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Speak to me!

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3K views 13 replies 4 participants last post by  jmdrizen 
#1 ·
Hi there.

Here's the first of my niggly faults with my Laguna II. Despite having the buttons for the voice warnings, and having heard it demonstrated by the guy who sold me the car, I cannot get my Laguna to talk to me!

I've tried any and all combinations of button pressing, to no avail - when the car's off, when the card's in but before pressing the start button, with the engine running, everything!

Any suggestions as to what could be causing the problem please? I'm thinking a fuse as my next alternative, but which one, and where?

Cheers,

GAreth
 
#2 ·
Our Privilege doesn't have this feature, Renault dropped it after a few years.
Have you tried looking in the manual to see how to "activate" the voice commands - I am sure there is a method of activating and deactiviating the commands.
Also, without meaning to sound silly - have you checked the volume control! it could be quite easy to inadvetantly knock the control as it is mounted down by your knees!
 
#5 ·
The voice synthesizer button is a 'split' switch - i.e. two separate buttons occupying the same space. The one that latches is the 'mute' button, and the one that doesn't is the 'speech' button.

Pressing the speech button at any time (with the ignition on) should either give you a voice announcement of one or more faults, or say "Welcome, the vehicle computer is now checking systems for you."

With the mute button latched in, the car will only produce a chime when an event occurs, and you have to press the speech button for the verbal version. With the mute button latched out, the car will speak to you automatically.

Apart from the obvious thing with the buttons, the only sensible test I can think of is to try to trigger a warning. If you've had the fuel into reserve yet, then that should be accompanied by a spoken "Warning, fuel level low." If you get a beep instead (and the mute button isn't pressed in) then the car doesn't have the voice system. If you get nothing, then the voice system may be faulty.

If you can't wait for low fuel, then try driving off with the handbrake on its lowest notch (just enough to light the lamp on the dash.) After driving for a few yards, the car should give a spoken warning. Similarly, if you drive away without your seatbelt on, the car will (from memory) beep for a short while, then give you a spoken warning. Later versions (without the voice synth) beep for a while, then give a more urgent (higher pitched and louder) beep, then finally shut up and leave you to take your chances :p

If the car shows all signs of having the voice system but behaves as though it hasn't (i.e. two stages of beep on the seatbelt warning) then it might be that the car has 'forgotten' that it has the feature fitted. A Renault diagnostic should prove the point, but it'll cost you :(
 
#6 ·
I'm forever getting the seat belt warning bleep in the car park at work - never had a verbal warning from the car though.

I've always left the mute button unlatched, and last week the hot weather caused my tyre pressure indicator to come up with a red STOP warning, which I assume shoudl have triggered the voice too.

Nothing.

So, how to re-set then please?
 
#7 ·
Just a thought, but does the car still have its original stereo?

I've a hunch that the voice synth is on the same feed as the stereo (though I could be wrong) and if the fuse has been popped while fitting a new radio, that could well be the culprit.

The fuse in question is a 20 amp and it's located next to the diagnostics connector behind the ashtray. Quite why it's there (and not in the fuse box, where it belongs) is a bit of a mystery.

Other than that, I'd suggest checking every fuse in turn, even if they appear to have nothing to do with the voice synth. Sometimes an apparently unrelated fuse can cause problems. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done, thanks to the cretinous access (or lack thereof) that Renault have given for the fuse box. The fuses are behind a flap on the end of the dash, having opened the driver's door, but you have to have a child's hands to get in there.
 
#10 ·
Hi,

I too have a slight problem with the Voice feature.

Like was mentioned before the mute button latches in, but so does the voice above it. Is it not meant to? Is it stuck?

I get most voice prompts, like when I start the car, but sometimes I have to play with the switch to get it going again.

It's only a switch, but are Renault going to charge the earth to fix it? With position/labour charges.... etc etc? Or will this be a cheap and cheerful fix? Perhaps a WD40 fix??

Cheers all
 
#11 ·
That does sound like a faulty switch. Only the mute button should stick in positon.

The good news is that on your phase 1, the switch panel comes out really easily. I removed mine several times when wiring up accessories. With the switch block removed and the wiring disconnected, you should be able to see whether a DIY repair is worth attempting. If not, then at least you only have to buy a new switch from the parts counter. You shouldn't have to pay anything for labour.
 
#12 ·
Hi Horatio,

Thanks for that!! :)

Sorry to sound a complete idoit, but I'm not really that up on a normal car, let alone one kitted out like this!

How easy is "really easily"? Something someone like me with no motor mechanics experience could do? I looked for a Haynes book for the car, but it says that it doesn't cover the v6, are their any diagrams anywhere that I could see of how to remove this switch?

Cheers!

Dave
 
#13 ·
It's been a while since I've looked at it, but on the phase 1, the whole switch panel just pulls out with a bit of gentle leverage. Once you've done that, it should be pretty easy to see how the connectors are fastened to the switches and how the switches are fastened to the panel.

If I recall correctly, you can just about get your fingers behind it, though you may need to lever at it with a screwdriver (take care not to mark the dash.)

The phase 2 (that I have now) is a different kettle of fish. There's a piece of trim over the switches, and I'll be damned if I can work out how to get it of.
 
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