Immobilisor problem '99 Megan

Level 1 User Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 21

I have a megan 1.9d which will not start. The doors open with the key fob fine. The engine turns but will not fire. The car worked fine the night before!!
I reluctantly took (or should I say had it taken) to a renault dealer. He tells me the Bomba Injectoras or EPI is roto. Oh, by the way I am in Spain. I think this means the EFI or Injector pump is broken. (the mechanic pointed to a lucas part in the engine with a big grin on his face!!) He wants 1000 euros to replace the thing.I understand from a friend that this could be an immobilisor problem, as the immobilisor is on the fuel pump.
Any way around this joke of a bill from Renault!!
Please help...

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

how old is the car?

A friend from another board (Doll on RSC) had a diesel megane and in the year or so he had it from new it was in renault for 8 months, due to it not running and all sorts of problems with the engine. They never found the cause but replaced a lot of stuff.

But due to the way the car just stopped workign I would say an immobiliser problem. I am assuming the car to be newish (1998 on?) then it will havea transponder key and the aerial around the ignition barrel may have a dodgy connection or it may just no longer work.

Much cheaper than an injection pump.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

and I just read the title and it said 99 megane well that made me look a fool.

I would start with the ignition surround.

How does the immob light on the dash behave? flashes quicker, goes out, stays on etc?

Level 1 User Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 21

Thanks for the quick reply.
The light flashes quickly when trying to start the thing. Can you tell me anything about this transponder ariel thing, and anyway around it. I have read the bit about using the central door lock button to sync the code. Will this work. I am at a total loss.
Many thanks!!

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

righty if it flashes quickly then its not been disabled.

Around the ignition barrel theres an aerial. In the key theres a small chip that sends ou a signal. When the key is inserted into the ignition the aerial aroud the barrel gets this signal if it matches then the immobilser disengages allowign the car to start. The immob light goes otu when this happens.

the procedure in the tech article is for the older non transponder keys so it doesn't apply to you.

The aerials have been known to just stop working that and if the steeirng columns moved up or down it can cause it to die or a connection to it to fail.

So you need to have a look in this area.

Level 1 User Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 21

Thanks for that. I will give it a check out tomorrow.
You don't happen to know if there is a way round the immobilisor to check if the EFI system IS working. I have an awful feeling this mechanic is trying to do me. As I asked previously, can a live be run to the diesel injector to bypass the immobilisor.
By the way, excellent site and responses. Many thanks!!

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

sadly theres no easy way to do it and indeed I don't know how to.

But from the sound of it you basically have an immobiliser fault.

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

so he actually is having exactly the same problem that my neighbour is having with her y reg 1.2 clio and she still could not sort it out .the car undrivable due to this annoying problem .she said she has been to renault but they dont seem to be aware of this usual problem with the immobiliser ,is it a fault with new renault cars ??
would it be possible to see what the exact problem is plugging the car to a renault diagnosis computer ??

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

its a problem with all car with transponder keys and by no means rare.

No ren prob wouldn't pick it up with diagnostics. They would but it would come up as general fault so they would want to replace everything as in this case.

The main problem is 99% of dealers etc do not have a clue on how to solve any sort of car problems. Running diagnostics is where they fall down.

For example, car comes in suffering with intermitant missfire

Plug in diagnostics, a fault code comes up for the crankangle sensor nothing else.

Mechanic thinks, damn i'm good new sensor will sort that. So he replaces the crank sensor. Of course the rmuppet fails to realise the engine weasn't actually running so theres no output from the crank sensor so hes just replaced the thing at cost to the customer.

Fault is eventually found to be a duff spark plug.

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

is there any solution for this problem chris or anything to fiddle with ? would be great if you can explain this transponder thingy in a simpler way ,so i might have a go on her car to fix it .

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

go buy a new aerial fit it, car now work, take money, buy food, sleep

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

you are saying the aerial is ferked ,
so can you be nicer to tell us where that aerial thingy is located as well and how one can take it out and replace it?
and most important of all ,where can this one get a new aerial from ?
pls

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

ffs how many times do I need to repeat this

ITS AROUND THE IGNITION BARREL, YOU KNOW WHERE THE KEY GOES TO START THE ENGINE. iTS CONNECTION MAY BE DUFF OR THE AERIAL MEY BE KNACKERED. i ALREADY TOLD YOU THIS. iN FACT LOOK AT THE 1ST POST I DID AND WHATS THAT YES ME TELLING YOU WHERE IT IS.

Now hopefully you know now.

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

now i know cheers ,
i am not sure if there is an airbag or not on drivers side on that car but will see soon , would i be disturbing the airbag in anyway taking the carrel apart?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

nah, won't affect the airbag or anything. I wouldn't suggest you start playign with the yellow wires tryign to short em out or the bag will go off. The wires are yellow for the airbag system, they are all yellow to say don't touch me basically.

Theres a plug going into the aerial, give that a waggle then see what happens.

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

allright chris ,i will try to take photos as well .
i am a bit scared with this airbag thing still shall i just disconnect the battery (both terminals ) in order to be on the safest side ?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

might as well.

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

will do cheers chris much appreciated mate .

Level 1 User Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 21

UPDATE>>>>
I went back to the Renault mechanic and expained this faulty ariel suggestion to him in my best Spanish. He looked at me shrugged his shoulders and said 'I have told you the problem, do you want me to carry out the work or not'.
I have removed my car from the garage and will have a go at the ariel over the weekend. (Anyone know the part No??)
I have a mechanic on stanby to replace the injection pump if it is that what is faulty. The mechanic was a smug tw@t who just wanted my money and didn't want to try anything other than the 1000 euro solution.
ps
If the injector pump is to be replaced, will Renault have to recode the immobilisor?? and what is the cost of the injector unit in the UK

kind regards

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

Yes if the pumps replaced it needs to get recoded for the rest of the setup

if you give me your oval plate details (on my megane its in the drivers door shut rhd) along with the 1st 7 digits of the VIN number will start VF1.....

Pm me them if you wish.

That way I can get you the right part no's and uk prices.

Level 1 User Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 21

Thanks Chris, I will pm you tomorrow with the numbers. I am at work at present.
Many thanks