Body - Rear Split Door Won't Release/Opens Unexpectedly
SI M51 09 08Body Equipment
July 2008
Technical Service
This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI M51 09 08 dated July 2008.
[NEW] designates changes to this revision
SUBJECT
Rear Split Door Opening Problems
MODEL
[NEW] R55 (Cooper Clubman and Cooper S Clubman) produced up to 9/2008
SITUATION
One or both of the rear split doors intermittently have functional problems. The door[s] may not unlatch when the lever on the handle is pulled, or the latch may release unexpectedly without the lever being
pulled.
[NEW] This situation is most common during or immediately after the split doors get wet from rain or a car wash.
CAUSE
The door handle wire harness connection for each door may be corroded, due to excess moisture entering the connector. This corrosion can lead to an inoperable micro switch in the handle, or a short which activates the latch.
[NEW] CORRECTION
An interim solution was put into place in January 2008, which included adding Nyogel to the connector.
The permanent series solution as well as the service solution is to replace the connectors on both split doors with waterproof connectors.
PROCEDURE
1. [NEW] Inspect the outer door handle to ensure that it's sitting flush to the split door. If it is not flush, adjust as necessary using Repair Instruction RA 51 24 155 as a reference.
2. Remove the inner door panel from the right hand split door per Repair Instruction RA 51 49 040/041.
3. Identify the connector for the door handle wire harness (1). Cut the connector out of the harness as closely as possible to both sides of the connector, as shown by the dotted lines.
4. Install the new waterproof connector in the same position as the old one, using 4 cable connectors and 4 shrink tubes. Be sure that the wires are in the same positions as in the old connector.
NOTE:
The door handle side of the harness (1) should have the male end of the connector (2) secured to it.
5. Wrap the connector with felt tape in order to prevent any future rattles.
6. Repeat the above procedure for the left hand split door.
PARTS INFORMATION
WARRANTY INFORMATION
Covered under the terms of the MINI New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
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