When your MINI’s window gets stuck…
The driver’s side window on my MINI Cooper has always been a bit temperamental. Most of the time it works fine, but every so often it takes a vacation and will quit working.
The last time it happened, the car was going in for service anyway (to fix a cracked coolant overflow) so I had them check it. They wanted $400 to put a new motor in it. Hrumph. I said I’d live with it. Curiously, when I got the car back, it worked fine. They claimed it was because they disassembled and reassembled the door to check it out.
It worked fine for about six months after that until about a month ago, when once again it took some time off. I’ve been living with it.
A couple of days ago, I ran into a friend who has a similar ’03 MINI Cooper and we were comparing notes. He’s got 126,000 on his MINI, I’ve got 95,000. Both cars still drive like they’re new. He just got new brakes (or something similarly expensive), I just got a new A/C Compressor.
Then Donna mentioned that my window has been on the fritz, and Pete blew my mind:
“Oh, that’s easy. Hold the window switch down and hit the door hard about halfway between the door handle and the speaker. Then let go of the switch and try it. Should work fine. I’ve been doing that for three years.”
Yeah, right. I said I’d try beating up my car when I got home.
Doggone if it didn’t work! It was like getting a new car! I don’t know why I never thought of percussive maintenance before.
Thanks, Pete.
I offer this story here so that if anybody else has a MINI Cooper with windows that periodically stop working, perhaps it will be helpful to them as well…
6 Responses Leave a comment
i would just like to “will wonders never cease”. ive been screwing around with a mini window for months and because the owner was so anal about his car. it never occurred to me to try “percussion therepy”. im eternally grateful don
That is awesome! A friend just sent me this article because I was about to take the car to the shop tomorrow for that same problem! It worked like a charm! THANK YOU!!! You probably saved me a ton of dough!!
Whoo hoo! I’m glad it was helpful to you, too. Sure made me happy to learn about it!
Eric
I really hate the thought of having to periodically beat my brand new car. *sigh* Do they not have a fix for it at the shop that is covered under warranty?
I can’t believe this actually worked! I have been suffering the intermittent window syndrome with my ’04 Cooper S on and off for years, with the latest jam going on for a month! Saw your post and had to try it that minute! Just a single blow got it working again! THANK YOU!
worked like a charm thanx for posting this on the web now my wife will think i realy fixed it ill tell her it was alot of work lol