Problem with Renault Megane

johnbaz72

I have had problems with my '00 1.4 Megane Classic for a few months now. Sometimes it takes a bit of cajoling to start it. It's as though the battery is dead, but two different mechanics i've taken it to said there is nothing wrong with the battery. I think it has something to do with the battery though as it seems to make a difference to starting the car if the radio / heating is on before i turn on the ignition. Most of the time, i can get it started by putting the car in second gear, and taking my foot off the clutch to almost "jump" start it, but the odd time, i need a push to get it going. More times it starts without any bother... The only other thing that may be linked to this is when i lock the car using the fob, sometimes one of the back doors doesn't lock.
Has anyone had similar problems, and found out how to sort it?

sk8board

I've had something similar and just swapped the battery. IY always starts on the first turn, and started to slip a little a you've described, last winter in the cold mornings. I just got a new battery and its right as rain since.

its worth trying; It sounds like your battery is old anyway, so even its its not the problem, its no great loss to try it

EDIT: not sure if you've tried, but swapping the battery in that model megane defies belief; I've never seen anything that should be so easy, be so protracted. The battery is buried under the windscreen at the driver side, and you'll need to take apart all the parts around the wiper spindle, and then theres also a flat bar down in the hole for the battery keeping the battery in place, thats now a piece of rust and very hard to get at and unscrew
you may also find the black (negative) terminal on the battery is rusted, much more than the Red (which is under cover), so you might be better getting a new terminal too, only costs a few eur

beam99

Have the earth straps been checked on the car? Will the car start if you jump start it? The cranksensors on them give trouble as well.

sk8board

another thing to check is something called the TDC Sensor. You'll have to Google it, but its a common issue for those model meganes with starting issues

johnbaz72

Thanks for the replies. Having googled the TDC sensor, I'd say that is most likely my problem.

louisejj

Ive just bought a 00 megane classic, sometimes on starting the engine apparantley does what is called hunting, anyone know the cause?