Resetting warning lights on a Renault Scenic

Shutuplaura

I recent had a lot of work done at a garage on my 2011 Renault Scenic. I have no complaints on the quality of the work though the mechanic didn't reset the engine fault codes. This means I still get the error messages when I start the car.

He did mention this at the time to kind of waved it away. I though I had read somewhere that engine fault codes clear if the fault doesn't reoccur after 29 engine restarts so I wasn't particularly bothered.

Now fast forward a month and I have the NCT on Monday morning. The garage won't reset the codes until after the NCT, so any other faults the NCT picks up can be worked on too.

I am worried though that with the fault codes on they will just fail the car and not run through all the tests. Is the mechanic right in his advice. He told me it takes over an hour to reset but I am sure I saw a mechanic reset the codec in a few seconds before using a handheld computer of some sort.

Is it possible to resent myself? Is it something a main dealer could clear for me quickly?

The fault codes relate to the breaking system (which was reworked in a big way last month) and the air filter.

Thanks in advance.

greasepalm

If brakes have a fault stored it would need a scanner to check and remove them and many fault codes need removing via a scanner.

Unsure if they do or dont refuse the test , ring them up but is too late to cancel and be charged for it go for it.

https://www.ncts.ie/media/b0jd3jlq/nct-manual-june-2021.pdf

mk7r

If I had to guess I'd say your faults aren't fixed

Shutuplaura

Honestly, I am not convinced that this is the issue. The garage in question has a good reputation locally and it certainly feels like it runs better.

Thanks for the advice anyway, I will bring it to the test and see what they say.

PsychoPete

Check the brake fluid level that can cause the "brake system fault" error to come on

mk7r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119319426#Comment_119319426

It does not take an hour to reset the codes. the only way the mechanic can confirm his repair was successful is to check the fault code status. Most parking brakes codes on the scenic are self extinguishing so if the fault is still present on the dash there is still a problem.

There is no such thing as an air filter code, likely dpf filter you mean which is a much bigger issue.

Shutuplaura

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119319979#Comment_119319979

I have seen someone reset a warning code in a few seconds so I am a bit annoyed with them for that. Honestly I otherwise think that the car is driving well. I will check the brake fluid as another poster suggested. The warning code is actually 'Check Anti-Pollution System'. The garage have a good reputation and I'd be really disappointed if they are giving me the run around. I do think they are incredibly busy at the moment and don't want to spend much time on cars. But as we all know, mechanics have a lot of power of members of the public who know nothing about cars.

Thanks again for your adivce to everyone. I'm going to do a final few things myself and bring it for its check. I'll post here how it goes...hopefully I won't be looking for a new garage recommendation!

Shutuplaura

The car passed everything against the emissions test, which they didn't do because of the warning light. Trying to contact garage about resetting and then I will go again. Would a garage be able to run an emissions test of their own to confirm it's okay or should I go to a specialist pre-nct place?

Thanks again.

greasepalm

Yes a good garage with an emissions tester would be needed after codes were cleared and car brought for a run , petrol and diesel machines are different so say which they need to test.

Shutuplaura

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119323554#Comment_119323554

Great. Thanks for the advice, I'll do this.

Thanks all, really appreciate it.

Shutuplaura

A further update - the car actually might need a New Air Flow meter. The mechanic recommended I take it to the main dealer for this, because it isn't straightforward to do it.

Anyway, I might start another thread in the main forum for this. Thanks again.

Lewis_Benson

Find a different mechanic

GavPJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119364277#Comment_119364277

Air flow meter is one of the most simplest jobs on a car.

Sounds like he is fobbing you off and doesn't want to work on the car anymore.

magicbastarder

i had the cosmic bad luck for my immobiliser to glitch just as the NCT mechanic tried to drive the car into the NCT test. i 'fixed' it by disconnecting the battery for several minutes.

brought it to my local mechanic who cleared all the fault codes (which also reset the airbag warning light which appeared after reconnecting the battery) and he didn't charge me for it.

Shutuplaura

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119368240#Comment_119368240

Awww crap. I told him to go ahead and change it. Ah well, Get the car back tomorrow. Hopefully its fixed at least.

mk7r

Get a new mechanic, quickly

Shutuplaura

ITs fixed, air flow meter needed cleaning is all. Didn't charge much, all things considered. Fairly happy with it once it doesn't reoccur. Thanks all.

greasepalm

I did also wonder if throttle body is also manky with crap and was that cleaned. Did he bring car for run and do emissions test after?

All fault codes checked and removed.

Shutuplaura

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119376055#Comment_119376055

Well two more lights came on over the weekend so I'm bringing it back. It may not be his fault. starting to think the car is profoundly banjaxed. Might bring it to the main dealer for a proper diagnostic.

GavPJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119385189#Comment_119385189

Laura I don't mean to sound like a pessimist but I've never heard of an air flow meter being cleaned and curing the fault.

They are the sort if thing that either works or it doesn't.

Viscount Aggro

Nope mod edit

GavPJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119385294#Comment_119385294

Having an engine light on the dash is NOT an NCT fail. Email NCTS and they will tell you the same.

However, if the light is on and causing your emission's to be off or too high due to a faulty sensor etc

that will cause the car to fail. 👍️

Viscount Aggro

"Arriving to an NCT Centre with an illuminated warning light is a serious no no. A lit up airbag warning light spells immediate failure. If your Engine Management light is showing, your NCT inspector might not even conduct the test"

This is what I have been told.

GavPJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119385362#Comment_119385362

That is what google will tell you. Honestly an engine light on is not an instant fail and your engine/car would want to be in

a serious bad way for the tester to refuse the test over an engine light on.

mk7r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119385418#Comment_119385418

The engine light is an instant fail for a number of years now if the car is diesel.

GavPJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119385733#Comment_119385733

Took a 2007 Avensis with an EML on for test in Jan 2020 and it didn't fail on it.

Failed on a brake hose. Fitted the hose, took it back with the EML on and it passed.

Reset the EML and the car was good as new.

mk7r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119388377#Comment_119388377

It has been in the manual since 2016 ish and cars fail for it every day

GavPJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119390145#Comment_119390145

My NCT centre must like me so. :-)

See they are supposed to plugging in diagnostic scanners since June last year.

I don't know of anyone that has had this done yet. Has it been knocked on the head?

greasepalm

I have never seen the nct plugging in any diagnostic machine into any car in 30 odd years or so as to many machines and diagnostic ports for loads of models.

Your car is supposed to be ready for the nct .

GavPJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119394829#Comment_119394829

All cars have the EOBD/OBD sockets in them now. There is a notice up

on the walls of all the NCT centres too. I haven't seen it done yet.

faq-doc-on-obd-and-other-changes-21st-june-2021.pdf (ncts.ie)

UrbanFret

Buy a cheap diagnostic fault code reader on ebay and clear the faults before you go into the test centre.