1999 Renault Megane Coupe from UK and Ireland - Comments

I have a Renault Megane Classic: 1,400 cc mod 1999. The car runs perfectly, but sometimes (in intervals that can differ from a day to 2 months) when the engine has its normal temperature, unexpectedly it dies as if someone turned the key off. Almost every time it happens when I stop because of the traffic, or at the traffic stops. The engine cranks, but doesn't start again. After a couple of minutes, or 2-3 hours, the engine starts and operates normally again.

What can be the reason?

I have already changed:

The idle motor. The injection coil. The fuel pump. The lamda sensor.

It can be a silly problem such as bad wire connections or something like this, but it also may due to a faulty ECU.

Everybody is saying that in case of a faulty ECU, the symptoms would be more permanent and the engine would not start at all.

So any brilliant ideas from someone?

Please help.

Nick.

I have a Renault Megane convertible. I have had no problems until now. The roof will not go down. It just makes the noise. The aerial will not come up at all. Are there any ideas?

Hello

I have a Renault Megane Coupe 1.6 Sport 98 plate I recently took off the battery to recharge it when I replaced it and went to turn over the car I had nothing no dashboard lights at all and it wouldnt turn over. Also the alarm continued to go off even after I disconnected the battery and the siren I'm now stuck and unable to lock my car as the drivers door lock just seems to turn round and central locking u/s

Any help would be very grateful

Thanks JP.

Hi, my other half has a megane which was doing what some people are describing here - ie - car works normally then when you went back to the car nothing.. no lights on dash etc - did the usual and paid to have various bits replaced to no avail still intermittent problem. Eventually traced to what I think was an earthing problem - open bonnet - on left, small black box to rear in front of shock with electrical warning sticker (Sorry not a mech so describing as best as poss). Open this and you will see a 30A fuse and the strap connection. Unscrew the strap connector and check for signs of arcing. I cut about 3 inches of the strap and re-soldered the connection and cleaned all with wire brush - hey presto - has not happened since.

I was speaking to a friend who had a similar prob and he did the same with the same result - a working megane - what a rarity!

Any more info - drop me a line on sales@tradecctv.com and I'll help if poss.

Hi everyone! Is it possible to reprogram a key from another Megane to be used in my car?

I have bought a spare key fob on eBay, but in my service it couldn't be programmed.

It is Megane I, 2001, with RF key fob.

No you can't, you may be able to clone the transponder chip, but not the central locking signal.

Www.coupe-club.org.uk.

I have recently passed my test and bought my first car a 98 Megane RT DTi Sport and I am having all of the above problems.

It was fine until it had it's MOT last week, the mechanic left the lights on and drained the battery. Now it starts intermittently from a jump start box, but it's a nightmare trying to get the plip key to work.

I had it booked to go to quik fit today for a new battery - tried to jump start it from the booster box and the immobiliser is locked on, the central locking is totally unresponsive : (

I am at a loss, my hubby is bringing me a new battery home from work, but my gut says there's more to it than the battery...but the hubby (who's a biker and doesn't drive a car is convinced it's purely the battery)

OK update on the Battery, new battery is in and everything is working, but for the immobiliser, I can't use the key to plip open the doors so my immobiliser isn't coming off. The central locking button in the car works fine, but the key won't operate it...

This is my first car and I am not having a good experience - I certainly won't be buying another Renault.

I'll try and work my way through some of the points raised here tomorrow: check the fuses, moisture in sensor, etc.

I have my VIN number and the number from inside my key, but when I enquired at Renault today about getting a spare key, they quoted me £160 plus VAT. daylight robbery. I can only imagine what it will cost to get it towed in and fixed. Having thrown over 300 quid at it already, I'm on the verge of cutting my loses and giving up.

Tips, ideas, and help are appreciated.

Frustrated and peeved in Cheshire!

One working Megane!!

Go here: http://www.bba-reman.com/content.aspx?content=Test_for_Renault_Key_Immobiliser_failures_emergency_recode

Download the small DOS based program and follow the instructions.

The code for my car works, I now have an over-ridden Immobiliser and working car.

This software is free.

Woot!

I just spent 2 days waiting for Renault to get back to me with a code as the computer wouldn't unzip the suggested download, finally got it. Now the car is starting fine. Just a bit worried as someone said it only works for a while... I don't wanna give Renault a penny so wondering how long is a while? Thanks...

If your immobiliser is not working it can be the leak or the key, but renault like to say its the key so they order one, program it, charge you, then say it's not the key its the receiver. Get the code, don't give them a cent, this problem should have been a recall. It is dangerous to be stranded with an immobilised car. I have 3 kids and it happened to me, no engine fault, no nothing, just faulty engineering by renault. They are well aware of this problem and see it as a cash cow.

I ran mine for over a week on the emergency code, sometimes having to use it 5 or 6 times a day. I had no problems. I finally got my key sorted yesterday apparently my key had lost it's programming... it cost me 38 quid.

If I could have put up with putting the emergency code in constantly I would have, but the sheer fact I had no central locking was more of a pain, as I was having to check all the doors and the boot everytime I got out of it.

P.S You need WinRAR to open the software :)

Thanks to the person who posted the link to the program that gets you the immo code! I was finding if I kept push my lip, the car would eventually open, but now I have to put the code in every time. Has anyone got any ideas how I can get the key working again? At the moment I must put in the emergency code every time I use the car.

Cheers kev.

Thanks for all the above. As much as anything else it's comforting to know that I'm not alone with this problem of the car not starting. Just one question for the moment - how do you get to the immobiliser in the roof console? I can remove the two light fittings, but am reluctant to pull too hard on the plastic surround. What's the trick?

Hi all.

I have a 1998 Renault Megane and had the same problems. Over a period of time it was taking me longer and longer to get the infrared remote to deactivate the immobilizer until it would not work at all, despite having Renault fit new batteries.

I dismantled the key and found that the solder joints for the IR transmitter had broken and that the key was not transmitting an IR signal (check by pointing your key at your mobile phone camera whilst viewing the screen, you will see 2 bursts of light if it is working correctly)

I soldered the IR transmitter but because the batteries had been removed I needed to reprogram the key. This can only be done if you have the 4 digit immobilizer code. This may be on a strip inside the key (6 digits, use last 4 only) but if not, it is available from your Renault dealer. They will probably charge you for this but my opinion is that it is information kept under the data protection act so in the UK should cost no more than £10.00.

Once you have the code, turn on the ignition so the red light on the dash is flashing.

Press the left central locking button and the light flashes slowly. Count the flashes till it corresponds to the first number of the code then let go.

Repeat for all digits.

You should now have an illuminated red light on the dash (not flashing)

Turn off ignition, remove key.

Press central locking button again and point key at roof sensor whilst pressing button on key.

May take a try or two.

If this does not work it could be a damp receiver in which case you would need to remove it from the head lining and dry it out.

Best of luck and don’t believe Renault when they say you need a new key because it could just be the IR joints need re-attaching.