they would proberbly charge the earth to fix it