1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Brake lights and dash on, keys out

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  1. CHKMINI

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    #7 CHKMINI, Jan 7, 2015
    Everyone thought my sons 05 R53 had a bad BCM when the same things were happening to his. Enter Marzo from Helix while at the Dragon last year. He diagnosed a shorted ABS harness where it comes through the firewall. It turned out that he was absolutely correct, repaired the harness and bingo....problems solved. I'm sure anyone else would have replaced the BCM first when it was never the issue.
    Also, remove your hatch interior panel and check the electrical connections at the license plate light assembly. They have been known to corrode if there is a water leak and cause the same issues.
     
  2. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    #22 Metalman, Jan 30, 2015
    She said....

    [​IMG]
     
  3. CptRadical

    CptRadical New Member

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    #4 CptRadical, Jan 1, 2015
    It has a Duralast Gold in it that's been there since I got it a few years back. It probably needs replacing now that I've considered that time frame.

    I'll post back tomorrow night or Saturday with an update.
     
  4. CHKMINI

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    #12 CHKMINI, Jan 30, 2015
    Put a new battery in it.......,
     
  5. Kenny kustom

    Kenny kustom New Member

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    #16 Kenny kustom, Jan 30, 2015
    [​IMG]

    This is my personal one.

    There are better, but for the consumer, this works great.

    The one I use at work, can take up to an hour to fully test the battery.
    Sometimes it fails it in 5 minutes.

    Like I posted earlier, my battery still started the car.
    Yet failed the load test.
     
  6. CHKMINI

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    #21 CHKMINI, Jan 30, 2015

    Nothing novel about it.....new battery, new battery, new battery.
     
  7. Kenny kustom

    Kenny kustom New Member

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    #23 Kenny kustom, Jan 30, 2015

    I know!!!!
     
  8. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #28 Dave.0, Jan 31, 2015
    I just had the same problem as th original poster today and was like WTF.

    Only dash & rear lights on and the bing bing bing and could not lock the doors. I know it was not my battery.

    It took me about 5 minutes to figure out the gound was very loose on frame on the passenger side. In fact I could tighten it with my hand then I grabbed the ratchet.

    It's the ground that comes off bracket where the top motor mount attaches.
     
  9. CptRadical

    CptRadical New Member

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    #31 CptRadical, Feb 1, 2015
    I was worried about this. Since it was spraying out half the fuel from the leaky sending unit, it would have been working the pump harder. Maybe that's what is the problem.

    The thing with the lights hasn't happened again. I don't know what to think about that. It would just be nice if it ran. I'm tired of bumming rides. :(
     
  10. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #5 Dave.0, Jan 1, 2015
    Yeah that sounds like it has seen the end of its life.

    I have an Optima Red top that has lasted years and use the AGM battery tender.
     
  11. Kenny kustom

    Kenny kustom New Member

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    #13 Kenny kustom, Jan 30, 2015
    That's not a proper load test.
     
  12. MCS02

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    #15 MCS02, Jan 30, 2015
    A good load tester puts a load on the battery it looks at amps and volts. Then it times the recovery time of the battery.
    Any parts store can do it for free. The cars are very picky when it comes to power, it's a BMW thing. On BMW's I have seen aftermarket light bulbs play havoc on the system.
     
  13. MCS02

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    #17 MCS02, Jan 30, 2015
    Ooooooo look little pointy gauge things!!!!
    I haven't seen that in years. I like it! :D
     
  14. Kenny kustom

    Kenny kustom New Member

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    #18 Kenny kustom, Jan 30, 2015
    It's quick, it's easy, and under a hundred bucks..
     
  15. CHKMINI

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    #19 CHKMINI, Jan 30, 2015
    Put a new battery in it......
     
  16. Kenny kustom

    Kenny kustom New Member

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    #20 Kenny kustom, Jan 30, 2015

    What a novel idea....;)
     
  17. MCS02

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    #24 MCS02, Jan 30, 2015
    I'm sorry did you say something?
     
  18. Kenny kustom

    Kenny kustom New Member

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    #25 Kenny kustom, Jan 31, 2015
  19. Kenny kustom

    Kenny kustom New Member

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    #30 Kenny kustom, Feb 1, 2015
    Booo. Always replace the complete fuel module.
    Pump and sending unit.
     
  20. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #2 Dave.0, Jan 1, 2015
    So you still have the 12 year old OEM battery in the car?

    I think I would be looking at replacing the battery.
     
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