Locked out of Renault megane

the great purveyor of mediocrity

Does anyone know if it is possible to open a Renault Megane 2003 bonnet without access to the car?
It seems like the car battery is dead (going by the immobiliser light is not working), so the doors will not open. Also the emergence key is not opening the passenger door for some reason. So I cant open the bonnet to charge the battery....help!!

miller50841

the great purveyor of mediocrity wrote: »

Does anyone know if it is possible to open a Renault Megane 2003 bonnet without access to the car?
It seems like the car battery is dead (going by the immobiliser light is not working), so the doors will not open. Also the emergence key is not opening the passenger door for some reason. So I cant open the bonnet to charge the battery....help!!

Do you have AA or any breakdown assist they have no trouble getting in they usually part the door with a air bag and snag the lock. Try both keys take plastic cover off door handle. I have seen a few where the key wasn't even cut in the card.

the great purveyor of mediocrity

miller50841 wrote: »

Do you have AA or any breakdown assist they have no trouble getting in they usually part the door with a air bag and snag the lock. Try both keys take plastic cover off door handle. I have seen a few where the key wasn't even cut in the card.

I think I might know what you mean. Are you saying that my key, see photo, is not cut, cause it looks very plain?

the great purveyor of mediocrity

miller50841 wrote: »

Do you have AA or any breakdown assist they have no trouble getting in they usually part the door with a air bag and snag the lock. Try both keys take plastic cover off door handle. I have seen a few where the key wasn't even cut in the card.

No I have no AA or breakdown assist unfortunately.

miller50841

the great purveyor of mediocrity wrote: »

I think I might know what you mean. Are you saying that my key, see photo, is not cut, cause it looks very plain?

Yes as I thought Renault not checking if keys actually work. I have seen this many times its a blank key any chance you have the spare as it may be cut but don't hold your breath.

Do you know any AA guys or even one living near I would give them a try and throw them a score. Worth a shot. There may be a way of hitting live off the starter but if you not really sure don't try.

Ps the potatoe is only good for sticking up an exaust which doesn't do the car any favours.

the great purveyor of mediocrity

miller50841 wrote: »

Yes as I thought Renault not checking if keys actually work. I have seen this many times its a blank key any chance you have the spare as it may be cut but don't hold your breath.

Do you know any AA guys or even one living near I would give them a try and throw them a score. Worth a shot. There may be a way of hitting live off the starter but if you not really sure don't try.

Ps the potatoe is only good for sticking up an exaust which doesn't do the car any favours.

Unfortunately I only have the one key so I'm screwed. Weird that the manufacturer wouldn't cut the flipping key.

Guy:Incognito

miller50841 wrote: »

Yes as I thought Renault not checking if keys actually work. I have seen this many times its a blank key any chance you have the spare as it may be cut but don't hold your breath.

Do you know any AA guys or even one living near I would give them a try and throw them a score. Worth a shot. There may be a way of hitting live off the starter but if you not really sure don't try.

Ps the potatoe is only good for sticking up an exaust which doesn't do the car any favours.

Are you sure it's Renault sending the keys out with the cars like that and not people getting replacement keys at some point in the cars life and either not knowing they have to get it cut or the garage being lazy/also not knowing or checking?

the great purveyor of mediocrity

I suppose there is no way of opening the bonnet without pulling the lever inside the locked car, disaster.

Guy:Incognito

btw is the other side of the key flat like that too?

dharma200

I would break a window before breaking the bonnet I think, a quick google and it seems there is really no option other than breaking into the car or calling out a lock smith.... Just to mention if the immobiliser gives problems we had a code that we put in using the central lock button , which we used to start the vehicle for about four months, until we got rid as soooooo many electrical and immobiliser problems drove us crazy.......

ted1

Looks more like a replacment key that was never laser cut rather than an original. Are you sure that the battery is dead, the key card might be acting up. It's a common issue with renault key cards

the great purveyor of mediocrity

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

btw is the other side of the key flat like that too?

It is yeah, the exact same each side.

visual

Renault make good locks if its like the laguna and I think it is breaking a window will do no good as when locked it can be double locked or dead locked depending on number of key press when it was locked.

Jack it up and connect a jumper lead to starter motor and other to engine then connect to a battery in another car.


You can contact renault tomorrow they can cut your blank key from vin number.

Guy:Incognito

If you don't really need the car today I'm sure Renault could have the key cut from the reg tomorrow.

the great purveyor of mediocrity

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

If you don't really need the car today I'm sure Renault could have the key cut from the reg tomorrow.

Really? That would be class. I have just done a 30km round cycle to get a CR2025 battery for the card in order to rule that out as a problem. It is now ruled out. I'm not in work until tomorrow evening so I could survive for a bit longer. So you reckon a Renault garage could cut the Emergency key to my specific reg plate? That wouldn't be so bad then. I suppose they can't charge cause they should have done it in the first place. I'll ring a Renault garage first thing tomorrow morning.

colm_mcm

Don't the grille sections just pull off? Surely pulling the passenger side one would reveal access to the bonnet latch?

the great purveyor of mediocrity

colm_mcm wrote: »

Don't the grille sections just pull off? Surely pulling the passenger side one would reveal access to the bonnet latch?

Do you reckon that's worth a shot? Might try it. I'm not very good at this sort of stuff though is the only thing.

Renegade Mechanic

the great purveyor of mediocrity wrote: »

Do you reckon that's worth a shot? Might try it. I'm not very good at this sort of stuff though is the only thing.

