Display will not turn off!

[TonyM58]

hi everyone, just bought an 02 Megane 2 1.5dci 5 door. I have noticed when i lock the car the two electronic displays in the middle of instrument panel do not turn off. They glow and are obviously still recieving power. The bottom one, has not got the outline of a car on it as it should, there are three tyre symbols which are not 'filled in', and when i open any of the doors, the display shows this. the thing is, the car has just failed to start because the battery wont turn it over. The battery, which is a renault, is only 55AH, arent diesels normally higher capacity than this? battery was showing 11.6 v off load. the battery looks a bit old, but i am concerned that this display problem is draining it. I've measured the draw off the battery with the central locking locked and nothing else on, and its pulling 250mA. I know its always going to pull some for the alarm etc, but does anyone know what it should be pulling? Any experience of this panel display problem

[davelowe]

If it's only measuring 11.6V off load then it is (very) discharged, but I doubt that it is knackered per se, although it will be very soon if something isn't done (or hasn't been for a while). 0.25A sounds like a heavy discharge for the alarm etc. Also, as you mentioned 55Ah which sounds suspiciously light.

My first impression is that someone has charged an old petrol engined battery for the sale and not addressed the underlying electrical fault. Beyond that I can't really help.

Perhaps you could try and locate the problem by removing fuses around the battery terminal, and then progress to those in the fuse box, until you get a 0A reading.

I hope that it doesn't result in an expensive repair.

[Gav]

You mention the tyre symbols. Do you have the pressure sensors fitted? Do you know if they have they been refitted correctly if any tyre has been changed? Are the tyre pressures actually low (which is reasonably likely with the colder weather)

[TonyM58]

thanks for the replies. Dont know about the tyre pressures - the symbols are like 'empty' ovals, does that mean they are correct, or do they became 'filled in' when the tyre pressures are wrong?

I have done removing the fuses individually but the drain stayed at around 250mA - i suppose i could try it and see if it tuens the two lcd displays off, although i would be surprised if i could do this without losing the dispalys totally.

Does anyone know if the two seperate lcd displays in the middle of the instrument panel are one complete unit?

Can I change them without changing the complete instrument panel?

I have read that they are just displays and the mileage is held seperately on a chip - is that correct? Any idea on price of the displays? Thanks!

[Gav]

Dont know about the tyre pressures - the symbols are like 'empty' ovals, does that mean they are correct, or do they became 'filled in' when the tyre pressures are wrong?

I don't have the tyre pressure sensors, so it would be worth reading your manual which should have some details. You could also try searching on the forum as some other people must have had problems and they might well be explained in a post.

Does anyone know if the two seperate lcd displays in the middle of the instrument panel are one complete unit?

Speaking as an electronic engineer (non automotive), I would doubt it, they're most likely to be separate displays.

I have read that they are just displays and the mileage is held seperately on a chip - is that correct?

It's probably saved in multiple places to combat clocking. Before the Megane I had a 307 that had the instrument panel replaced (under warranty), which then added on miles (and sometimes took them off). They had to change another part to sort that out, and I wouldn't think Renault would do things that differently.