Renault Clio W reg Immobiliser issues

[Julie2012]

Can anyone advise me please? Im having trouble with my Renault Clio (W reg, 1.2L approx 60,000m on the clock) and it's damn immobiliser. (And im a woman... please bear with me).

I bought the car with only 1 working key. Was fine for a few months. Key stopped centrally unlocking the car (but the led light on it still flashed when pressed) so I changed the battery... 3 times within in the following 6months. Eventually as it wouldn't centrally unlock, it began to play up with not deactivating the immobiliser (immobilliser led on dash blinking like crazy) and therefore cutting out the engine as I tried to start it. Eventually it wouldnt start at all and the battery & oil lights came on on the dash. I had to call the RAC out who told me I had a 10year old battery under the bonnet, which was totally dead. Charged me £70 for a new one which seemed to fix it. Whahey.. Keys worked again and would let me start it... For about a month.
Then the immobiliser started doing its crazy blinking again when I tried to start her. I thought Id got clever by taking out the key, turning it over and re-inserting it, which let me start it after a few goes. When that failed I had to open the driver door, close it, centrally lock with the keyfob and start her that way. Some days she started 1st time; others it was a repeated effort. Ive even had to get passers by to try pulling on the accellerator cable as I turn ignition on (if the immobiliser light wont stop blinking) to start it. Embarrassing!

Now the keyfob led is again blinking when pressed but not opening the car, and the car engine will turn over- but not start and die like it used to- just wont start at all. (I've probably broken something else as well now by constantly trying to start it these crazy ways). The same battery and oil lights showing again on the dash.

I dont want to waste money, since I have spent double what I paid for it in just over a year (snapped the cambelt at 50mph, bent all pistons and had it all fixed, also new spark plugs, new starter motor, new radiator and windscreen washer pump). I had her serviced regularly and 3 different mechanics have checked her and said her engine is bob on. So I am reluctant to scrap/sell if I can fix her properly.

What are my options to best fix this? Renault has quoted me £350 for 2 new keys (they wont do 1) inc diagnostic. An auto electrician I spoke to on the phone reckons it could be anything around £200 to get the immobiliser taken out, and I'd lose the central locking if they did that. Im sure that would also affect my insurance premiums.


Any ideas/advice would be so gratefully appreciated.
Julie

 

[Arthur2shedsJackson]

Hi, Firstly, you don't need to go to Renault for a replacement key, you can get one for far less from one of the mobile car lock specialists.

My daughter had a clio of the same year and because the key was chipped we couldn't get a copy at Timpsons ( Bear with me ), but they have a mobile service. The mobile man came out, provided a replacement key and programmed it for £70. That was about 18 months ago.

Going back to what you first said about replacing the battery in the key - There is a reset procedure,which you sometimes need to go through to get the central locking working after a battery change.

The sequences for different types of key are:-
CLIO II, KANGOO & MASTER INFRA RED RESYNCHRONISING
1. Turn Ignition OFF.
2. Press the central door locking button for more than 5 seconds. Note :
the door should lock then unlock.
3. When this happens, 10 seconds is allowed and the immobiliser warning
light illuminates.
4. Point the 1st key at the receiver and press the button twice, the doors
should lock and unlock. Repeat for other remotes as required.
5. Check the remote control unlocks and locks the doors.


CLIO II RF RESYNCHRONISING
1. Turn Ignition OFF.
2. Press the central door locking button for more than 5 seconds. Note :
the door should lock then unlock.
3. When this happens, 10 seconds is allowed and the immobiliser warning
light illuminates.
4. Press the remote control once, the doors should lock and unlock.
5. Repeat for second remote if required.
6. Check the remote control unlocks and locks the doors.


CLIO RE-SYNCHRONISING
1. Lock Car manually
2. Unlock Car manually
3. Insert key into ignition within 30 seconds.
4. Turn Ignition and start vehicle.



If none of this fixes your problem, then I suggest there may be a problem with the actual immobiliser, for which you may need an auto electrician.
Unless there's one reading this thread who can help ???

 

[stuartturbo]

You can get the immobilizer remove from the ECU google Free running ECU.
Ever thing will still work on the alarm except the imob will never activate

There is also a manual override for this but you need the number from the key and some software off to get it ( try BBA-Reman )

 

[Belle427]

some models suffered water ingress into the sensor located above the rear view mirror, water runs down through the aerial mounting hole.
maybe worth removing the sensor and checking for signs of water damage