Push button start problem

DANNY2014

Car is a 2004 megane scenic authentique. Low mileage only 60000 on her. Have car nearly 2 year now and this problem I'm having has been occurring the last 6 months on and off but its nearly an everyday occurance now.

When I get in display reads clutch/brake to start (only brake works to start clutch never has) so its trying to tick over but not firing up??? Steering while this happens feels quite stiff as if the lock hasn't disengaged (usually when card is inserted steering unlocks and it still clicks as if it has) but eventually comes freely and car usually starts after a battle trying to turn steering. Brake usually feels stiff when this goes on as well. Has anyone come across this or any knowledge???

My mechanic who I swear by never came across it before and said I need to go to main dealer to get diagnostics test done rather than us trying to figure it out blindly. We've put in new battery, serviced it fully over a year back etc.

Have it booked in and there 70 to get a test on it which I'm hopefull will get to the problem or I can get full service of them for 260 including a scan. Obviously this price won't include the problem and just wondering if anyone knows anything or has an idea it would be greatly appreciated.

colm_mcm

I thought this issue was really common?

DANNY2014

I've been searching about it and the fixes I got was new battery, change tdc(haven't done) steering fluid top up etc. If it is common is it an easy fix? And how is it fixed? My mechanic said we could do a lot to it and still not find the problem and to get it on a computer.

Interslice

DANNY2014 wrote: »

I've been searching about it and the fixes I got was new battery, change tdc(haven't done) steering fluid top up etc. If it is common is it an easy fix? And how is it fixed? My mechanic said we could do a lot to it and still not find the problem and to get it on a computer.

Did he plug it in at all? A 5 euro bluetooth code reader I have connects to the mothers 03 megane.

DANNY2014

Don't think so his old school mechanic tbh. are those readers any good? Would it see faults and all?

Falcon L

The steering will feel very heavy until the engine starts. The power steering pump won't work until it does. Same for the brakes.

So, the problem is simply the engine not starting?

Petrol or diesel?

DANNY2014

Petrol 1.4 that's what it feels like and after a few mins playing push the button she will eventually fire up

Falcon L

So, the problem is that the engine isn't starting, and your mechanic can't get it going. Time for a new mechanic, I think.

DANNY2014

Is there a usual cause for this? Has anyone came across it before?

Polo_Mint

Have you tried changing your Car Battery?

Try swapping it out to test it

Edit: I see you have tried it

Interslice

Falcon L wrote: »

The steering will feel very heavy until the engine starts. The power steering pump won't work until it does. Same for the brakes.

So, the problem is simply the engine not starting?

Petrol or diesel?

Could have electronic powersteering so it would loose power when the car is trying to start.

DANNY2014 wrote: »

Petrol 1.4 that's what it feels like and after a few mins playing push the button she will eventually fire up

Is the keycard disconnecting or is constantly turning the starter until it fires?

DANNY2014

Interslice wrote: »

Could have electronic powersteering so it would loose power when the car is trying to start.

When trying to start before it said power steering locked on the message board eventually it gives a good click and comes loose and car starts. I don't want to fix if its gonna cost a bomb. That's why I'm trying to see has it happened anyone here before. I've searched other forums and their is a lot of different opinions and faults. One person said they changed loads to the car and the problem still existed so I don't want to go down that road.

Thanks for the replies

DANNY2014

Interslice wrote: »

Is the keycard disconnecting or is constantly turning the starter until it fires?

Card isn't disconnecting and yea it will stay in a constant turning of starter until I take the foot off the break and try again eventually firing

Interslice

A scan would be your next step. Any decent independent should be able to do it. Where you based? Renault will charge you an arm or a leg.

DANNY2014

In offaly. Yea see my mechanic said to go to main dealer am they'd have the best readers like that though they want to charge 70 just for a scan. Bit much?

Polo_Mint

DANNY2014 wrote: »

In offaly. Yea see my mechanic said to go to main dealer am they'd have the best readers like that though they want to charge 70 just for a scan. Bit much?

How many Keycards do you have?

Did you try both?

DANNY2014

Just the one came with it. Don't think its the keycard but then again its a Renault.
Had a problem with it last year horn wouldn't work and something else was gone (some light) can't think of it and radio was OK but changing the radio fuse got it back working found that fix online in the Renault UK forum's don't tink it would cause this?

Polo_Mint

OK

There was a known issue on the Scenic 2.

The problem was with the length of wire was too tight in the loom which was going to the Break and Clutch.

The solution was to extend the wires by welding extra wire.

Maybe ask your Mechanic to check that out

Check the connector going to both of them to see if they are loose.

They should click in

DANNY2014

Polo_Mint wrote: »

OK

There was a known issue on the Scenic 2.

The problem was with the length of wire was too tight in the loom which was going to the Break and Clutch.

The solution was to extend the wires by welding extra wire.

Maybe ask your Mechanic to check that out

Check the connector going to both of them to see if they are loose.

