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Megane Scenic 1.6 16v Petrol Expression+ Starting Gremlins

2K views 17 replies 6 participants last post by  KingWhiskers 
#1 ·
Weird problem today, the OH took the car out to do some shopping and then to pick up our daughter.
I was a little difficult to start first thing this morning but then behaved itself.
She was too early to pick up our daughter and so pulled into a lay-by to wait till nearer the time, parking in Polperro is a nightmare.
She comes to start the car and nothing at all, even the clock and radio don't show and the clock resets itself. Radio retains its settings and code.

I get a lift out to the car from a neighbour, taking a set of HD jump leads with me.

Turns the ignition and the ignition lights come up, goes through the checks but it won't start.

As it is at the top of a very long hill and the ignition lights are bright and strong I run it off down the hill.

It starts as easy as wink.

Get it home and parks it outside on a hill just in case as I had a dental appointment later. Tries it on the key and it starts fine

Battery Voltage 12.78 V with the engine off

Battery Voltage 14.14 V with the engine ticking over.

All the connections look good, battery terminals are not corroded and not growing a forest of fur so I am at a bit of a loss as where to start.

There must be a bad connection somewhere for the clock to lose its setting.

I suppose whip the battery out and check the terminals, clean the earth straps and check the main fuses is all I can do but it is strange that it was dead one minute then came back to life after sitting for 30 minutes.

Any Ideas greatly appreciated.


:confused: :confused: :confused:
 
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#2 ·
Not something daft, had she had the radio on, flattened the battery slightly, and when she turned the key, what power was left, went to the starter, but not enough power to keep memory alive..

Have had this a few times, some ignitions, if fan/heater was on, dont switch off, unless key out, could fan have been on a low setting also..
 
#3 ·
As Ourkid says, battery, especially older ones can drain remarkably quickly if car not fully turned off.
My Scenic kept just about everything running, autowipers, fan, lights, internal lights, radio.....

I was a little difficult to start first thing this morning but then behaved itself.
Was that a personal statement or meant about the motor ? :grin2:

IF the motor, check voltage in morning or after a few hours rest, shouldn't have lost much then standing voltage immediately after turn off.
 
#5 ·
As Ourkid says, battery, especially older ones can drain remarkably quickly if car not fully turned off.
My Scenic kept just about everything running, autowipers, fan, lights, internal lights, radio.....



Was that a personal statement or meant about the motor ? :grin2:

IF the motor, check voltage in morning or after a few hours rest, shouldn't have lost much then standing voltage immediately after turn off.
It was meant to read "It was a little difficult to start first thing this morning but then behaved itself." but can be taken either way as I am difficult to start in the mornings at any time!!!!


:smile2: :grin2: :laugh: >:)
 
#4 ·
Sounds like Battery, gone intermittant or Low capacity to me. Or Engine earth strap, at least the weather's warm for tinkering.
I once killed a Scenic Battery in London, Just Kipping in the sun with the radio on. Cracked up with a push.
You'll sort it, I'm Sure.
 
#9 ·
Got a set of home made jumper cables, real heavy copper, will jump a car no problem.

Not one of those mickey mouse sets with thin cables and even flimsier clips.

These clips would cut your finger off.


Battery voltage after being left overnight was 12.50 V this morning before starting the car.

No problems with it today.

Just been working out how old the battery must be, I had the car in September 2012, and I have not changed it so it must be 4and1/2 years old at least. So it could easily be 5 years old perhaps even older.

Probably due for a change!!!


:smile2: :grin2: :laugh: >:)
 
#11 ·
Hi


had similar with wife's old Pug. She sat out side school waiting for kids, went to start car and nothing.


What she had done was sat there listening to radio, kids got in and she just turned the key to start without turning off first then starting car, the Pug people told me something to do with the battery 'save' mode . I thought it was BS but they might be right.


I noticed on some Ford cars if they stall you have to switch off before being able to re start.


Battery 5+ years could be how long is a piece of string ? My Megane has the original factory battery 10 years old and 186K yet 'old girl' gets through batteries every 3 years.
 
#12 ·
All I can do with this one is put it down as one of life's little mysteries.

Started and ran fine today, started at nursing home after visiting mother, started at petrol station.

It had reset the trip meter and fuel readings in the trip computer as well as resetting the clock so the power must have disconnected for a moment somehow to do that, yet the radio kept its code. Very strange set of circumstances.!!!!


:smile2: :grin2: :laugh: >:)
 
#13 ·
All I can do with this one is put it down as one of life's little mysteries.

Started and ran fine today, started at nursing home after visiting mother, started at petrol station.

It had reset the trip meter and fuel readings in the trip computer as well as resetting the clock so the power must have disconnected for a moment somehow to do that, yet the radio kept its code. Very strange set of circumstances.!!!!
T'aint. Most Common. Of the many times I've Killed a Scenic Battery, or it's just "fallen over". 90% of the time, It's as above. I would carry a jump pack, if you have one? I still believe you may have an internally intermittant battery. Trouble with intermittants, is that one never knows if it's cured until it fails again. :frown2:
Perhaps yer right about a change, OR as I am doing, (think my Trafic Batt may be low capacity) Got past winter, Should last till the next really cold snap?
Perhaps you'll never get a definitive answer.
 
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