Starting problems

[paulw206]

This has happened a few times now, i press the start button to start the car (keyless jobie just incase that makes a difference) and all the lights and console displays do what they should but the car won't start. Sometimes after a few attempts it will go but sometimes it just won't, bump starting it is the answer then and it's fine. The RAC have spent ages going through it and they don't know what it is they just said suspect starter motor but wasn't sure, my trusty mechanic can't identify a problem and it showed nothing on a diagnostic test (but then that was done when stuff was fine), I have tried both keys and it doesn't make a difference and the batteries are fine in both, i have tried putting my foot on the clutch and brake at the same time and individually but nothing makes a difference. Anybody had the same? my car is a 52 plate 1.6vvt dynamique, 3 door with keyless entry, traction control and most extras!
Also sometimes when unsuccesfully trying to start it it now will say random things like "tyre pressure sensors fault" and none of the wheels light up on the display, "steering not locked" and sometimes "steering lock" but this is just random and doesn't say it all the time and it's only when trying to start the car.
Help would be much appreciated!

[dolbz]

I can't say for definite as Megane's are full of electronics and technology and all that and it could be any part of that but when an older car of mine (Peugeot) had the exactly the same symptoms, it was the starter motor.

I mentioned the problem to 3 mechanics and all of them instantly said it was the starter motor so sounds quite likely it's that. The intermittent problem is caused by the brushes wearing and if after a sucessful start the motor lands in the wrong position you'll have no luck next time you try to start.

[CanadianMike]

I have the same problem, the best way i can describe it is by linking a vid from youtube, mine does it no matter what the weather is like, just add my side too

https://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=08JaSGsrFM0

hope this helps

[paulw206]

Ok mines not quite like that, it just doesn't start at all (but the speedo lights up and the gauges move) but when it does start it runs fine and won't stall. I don't know too much on cars but i know people that do but they're stumped on this one and they don't think it's the starter motor as suggested previously. It has been suggested that maybe it's the switch or the relay to the starter and i just want to know if anyone has had the same prob and how they've overcome it

[paulw206]

to conclude my problem! the starter motor, ecu, alarm and imobiliser control modules where sent off to be tested, the imobiliser control module had a couple of faults and has now been refurbished, it's all been put back together now and works great, well touch wood!

[CanadianMike]

just had my TDC sensor changed today to i will let you know if it has solved it, hope it has!

[bing]

looks like its a bit of a regular issue! i went to jump in my car this evening and it kept telling me the steering was locked, when i put the key in and pressed start, it said 'steering not locked' but wouldn't do anything at all. I called someone out to look at it, but they were completely stumped - apparently this can be a problem if you turn the engine off when the wheels are on full lock, but my wheels are pretty much straight.
i've had the car for one month...i really hope this is not a sign of worse things to come.

renault megane 1.6 vvt dynamique 3 door

[poiu]

looks like its a bit of a regular issue! i went to jump in my car this evening and it kept telling me the steering was locked, when i put the key in and pressed start, it said 'steering not locked' but wouldn't do anything at all. I called someone out to look at it, but they were completely stumped - apparently this can be a problem if you turn the engine off when the wheels are on full lock, but my wheels are pretty much straight.
i've had the car for one month...i really hope this is not a sign of worse things to come.

renault megane 1.6 vvt dynamique 3 door

I am having exactly the same problem.

I'm at a loss. It was fine when I parked it a couple of day's ago. Went to start it this morning and got the above messages.

Anyone got any ideas?

[tomalamix]

do you ear a click sound below the steering column when you take out the card?

[sloaney_22]

Mine has just done the same (1.6 meagne 2003 vvt privelidge) car was running like a dream, parked up for a coffee, come back down and wont start. it wont turnover etc, the dash says steering not locked or steering lock. have tried disconnecting batt, but no luck, i just get a service light and hand brake like and a clicking sound every time i press the start button....

Spoke to a friend and they said that it is a problem with a chip, and is a dealer job. easy to fit the part but the part costs around £1000.....

Scrap metal is all a megane is good for!

any help?

[777HAM]

I too will add my name to this post with the same problem! First time it happened to me was a week today,parked the car in the garage the night before but went to start it and car unlocked,dash lights on,fuel pump worked but no start? Managed to bump start it and drove to garage but they had it for two days and it behaved itself! It happened again on Thursday but this time flashed up a steering lock message and service light,same bump start fix and it's been fine since. I have now tried a new battery, a Bosch s5 one so will see how it goes.

[davelowe]

I must have missed this one in the olden days of 2007...

If the cars start by pushing them, then the problem ought to be narrowed down - there is no immobiliser problem or key card issue, the car would not start otherwise. My guess is that something that should be receiving power or ground isn't. Either the battery is duff, or else there is some connectivity or rather lack of between the starter and the control module. These things are easy to test using a multimeter.

[777HAM]

Hello everyone

Just an update on my car. Drove to work today and was going to go out at lunch but car would not start and for the second time the steering not locked message came up. I work for a motorsport team so luckily have an electronics dept. Some of them had a look and we managed to start the car by pressing the start button and then moving the steering from side to side.I had fitted a new battery on Friday so don't now think this is the problem I will now look into this electronic steering lock and what is involved and how it works.
Also, I did a google search on the steering lock issue and found someone on another Renault forum found that he checked and replaced the fuses on the + terminal on the battery so this maybe worth looking at?

[davelowe]

[...]he checked and replaced the fuses on the + terminal on the battery so this maybe worth looking at?

Definitely - one big fuse for the starter might be intermittently faulty. It ought to respond to a 'wiggle continuity test though'