Renault Megane

[dmsjps]

Can anyone please help? My niece has bought her first car, a Renault Megane (R-reg, I think). The other day, her blip wouldn't open the doors. She changed the batteries, but it still wouldn't work. She phoned the local Renault dealer and they advised her to disconnect the battery for 20 minutes, then reconnect it and try again. She has tried that, but it's still the same. The Renault dealer she will now have to take it to the main dealer for re-computing, which will cost loads. She's only just bought the car (privately) and is broke, working all the hours God sends for a pittance. Does anyone please, please have any suggestions?

[livingstone1]

if the fob is indeed knacked, then yes fifty for a new one and another fifty to reconfigure is about the norm Im afraid. However which battery did they advise her to disconnect for 20mins? I would try disconnecting the car battery for at least an hour or longer to give the ECU time to settle down, as they can sometimes 'freeze' like PC's or SKY boxes. There could even be a reset switch hidden on the car which would need a key to reset it, or in the case of my own car, a code which is entered by turning the key in the doorlock to the left and right, like turning a combination lock. Find this out from the former owner if possible. Secondly, make sure the battery in the fob is tightly fitting , at the correct polarity and charged. Give the terminals a rub with emery too. If she's really determined and can open it up , use a magnifiying glass to check for dry joints on the circuit board, (dull or loose looking), but easily fixed. If none of this works then looks like she will just have to lock up the old fashioned way with the key 'til she can afford the other. Good luck!

[Tim Baxter]

if it is only recently purchased then the seller might feel honour bound to recompense for this problem.  They might also have the second key which all new cars are sold with, worth a try.

[dmsjps]

Thanks so much for the replies, it's really appreciated. My niece got new batteries for the blip and the Renault garage told her to disconnect the engine battery for 20 minutes. Neither worked, so I'll tell her to try disconnecting the engine battery for longer. My hubby says we have instructions in the manual for our car to reconfigure if there's a problem like that, but my niece's car is a bit older and she doesn't have that. Also, unfortunately, she bought it from her step-dad, who also bought it second-hand anyway and there are no manuals or any other information.

 

I've never worked out why people don't keep their manuals with their car and sell them on with the vehicle actually. What is the good of keeping a manual for a car you don't have any more? All you'll do is chuck it in the bin.

[Robbo16]

I had the same problem noit so long ago too, i resolvbed the issue by taking off the sensor receiver located next to the map light and / or sunroof controls. (black oval bulb shaped)This was very easy to take off with just fingers and no extra tool were required, take this bulb off and dry the inside of it and the protruding black clip inside.....no saying this WILL solve your problem but its worth a try, Ive not had a problem since i dried out the sensor.....................