murmini - MINI Cooper Blog: The General Module

The General Module

murmini — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 05:57:34 -0500

A few posts ago, I looked at the bus systems within the MINI electronics and how it lays the groundwork for the specific modules that send and receive communications along the data paths. Now its time to review the function of the General Module.

"The General Module" by Frank

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 19:29:36 -0500

Hello, I have a 2003 mini Cooper S. I bought it about two years ago with no problems. After a regular emission inspection(passed) I noticed that the car started doing one of two things. The temperature gauge will shoot all the way to the top and my tachometer will stop working. Also the snow flake button on my AC will not light up or blow cold air. The low tire pressure indicator lights up to and also the tire traction light. It will do this for a while and then the temperature gauge will return to normal, all other lights will turn off save perhaps for the low tire one or the traction control, but not always and my tachometer will work again and the check engine light comes on and I get cold AC again. And then sometimes nothing lights up and everything is fine. Took it to dealership, computer said everything was fine except for the sensor on the air take manifold but I won’t go there again since they forgot to even change some burned out bulbs and the gauge problems were still on display even as they were driving it up to me after two weeks with them and saying everything was fixed. Any ideas. Thank you.

"The General Module" by Linda

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 10:48:25 -0500

Okay, the OBD2 read indicates a problem with the oxygen sensor. Can this be related to my electrical problem or just a seperate issue? Battery tested fine…even tried a new battery. Alternator tested fine. Fuses are fine. They reset the ECU and fixed a couple other problems that I have had for a while, but still having the same problem with the dash components. When I hook it up to a power pack things seem to work better. Could there be some other source of voltage problem?

"The General Module" by Linda

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:18:20 -0500

Okay. Thanks.

"The General Module" by murmin

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:07:48 -0500

Most repair shops can help you with that .

"The General Module" by Linda

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:00:28 -0500

Who can do that? Does it have to be the dealership? They are far away and I can’t even talk to anyone there. I’ve left messages but no return call. Does it make sense if it is a BC1 problem that it works fine when the car is cold?

"The General Module" by murmin

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:44:14 -0500

Well, you really need someone to review the error codes generated – with an OBDII reader.. that would be very helpful to start the diagnosis.

"The General Module" by Linda

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:37:44 -0500

Help! I have an ‘02 Mini. When I start it everything works fine. After it warms up for 10 minutes I have problems with some dash components. Specifically, the climate control panel shuts down and blinks a weird light, the dash lights don’t work sometimes and sometimes they come on and won’t go off, the blinker indicator on the dash doesn’t work and the high beam indicator doesn’t work. All of these things happen consistently after the car warms up for 10 minutes. Everything else works fine.

"The General Module" by arlrez

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:38:20 -0400

@murmini – Thank you so much for your quick response. I thought since this post is old; I may not even get a response.

So the General Module & Trans module are on 2 different buses but connected to the Instrument Cluster? Which probably is the master module that provides fault data.

I tried to ask the dealer to explain it to me and they kept saying that since EWS is not reporting valid codes they can’t trust the codes coming back from other modules and that it should be fixed first before troubleshooting the transmission problem. After trying several different times/ways to ask the questions, I got frustrated and hung up the phone. I have filed a charge dispute with my credit card company to get my $130 back.

When I looked at the paper work given back to me; here’s what it says:

“Found EGS Transmission Control Unit was not fitted to car. Need to replace EWS to allow car to know it is fitted with an Automatic Transmission.”

I’ve tried to wrap my head around this diagnosis for the past couple of days and still have no clue what the above statement means.

Do you understand it?

"The General Module" by murmini

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:25:29 -0400

I am sure your dealer is able to diagnose this fault and locate the appropriate module. The EWS module is on the K-bus and connected to the General Module. The Auto transmission module is on the D bus – both are connected to the Instrument Cluster module. Simply ask your dealer to explain in terms your comfortable with what is going on and why they are drawing that conclusion. It may be more complex than they said and you just got a poor interpretation.

"The General Module" by arlrez

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:14:14 -0400

Hi,

I know this article is old but thank you for such a great description. I came to this article while trying to find out more information on the EWS module and what it does; now I have a better understanding.

My ‘05 Mini Cooper S has been having strange transmission problems; sometimes when I put in reverse the car jumps and makes loud noise, sometimes the car takes a long time to shift between gears, and other times it jumps forward (tires peel out) while it tries to shift from low to high gear. My mini is an automatic and this seems to happen only when the car is warm.

I took it to the dealer, who charged me $130 to look at the problem. They came back and said they can’t get faults from the Transmission Control Unit because they can’t communicate with EWS. They are saying that the EWS module is fried and it needs to be replaced. They want to charge $400 to replace the EWS module.

This makes no sense to me based on this article since I don’t see the relationship between EWS & Transmission Control Unit. Furthermore if what you say is true, it seems that EWS module only responsible for drive-away protection.

I think I just got ripped off by my dealer.

Could you tell me if my assumption is correct in that there is hardly a relationship between EWS & Transmission Control Unit?

Thanks for any help you may provide.