They should click in

Cool will have a check of this myself as mentioned clutch never worked and we never bothered tryin to do anything as break still done the job. Its megane authentique. Thanks

DANNY2014

This poster seemed to be the same problem as mine interesting read and nearly the same issue with steering etc

http://www.meganeownersclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20158

ra0044

Check the micro switch behind the pedal. These are prone to failing. There is one behind the clutch pedal and 1 behind the brake pedal. Either being depressed will allow the car to be started.

Sometimes they have been bent or moved so not being activated by the pedal or simply wear out. Very simple to change.

DANNY2014

ra0044 wrote: »

Check the micro switch behind the pedal. These are prone to failing. There is one behind the clutch pedal and 1 behind the brake pedal. Either being depressed will allow the car to be started.

Sometimes they have been bent or moved so not being activated by the pedal or simply wear out. Very simple to change.

She is trying to tick over just not starting. Had a look at clutch and brake everything that is there seems OK I started it a few times and twice she didn't start... Really tink its a computer job at this stage... found a vid online about cleaning corroded fuse box under bonnet so mite have a look at it and see is it any help.

DANNY2014

Update on this got the diagnostics done this morning after and all came up clear... The lad that done it reckons it could be the throttle body that's dirty and causing it to happen... Its kinda guess work really from here... Wouldn't start for him twice in the half hour he had it and everything clear... He wants me to leave it into him to test again when it doesn't start for him and maybe clean out the throttle body... Any ideas or suggestions would be welcome thanks...

afatbollix

Change the TDC sensor & the Cam sensor.

I had a clio with the same problem, Try find the TDC sensor and when it doesn't start go under the car move it and it should start straight away.

I changed the TDC first but also had to changed the cam sensor too to get it perfect.

Before I did read that it was a throttle body problem but just changed a £20 part and it worked. Better than sending it to a dealer for a days labour.

ongarite

Polo_Mint wrote: »

OK

There was a known issue on the Scenic 2.

The problem was with the length of wire was too tight in the loom which was going to the Break and Clutch.

The solution was to extend the wires by welding extra wire.

Maybe ask your Mechanic to check that out

Check the connector going to both of them to see if they are loose.

They should click in

OP, this is the issue.
I had a Megane for a few years and this cable connected to the clutch broke a few times. Its a simple fix for anyone with some electrical experience.

Symptom is exactly as you describe, will only start with brake pedal.

DANNY2014

afatbollix wrote: »

Change the TDC sensor & the Cam sensor.

I had a clio with the same problem, Try find the TDC sensor and when it doesn't start go under the car move it and it should start straight away.

I changed the TDC first but also had to changed the cam sensor too to get it perfect.

Before I did read that it was a throttle body problem but just changed a £20 part and it worked. Better than sending it to a dealer for a days labour.

Was the Clio keycard push button start? Did you have to clean the throttle body at all? I asked mechanic this morning would it be tdc and he said it woulda shown up on computer...

DANNY2014

ongarite wrote: »

OP, this is the issue.
I had a Megane for a few years and this cable connected to the clutch broke a few times. Its a simple fix for anyone with some electrical experience.

Symptom is exactly as you describe, will only start with brake pedal.

will this help the engine from not firing up? She starts eventually wit the brake. She could start 10 times outta 10 then mite not fire 3 or 4 times

ongarite

DANNY2014 wrote: »

will this help the engine from not firing up? She starts eventually wit the brake. She could start 10 times outta 10 then mite not fire 3 or 4 times

You have an intermittent break in the sensor cable for the clutch. As mentioned its a very short cable and can get trapped, pulled on by your clothes, shoe.

Does it start every time if you use the brake?

DANNY2014

Used to start every time wit break but past 6 months hit and miss. Last month or so its been terrible.

afatbollix

DANNY2014 wrote: »

Was the Clio keycard push button start? Did you have to clean the throttle body at all? I asked mechanic this morning would it be tdc and he said it woulda shown up on computer...

Ya push start. It didnt show up on the computers :rolleyes: Saying that not alot of problems came up on the computer.

Mine was the clio 197 2.0L Petrol.

ongarite

Your posts are all the place so very hard to find out exactly what the issue is:

Does the car start with foot on clutch pedal with car in gear every time?
Does the car start with foot on break pedal with car in neutral every time?

If first is the case, the clutch cable sensor is broken.
If 2nd is the case, then another issue like TDC could be the issue.

DANNY2014

ongarite wrote: »

Your posts are all the place so very hard to find out exactly what the issue is:

Does the car start with foot on clutch pedal with car in gear every time?
Does the car start with foot on break pedal with car in neutral every time?

If first is the case, the clutch cable sensor is broken.
If 2nd is the case, then another issue like TDC could be the issue.

Never started with clutch have it nearly two year always started with brake bit as of late she is starting to give trouble eventually starting car is trying to start but won't fire up

DANNY2014

This is what is in a switch attached to clutch but not connected to anything. Is it this wire???

ongarite

Yeah thats it, you need to find the wiring loom that connects to it.

DANNY2014

No wire to be seen... Had quick search and cant find any wires disconnected. There is no wire going to brake either?

ongarite

It will probably be buried in behind the plastic cover that goes down the pedals: