Renault Mechanic's / Scenic Intermittent Starting Fault

[Chequered Flag Racing]

SIL has a 53 Plate Scenic

hot or cold it has this annoying Intermittent Starting Fault

engine runs fine when it's running, no misfire etc

one minute it'll start the next it won't, it's becoming a nusiance for her

have changed the battery in the remote

any other ideas

[showtime]

Glenn i work for Renault & know exactly what this is
i've gotta get to work now, PM me your number, i'll log in later on & call you back

been working for Renault main dealer since 1985

[Chequered Flag Racing]

Originally Posted by showtime

Glenn i work for Renault & know exactly what this is
i've gotta get to work now, PM me your number, i'll log in later on & call you back

been working for Renault main dealer since 1985

cheers it's 07079 919217, see your pm's

[cjm_2008]

crankcase position sensor?

[Chequered Flag Racing]

Originally Posted by cjm_2008

crankcase position sensor?

Showtime reckons the TDC, guess you mean the same

just got to track one down now

looks like this is what I have to do

http://www.renaultforums.co.uk/showt...&highlight=tdc

[showtime]

yeah same thing just different name
the one in that link is the one you need to change
i didn't read all 11 pages but i guess in there it will mention the blue coloured modified part & the wiring plug & harness change

[cjm_2008]

rip out the whole engine management system and replace with one of these....



... then if it fails to start, all you need is a bit of emery cloth and some WD40.

[Chequered Flag Racing]

Originally Posted by showtime

yeah same thing just different name
the one in that link is the one you need to change
i didn't read all 11 pages but i guess in there it will mention the blue coloured modified part & the wiring plug & harness change

I haven't yet but phone local Renault dealer and it's circa £50 for both parts needed

[justleanitupabit]

Originally Posted by Chequered Flag Racing

I haven't yet but phone local Renault dealer and it's circa £50 for both parts needed

Don't buy the parts yet - my inlaws had the same issue tdc sensor - take the old one out (a bit of a pain to be honest) get some emery and some wd40 / gt85 gently clean the copper "end" on the sensor and put it back in - did this about 6 months ago and they've not had the issue since. (Also you can get the sensor for about £20 if you look around) - Took me about an hour having never been under the bonnet of a scenic before and I'm not a mechanic.

[Chequered Flag Racing]

Originally Posted by justleanitupabit

(Also you can get the sensor for about £20 if you look around)

ebay for less than £7, but they are used or new for £50

the blue one below



still reading up on issues with them but may try your suggestion first if the SIL doesn't take it to a garage before hand

[showtime]

Originally Posted by justleanitupabit

Don't buy the parts yet - my inlaws had the same issue tdc sensor - take the old one out (a bit of a pain to be honest) get some emery and some wd40 / gt85 gently clean the copper "end" on the sensor and put it back in - did this about 6 months ago and they've not had the issue since. (Also you can get the sensor for about £20 if you look around) - Took me about an hour having never been under the bonnet of a scenic before and I'm not a mechanic.

the only reason doing this might have made a difference is that unplugging & plugging the sensor back in may have improved the contact within the plug.
rubbing anything off the end of the sensor tip will just be making the sensor tip further away from the target teeth on the flywheel

whack a new one in there with the new plug
do it once
do it right

[Chequered Flag Racing]

Originally Posted by showtime

whack a new one in there with the new plug
do it once
do it right

SIL's a tight arse, not that I've tried mind you

[DCM]

no harm in cleaning any crud or corrosion off the sensor, that is free at least, then it will give you a few weeks to hunt a cheap one, on the net?

[justleanitupabit]

Originally Posted by showtime

the only reason doing this might have made a difference is that unplugging & plugging the sensor back in may have improved the contact within the plug.
rubbing anything off the end of the sensor tip will just be making the sensor tip further away from the target teeth on the flywheel

whack a new one in there with the new plug
do it once
do it right

No the reason it worked was cleaning the crud off the end of the sensor. Hence why I said to do it gently.

I did this interestingly on an 03 scenic....and it worked a treat (and still is)

Either way whether it was cleaning the sensor or merely disturbing dirt from plugs if it works and is free.....

Clean it once and save yourself bills from a dealer.

[showtime]

yes its free

but cleaning the external tip isn't going to fix an internal electrical problem (high resistance) thats exaggerated by heat meaning the vehicle wont start when its been left a short while (still warm) is it!

i've changed enough of these sensors over the years to be able to suggest this is the cause of the fault described

[justleanitupabit]

Originally Posted by showtime

yes its free

but cleaning the external tip isn't going to fix an internal electrical problem (high resistance) thats exaggerated by heat meaning the vehicle wont start when its been left a short while (still warm) is it!

i've changed enough of these sensors over the years to be able to suggest this is the cause of the fault described

Changed rather than cleaned....interesting......

I would suggest to the OP that its highly probable that the sensor just needs a clean to remove the thin build up of crud on the copper exposed part of the sensor - this gives total resistance to an electrical circuit!! You will have noticed that the problem occurs when the engine is hot OR cold - meaning heat is not a factor. These are the exact symptoms my inlaws encountered on exactly the same year/model (the 1.6? OP).

Take it out, clean it and restore - see if that works - if it does - Free fix - If not get it changed no harm done. Its certainly worth a go.

Anyway not been on here long so not keen to fall out with anyone...yet!

[Chequered Flag Racing]

Originally Posted by justleanitupabit

Take it out, clean it and restore - see if that works - if it does - Free fix - If not get it changed no harm done. Its certainly worth a go.

and I'll probably be rewarded with alcohol

[showtime]

you don't need to clean the tip of the sensor to acheive a better contact as its an inductive sensor that doesn't touch anything! its not copper either its steel!
as previously mentioned the likely fix in your instance was unplugging & plugging back in the plug that restored the connection!

you can have the last word. i lay down my 25 years of relevant experience, years of college & countless manufacturers training courses when armchair mechanics 101 is clearly the definitive champion!

[cjm_2008]

while you're messing around in the general engine area, why not fit a NOS kit?

a bit of nitrous should improve MPG and make the engine easier to start.

[mark christopher]

Originally Posted by showtime

you don't need to clean the tip of the sensor to acheive a better contact as its an inductive sensor that doesn't touch anything! its not copper either its steel!
as previously mentioned the likely fix in your instance was unplugging & plugging back in the plug that restored the connection!

you can have the last word. i lay down my 25 years of relevant experience, years of college & countless manufacturers training courses when armchair mechanics 101 is clearly the definitive champion!

got to agree fully with this post, the bottom "copper" bit does nothing different from being cleaned., more chance you have moved a bad connection.