Get Practical advice -> Operating Incidents (Troubleshooting) Guide for Renault Megane SUV First Generation (1995-2002)

OPERATING INCIDENTS

Your car should not be affected by incidents likely to keep it off the road for long if you have followed the Renault

Servicing Programme regularly.

The following hints will enable you to get going again quickly, albeit temporarily. For reasons of safety you should

always consult a Renault Dealer as soon as you can.

When starter is activated

CAUSES

REMEDIAL ACTION

• There is no response, the warning

lights fail to illuminate and the starter

does not turn.

Battery

lead

disconnected

or

Check battery terminals: scrape clean

if oxidised and re-tighten.

terminals oxidised.

Battery discharged.

Connect another battery to the faulty

battery.

Battery unserviceable.

Change battery.

• Warning light bulbs go dim and

starter turns very slowly.

Battery terminals not tight.

Terminals oxidised.

Check battery terminals: scrape clean

if oxidised and re-tighten.

Battery discharged.

Connect another battery to the faulty

battery.

• The engine is difficult to start in

damp weather or after washing.

Poor ignition, ignition system damp.

Dry spark plug leads and ignition coil.

Let the engine cool down.

• The engine is difficult to start when

hot.

Faulty carburation (bubbles of

vaporised fuel in circuit).

Poor compression.

Consult a Renault Dealer.

5.40

OPERATING INCIDENTS (continued)

When starter is activated

CAUSES

REMEDIAL ACTION

• The engine fires once or twice then

dies. It is difficult to start when cold.

Engine immobiliser active.

See “engine immobiliser” section.

See “starting engine” section.

Starting procedure incorrect

or

Poor fuel supply or ignition fault.

If the vehicle will not start, do not

keep trying to start it.

Consult a Renault Dealer.

System for cutting off fuel supply

activated if vehicle has been subjected

to severe impact.

Consult

a

Renault Dealer (see

information on fuel cut-off system in

section 5)

• Vibrations

Incorrect tyre pressures, incorrectly

balanced or damaged.

Check tyre inflation pressures. If this

is not the problem, have them checked

by a Renault Dealer.

• Coolant boiling in expansion bottle.

Mechanical defect: cylinder head

gasket blown, faulty water pump.

Stop the engine.

Consult a Renault Dealer.

Engine cooling fan not working.

Check appropriate fuse, otherwise

consult a Renault Dealer.

5.41

OPERATING INCIDENTS (continued)

On the open road

CAUSES

REMEDIAL ACTION

• Abnormal white smoke from the

exhaust.

Mechanical defect: cylinder head

gasket blown.

Stop the engine.

Consult a Renault Dealer.

• Smoke under the bonnet.

Short circuit.

Stop, turn the ignition off, disconnect

the battery.

Coolant circuit fault.

Consult a Renault Dealer.

• The oil pressure warning light

illuminates:

- when cornering or braking.

- on idling

Oil level too low.

Oil pressure too low.

Loss of oil pressure.

Top up the oil.

Consult the nearest Renault Dealer.

Stop: call for assistance from Renault

Dealer.

- is slow to extinguish or remains

illuminated on acceleration.

• Engine loses power.

Clogged air filter.

Change element.

Fuel supply faulty.

Check fuel level.

Faulty spark plugs, incorrectly set.

Consult a Renault Dealer.

• Idling unsteady or engine stalls.

Lack of compression (spark plugs,

ignition, air leak).

Consult a Renault Dealer.

5.42

OPERATING INCIDENTS (continued)

On the open road

CAUSES

REMEDIAL ACTION

• Steering becomes hard to turn.

Belt broken.

Have the belt replaced.

Lack of oil in pump.

Top up the oil (see maintenance

section).

If the problem persists, consult a

Renault Dealer.

• The engine overheats. The coolant

temperature warning light illuminates

(or the gauge needle moves into the

red zone).

Water pump: belt stretched or broken.

Faulty engine cooling fan.

Stop the vehicle and switch off the

engine. Consult a Renault Dealer.

Coolant leaks

Check the condition of hoses and

clips.

Check the expansion bottle: it should

contain coolant. If it does not, top it

up (having let it cool down). Take care

not to scald yourself. This action is

only temporary: consult your Renault

Dealer as soon as possible.

Radiator: Never fill a hot radiator with cold coolant if a considerable quantity has been lost. After any operation

on the vehicle which has involved even partial draining of the cooling system, it must be refilled with a new

mixture prepared in the correct proportions. Reminder: only products approved by Renault's Technical

Department may be used for this purpose.

5.43

OPERATING INCIDENTS (continued)

Electrical equipment

CAUSES

REMEDIAL ACTION

• Wipers not operating.

Wiper blades stuck.

Fuse blown (intermittent, park).

Motor faulty.

Free blades before use.

Replace fuse.

Consult a Renault Dealer.

•

Direction indicators flash more

- Bulb blown.

Replace the bulb.

quickly.

• Direction indicators On one side:

not flashing.

- Bulb blown.

Replace bulb.

- Feed wire disconnected or connector

out of position.

Reconnect wire.

- Faulty earth connection.

Find earth wire and remake a good

clean wire-to-earth connection.

On both sides:

- Fuse blown.

Replace fuse.

- Flasher unit defective.

Replace: consult a Renault Dealer.

5.44

OPERATING INCIDENTS (continued)

Electrical equipment

CAUSES

REMEDIAL ACTION

• Headlights

not working.

One:

- Bulb blown.

Replace bulb.

- Wire disconnected or connector out

of position.

Check and reconnect wire or

connector.

- Faulty earth connection.

See above.

Both:

- If the circuit is fused:

Check fuse and change if necessary.

• Traces of condensation in the lights.

This is not a defect. The presence of

traces of condensation in lights is a

natural phenomenon linked to the

variations in temperature.

These traces will disappear rapidly

once the lights are switched on.

5.45

Practical advice -> Operating Incidents (Troubleshooting) for Your Renault Megane SUV First Generation (1995-2002)

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