9 replies to this topic

[gavgalligan]

Hi Guys,

I have a '98 mini cooper, I have just fitted a central locking kit and hooked it up to an external power source(golf caddy battery) and all is working well.

I am just wondering about wiring it back into the mini system. I have it hooked up to the alarm so I need to wire it back into a positive wire that is live with the engine off. What is the best live wire that someone can recommend connecting to?

Any help would be great, thanks.

Gav.

[eeae6000]

run a new wire from either battery or steering column

[gavgalligan]

Hi,

Would you be able to point me in the direction of a safe live wire in the steering column to use? Failing that, how do I gain access to the battery through the rear seats?

I tried hooking up to a live wire in a loom coming from the rear of the car but this kept setting off the alarm once it was set, ha ha!

[Dan]

There are several unused fuse positions in your car's fuse box related to Japan spec systems and also the sunroof if you don't have one. Some testing will show if any of these are constantly live, any of them that is designed for 20A should be good enough. Failing that you should run a new circuit from the starter solenoid, through the bulkhead, and use that. You don't usually take curcuits from the battery in a Mini because it is quite tricky to get to, and a long way away from most things. The starter solenoid terminal in the engine bay is treated as equivalent. Adding anything to existing circuits is bad practice unless you know the system well enough to identify wires with spare capacity, in the Mini there isn't a lot of spare capacity. Central locking motors draw a fair chunk of power, albeit briefly. So tapping into anything is a bad idea really, and if you don't know what you are dong you really mustn't go playing inside the steering column of a car with an airbag.

[gavgalligan]

There are several unused fuse positions in your car's fuse box related to Japan spec systems and also the sunroof if you don't have one. Some testing will show if any of these are constantly live, any of them that is designed for 20A should be good enough. Failing that you should run a new circuit from the starter solenoid, through the bulkhead, and use that. You don't usually take curcuits from the battery in a Mini because it is quite tricky to get to, and a long way away from most things. The starter solenoid terminal in the engine bay is treated as equivalent. Adding anything to existing circuits is bad practice unless you know the system well enough to identify wires with spare capacity, in the Mini there isn't a lot of spare capacity. Central locking motors draw a fair chunk of power, albeit briefly. So tapping into anything is a bad idea really, and if you don't know what you are dong you really mustn't go playing inside the steering column of a car with an airbag.

Thanks for that detailed description, that clears it up nicely. I will start with the fuse box as suggested. Thanks for the advice, Id be only making more work for myself without it!

[gavgalligan]

Got it all sorted, hooked it back to the fuse box and all is running well. Thanks for the help guys.

[bcjames]

Hey Gav,

Did you hook it up to the sunroof fuse? From reading this thread I had a look at moving some of my own additional wiring back to the fusebox, but the empty fuse slots don't seem to have a 'fuse holder' in them, and obviously no wires. Did you overcome that, or use an existing but not-in-use fuse?

[Dan]

You can buy the fuse terminals from most auto-electrical retailers. Pole Volt are great for terminals for specific mouldings like this. There are red locking strips slid into the box from the bottom, slide them out to add more fuse terminals and then slide them back in to lock it. Pull one out and take a photo, then start searching. I can't remember where I last got some from or I'd tell you.

[bcjames]

That's brilliant, thanks Dan

I did wonder how it all came apart!

[Dan]

Make sure you don't mix the fuses up when you have it apart!

Just remembered I think they are called DFK terminals, but compare some pictures before you go ahead.