It is but the cable is a bugger to get at, as its behind the front top crossmember and the lock is inside the front top crossmember. As mentioned earlier it would nearly be easier to jack the car, remove the seven 10mm bolts holding the cover (often less, often tec and self tapping screws instead :rolleyes:) and place a jump lead carefully onto the starter motor (the part the main cable bolts to) and the black one anywhere on the engine. The motor is mounted at the back of the engine and is visible directly over the where the right hand drive shaft enters the gearbox.

the great purveyor of mediocrity

colm_mcm wrote: »

Don't the grille sections just pull off? Surely pulling the passenger side one would reveal access to the bonnet latch?

So just prise this bad boy out (see picture) with a screw driver or something and I can get at the bonnet latch? I'm going to break it aren't I?

colm_mcm

Start at the bottom.

Its possible that you'll break it alright.

miller50841

As I said try a AA guy if you know one close. If you go to Renault ring them and I would say you will need the log book to prove car is yours along with id. I would recommend getting break down cover and also may be time to replace the battery especially as winter is only around the corner.

Also I have come across 3 Renault cars with blank keys fully original never changed

the great purveyor of mediocrity

miller50841 wrote: »

As I said try a AA guy if you know one close. If you go to Renault ring them and I would say you will need the log book to prove car is yours along with id. I would recommend getting break down cover and also may be time to replace the battery especially as winter is only around the corner.

Also I have come across 3 Renault cars with blank keys fully original never changed

Unfortunately I don't know any of those guys. I'll ring Renault in the morning. Thanks a lot to yourself for the input and everyone else who has given suggestions. Very sound of you all to take time out of your Sunday.

miller50841

the great purveyor of mediocrity wrote: »

Unfortunately I don't know any of those guys. I'll ring Renault in the morning. Thanks a lot to yourself for the input and everyone else who has given suggestions. Very sound of you all to take time out of your Sunday.

No problem best of luck.

ted1

the great purveyor of mediocrity wrote: »

Really? That would be class. I have just done a 30km round cycle to get a CR2025 battery for the card in order to rule that out as a problem. It is now ruled out. I'm not in work until tomorrow evening so I could survive for a bit longer. So you reckon a Renault garage could cut the Emergency key to my specific reg plate? That wouldn't be so bad then. I suppose they can't charge cause they should have done it in the first place. I'll ring a Renault garage first thing tomorrow morning.

It not just the battery in keycarf a that go. It's often the buttons them selves. Try bending it and pressing the button. This happened my wives Renault

the great purveyor of mediocrity

ted1 wrote: »

It not just the battery in keycarf a that go. It's often the buttons them selves. Try bending it and pressing the button. This happened my wives Renault

Yeah but you know the little flashing red light inside the car. Well that ain't flashing now so it must be the battery.

iamthemanwork

Is your key the 2 or 3 button unit ?

Technoprisoner

get a battery ....a set of jump leads....and get under the car and connect the positive to the positive on the starting motor..and earth the other end to somewhere suitable on the body. this should give you 12v to open the doors with

miller50841

iamthemanwork wrote: »

Is your key the 2 or 3 button unit ?

3

iamthemanwork

Your battery is not faulty. The sender coil unit is o / c from the pcb.... in other words one side of the coil has lifted off the circuit board. This is usually a straightforward repair , hardest thing is slicing open the casing.

dharma200

Let us know how you got on as any help for owners of meganes is good I think...

ict.matt

Having just paid £30 to watch a mechanic break into my car due the battery being dead; the key mechanism on passenger door not working, and me knowing very little about how else to get to the car, I thought I'd post my observations. Hope it helps.
1. He placed a thin plastic sheet (bit like an A4 folder divider) between the car and his flat head screw driver. This protected the paintwork for point #2
2. Placed screwdriver on drivers side door, at top left, in about 1 inch. Then gently worked screwdriver to enable a slight gap to appear.
3. He use a stiff piece of metal rod (similar to wire coat hanger) but was probably around 3 feet long and 3mm diameter. It was bent round at one end in a small hook shape
4. He fed the metal rod through the gap in the door down to the drivers door handle, and managed to place the hook behind the door handle.
5. The strength in the wire rod allowed him to replicate the action of pulling the door handle (as one would normally do from inside the car)
Hey presto!
No expensive tools required - just a fairly stiff metal coat-hanger type rod.

Guy:Incognito

ict.matt wrote: »

Having just paid £30 to watch a mechanic break into my car due the battery being dead; the key mechanism on passenger door not working, and me knowing very little about how else to get to the car, I thought I'd post my observations. Hope it helps.
1. He placed a thin plastic sheet (bit like an A4 folder divider) between the car and his flat head screw driver. This protected the paintwork for point #2
2. Placed screwdriver on drivers side door, at top left, in about 1 inch. Then gently worked screwdriver to enable a slight gap to appear.
3. He use a stiff piece of metal rod (similar to wire coat hanger) but was probably around 3 feet long and 3mm diameter. It was bent round at one end in a small hook shape
4. He fed the metal rod through the gap in the door down to the drivers door handle, and managed to place the hook behind the door handle.
5. The strength in the wire rod allowed him to replicate the action of pulling the door handle (as one would normally do from inside the car)
Hey presto!
No expensive tools required - just a fairly stiff metal coat-hanger type rod.

Wont work on a car with deadlocks.

con___manx1

a friend of mine had a renault megane and the key was dodgy as hell. he rang renault and was quoted 250 for a new key. he ended up getting rid of the car over it. the key just wouldn't work sometimes and then all of a sudden it would.it absolutely drove my mate insane.