"The General Module" by darren

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:31:14 -0400

Hello, I have a starter problem on my 2008 mini cooper s clubman R55, Disconnected the battery to charge it, when reconnected the starter motor just turns for a split second without starting the engine. Does not make any difference if i change the battery for a different one. I tried a brand new battery – no difference! Any ideas please?

"The General Module" by 06minime

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 07:58:30 -0400

Hey, I have an 06 MCS that suffered that wonderful water leak which caused the BCM to short and corroded the interior wiring harness. I’m told there will be a tag located on the harness in order to match a replacement, yet I can’t find it. Any idea where this tag might be located or how to go about discovering the right harness without it?

"The General Module" by murmini

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 08:28:28 -0400

Thank you for the compliments, however, this stuff is almost impossible to diagnose remotely like this. You need some tests to be run on the system, which your dealer or a capable repair facility with good diagnostic technology can do. You may be right about the General Module, but I would not replace it until you have a better view of what is going on.

"The General Module" by hitenta@gmail.com

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:06:02 -0400

You sure know alot maybe you can help solve this puzzle. On my 05 convertible when I press the button on the roof rail to open the rear 2 windows the right (pass side) rear window and the drivers door window go down 1st the the pass door window goes 1/2 way down and the left rear window does nothing. Is this the computer that controls that action and needs to be replaced?

"The General Module" by murmini

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:10:28 -0500

Not enough to go on really. Test if the power isn getting to the starter and then carry out some basic diagnostics. Sorry can’t be of much help.

"The General Module" by Davinder

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:55:08 -0500

My 2004 cooper S would not start.Local mechanic changed the starter.It ran for a few days.The same problem-after sitting overnight,it refuses to start.What could be the problem?

"The General Module" by murmini

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:39:08 -0500

Very interesting. Yes, many of these items do interface with the General Module, however it would be impossible to diagnose this from afar!. It would be interesting to see what codes may have been generated as the system does have some extensive self-diagnosis capability. Try to get someone to read your OBD data from the OBD connector under the dash. Its very likely your going to have to get a dealer involved or a shop with the requisite DISplus, GT1 or MoDiC analyzers.

"The General Module" by Linus Nilsson

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:25:18 -0500

Hi!

I am the (proud) owner of a Mini Cooper S 2005 convertible. A few weeks ago a mysterious electrical issue began to show; randomly when the car has been parked for a few hours the alarm just shuts of (stops functioning). Also It doesn’t respond to my remote key. When this happens I open the door with the key but the car is totally dark (no internal lights go on). It just appears dead. I can start the car however, but when the car is started the following functions failure; wipers, steering directors, ac and fan, power windows, long distance beem. H o w e v e r; the anti spin, ABS brakes, stereo and many other things do work fine. Apart from the things mentioned that failure I can drive normally and at ANY time full functionality can suddenly come back. Just like that. After 30 seconds or 25 minutes. Totally random. Ive had this problem when the car has been parked in 5 degrees (outside) and 70 degrees (in a garage). I have tried with a new battery but I does not solve the problem. From reading here I’m thinking it might be the General Modul. But can I really failure that randomly? Also notice that the problem has never appeared when im actually driving. If it starts fine it continues fine. If it starts bad it continues bad… until it jumps back to normal… ANY help would be SO MUCH appreciated!!!

"The General Module" by chris/ckaire69@yahoo.com

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:15:26 -0500

Disconnected and charged battery for a couple of hours just before taking the car to the mini dealer.

Apparently, it reset all the control modules. The mini dealer was able to duplicate the problem after having the car for about a month. When in doubt… reboot

"The General Module" by murmini

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:59:53 -0400

Wow, this is a difficult one. Your in the best place letting your dealer try and track this one down. (Hope it’s under warranty). It sounds like a control issue within the General Module but sometimes these electrical issues are very hard to isolate. Please let us know what they find out and the ‘cure’. Sorry I can’t be of more help.

"The General Module" by Chris/ckaire69@yahoo.com

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:32:50 -0400

I have a parking brake light that comes on intermittently, when driving. When it does the windshield wipers run extremely slow. The mini dealer is having problems diagnosing it. any suggestions?

"The General Module" by RJG

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:24:14 -0400

My 2003 MCS HK radio is giving me a problem … CD is fine, but radio reception very poor (at first thought it sounded like speaker problem but they sound fine with CD) ... I have checked all antenna attachments for security and rust and wires into the signal relay (behind rear passenger side panel) and all looks fine … Last thing I know to do is to check line into the head unit itself … Anyone run into that coming loose or other suggestions?

"The General Module" by murmini

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:28:34 -0400

We live and learn! Thanks for the feedback, I do not see that documented in my paperwork, so WELL DONE!

"The General Module" by Malcolm

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:10:31 -0400

Hi Murmini, Thanks for the response, I by chance stumbled across a way to reset the lighting by holding down the interior light button for 5 sec. This seems to have reset the “module/controller”, yay!! Everything seems fine now.

"The General Module" by murmini

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:00:32 -0400

Malcolm I can’t be of much help i am afraid. You need to get the error codes causing this to be read by an analyzer.