R56 Where is TPMS antenna located?

[wswilburn]

I have a 2008 Cooper S that is showing 'inactive' for the TPMS. I've used an Autel tool to activate all four sensors and they read OK. I don't see any codes, but not sure my reader would see TPMS codes. I'm thinking about replacing the central antenna not the per wheel transmitter located in each wheel well. Others have reported failures of this part. I can't however find where it is located. Any clues?

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This post was auto-generated based upon a question asked on our tech article page here: MINI Cooper R56 Tire Pressure Monitoring (2007-2011) | Pelican Parts DIY Maintenance Article

[Nick at Pelican Parts]

Best bet is to read fault codes. You could have a faulty sensor in a wheel. A MINI scan tool should show all the sensors as well as display faults.

- Nick

[wswilburn]

Since my first post, I obtained a code reader that can read Mini codes. It gives me 6053, which is the code for a faulty antenna. I've ordered a new one from Pelican, but still can't find any information on where it is located.

[Luccia at Pelican Parts]

This info may help you:

In the wheel wells there is a small black box ( RDC Trigger transmitter ). The wheel sensor sends a signal to the RDC trigger transmitter to the RDC control unit. So check the front left wheel well behind the liner and look for a small black box and see if it is there or if it is damaged and un plugged.

The # 5 is the trigger transmitter (behind the fender liner), which is what you'll want to check. I believe #4 on the diagram is the antenna, which I am not 100% sure of it's location, but it may be under a panel at the right rear of the body, near the front right corner of the gas tank. Maybe this will help:

If you follow the plastic rocker panel cover on the right side of the car back to the rear wheel, under the body, it overlaps another black plastic panel that covers the antenna and what may be the carbon canister. It's about a foot long and 6 inches wide, I guess. This piece covers the underbody area near the front of the right rear wheel well. It's held in place by three plastic panel plugs with phillips-head insert screws, a plastic nut, and a rear-facing metal panel screw. Two of the panel plugs overlap into holes at the rear of the rocker panel cover. The other plug is in a crevice in the center of the panel.

Anyway, you'll need to remove that panel to access the antenna. You can catch a small glimpse of the antenna if you shine a light while lying on the ground facing the rear of the car at the bottom of the wheel well near the intersection of the rocker panel cover and the cover at the rear of it. I found it easiest to remove the entire cover to get a good grip on the antenna to pull it out of its holder, but you might be able to drop the front of the panel and sneak a hand in there. The antenna holder is attached to the front end of what looks like the emissions control carbon canister.

If you don't find it, go back to the article you left a comment on (linked in your first post) and post another comment on it. Nick will have input for you as well. Good luck.