My 2002 Mini has a new problem...

First, all the lights on the air conditioning panel started to flicker, and the fan would not work....

Then the radio does the same thing....

Then the windshield wipers turn on by themselves...

The air bag and tire pressure monitor lights come on....

It's been progressive, starting with only the a/c then on to the rest.

It also seemed to reset itself once the car was shut off and turned on again.

I was gonna look under the hood tomorrow for a blown fuse, but now I'm wondering if they are all tied in together to one particular fuse.

FYI...a few weeks ago, I added an auxiliary plug to the radio, along with new front speakers.

 

Don't rule out the battery. From reading on this forum, MINIs exhibit some very strange symptoms when the battery is going.

 

Thats very odd, battery could be the case, my battery is almost dead and needs to be replaced and it s been acting quirky, nothing like that, but just a thoughtt

 

I'll have a closer look after I get home from work, but I'm worried that it could be something else.

I've gone thru a couple of batteries in the lifetime of the car, and I've never experienced this.

I'm also scared that I spend upwards of $150 for a battery and find out I still have the problem, since most of the gremlins I've read about relating to this problem involve the pwer steering

 

Took the battery out and ha dit tested at Sears.....

Tests ok.

Now that it's back in the car,the only problme I'm having is the wiper blades start on their own and an occasional Tire pressure monitor light.

Re starting the car cures the problem....temporarily.

Could it still be the battery?

 

Yes, if the battery is the original, it's time to replace it.

Also, unbolt the ground strap to the right side engine mount, clean the threads on the stud and bolt, tighten up again.

 

You might have a problem like I think I have. See this which is applicable to all 02-03 MINIs built before Sept. 2003. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...goes-dead.html

But you have messed around with your wiring "added an auxiliary plug to the radio". I think it is possible you have a short circut from that install. Look for any loose connections and places where a short may be possible.

 

I've looked for a similar problem in the forum and have come across yours. I felt that it wasn't exactly the same problem.

Also, the aux jack mod only required me to plug in a harness to the back of the radio.

I did have the electrical system checked out, and no faults found. I did change the battery out as a precaution, but still have the fault.

My wife feels that the guy who fixed our last problem insured that we'd go back to him by loosening up something....I've looked, but maybe not in the right place.

 

I hope you or someone can help you sort this out without putting you into the poor house. Please keep us posted if you lean anything new.

 

Im kinda having the same problem, my headunit will light up, the buttons and such, but it will not power on, i tried hooking up another headunit it would not get any power. Anyone experience this, im thinking it has to be a wiring problem.
My problem is if it is a wiring problem how the hell am i suppose to avoid a stealership working on it? I do all my own car work, but wiring im feeling would be a mess.

sorry to hijack the thread!

 

After a few weeks with this problem, I finally got fed up and took it to the dealer.

I had looked and couldn't find any faulty wiring, or any other problem, along with "my guy" who is my regular mechanic.

I was trying to avoid it, but I was advised that the dealer would be the only ones that could probably help.

Well, I saved up some $$$ and went.

I was told that the starter had an internal short circuit and was causing the problem.

One of my problems was that the car would not turn over on the first try. This was not related to the starter though (or so I was told).

So, a starter and an ignition switch later, all is good. Three days into having the car back...

Thanks everybody for your input!!!