MINI2

Ken2002S · Oct 15th, 2002, 09:24 PM

In the MINI brochure that the mail out upon request, under the section on Mini Cooper and MINI Cooper S Passive Saftey features:

"In the event of a collision: battery terminal disconnects automatically. Fuel flow is cut off. Hazard lights come on. Interior lights come on. All doors unlock."

QUESTION:
What powers the hazard and interior lights if the battey is
disconnected? Do they have an emergency power pack on board somewhere?

chiph · Oct 15th, 2002, 09:43 PM

There's actually two connections to the battery. The main one gets cut by a pyrotechnic charge in the event of an accident. This prevents the starter from engaging, as well as any other high-current devices. The other connection powers the door locks, hazard flashers, etc., but is unable to provide enough current to start & run the car.

Chip H.

allcoopedup · Oct 16th, 2002, 08:42 AM

How much of an impact causes the doors to unlock?...I've heard stories about some older Jags having this same thing. The panelling over the front wheels arches had some crash senses so when hit the door locks opened (and the alarm stayed off).
Some car thieves caught onto this and all they had to do was hit the panel with a rubber mallet and hey presto........and because of the "soft" dent it could be easily repaired.

Any thoughts on how MINI prevents this? I don't want to have to crash at 70mph to ensure I get can get out easily if hurt!!!

stryder · Oct 16th, 2002, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by allcoopedup

Any thoughts on how MINI prevents this? I don't want to have to crash at 70mph to ensure I get can get out easily if hurt!!!

Well no offense to Jaguar, but one would think for this to happen, the MINI would need to have the key in it (and all its chip/code matching stuff) as well as have it turned to position 1. So any thief can't go to a parked car and smack it and have the locks unlock. If I'm read it right, the Jaguar would do this when it was just sitting there, which seems a bit extreme.

To exploit it in a MINI, it'd end up being more of a car jacking, since they'd have to smack the car while you were stopped at a light or something, in which case, just give up the damn car, its only metal.

Johnboy · Oct 17th, 2002, 07:46 PM

If somebody approached me with a mallet - rubber or not - I wouldn't be hanging around to find out what they were going to do with it!

Oct 15th, 2002, 09:24 PM	#1
Ken2002S MINI2 Regular Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Bayside, CA (Eureka, Local Time: 06:42 PM Posts: 60 Offline	Battery Disconnect in Accidents In the MINI brochure that the mail out upon request, under the section on Mini Cooper and MINI Cooper S Passive Saftey features: "In the event of a collision: battery terminal disconnects automatically. Fuel flow is cut off. Hazard lights come on. Interior lights come on. All doors unlock." QUESTION: What powers the hazard and interior lights if the battey is disconnected? Do they have an emergency power pack on board somewhere? Ken + 1961 850 Mark I Saloon: Plate> "61 MINI" + 2002 S: Plate> "UK KOOL"

Oct 15th, 2002, 09:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
chiph Spectator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Raleigh, NC Local Time: 09:42 PM Posts: 1,563 Offline	There's actually two connections to the battery. The main one gets cut by a pyrotechnic charge in the event of an accident. This prevents the starter from engaging, as well as any other high-current devices. The other connection powers the door locks, hazard flashers, etc., but is unable to provide enough current to start & run the car. Chip H. ex-MINI Cooper S owner and all around good-guy

Oct 16th, 2002, 08:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
allcoopedup MINI2 Regular Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire Local Time: 01:42 AM Posts: 79 Offline	Doors unlock!!!!! How much of an impact causes the doors to unlock?...I've heard stories about some older Jags having this same thing. The panelling over the front wheels arches had some crash senses so when hit the door locks opened (and the alarm stayed off). Some car thieves caught onto this and all they had to do was hit the panel with a rubber mallet and hey presto........and because of the "soft" dent it could be easily repaired. Any thoughts on how MINI prevents this? I don't want to have to crash at 70mph to ensure I get can get out easily if hurt!!! All Cooped Up Keep on Motoring........

Oct 16th, 2002, 12:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
stryder Sponsor/Moderator/Other Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Cleveland Local Time: 08:42 PM Posts: 3,267 Offline	Re: Doors unlock!!!!! Quote: Originally posted by allcoopedup Any thoughts on how MINI prevents this? I don't want to have to crash at 70mph to ensure I get can get out easily if hurt!!! Well no offense to Jaguar, but one would think for this to happen, the MINI would need to have the key in it (and all its chip/code matching stuff) as well as have it turned to position 1. So any thief can't go to a parked car and smack it and have the locks unlock. If I'm read it right, the Jaguar would do this when it was just sitting there, which seems a bit extreme. To exploit it in a MINI, it'd end up being more of a car jacking, since they'd have to smack the car while you were stopped at a light or something, in which case, just give up the damn car, its only metal. Magic 8-ball was correct. All be in awe of Magic 8 ball.

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Oct 17th, 2002, 07:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
Johnboy MINI2 Regular Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: uk Local Time: 02:42 AM Posts: 344 Offline	If somebody approached me with a mallet - rubber or not - I wouldn't be hanging around to find out what they were going to do with it!

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