Handy tips for Laguna owners (2)Battery woes. In the country you are supposed to leave the parking lights on in the dark, but if the battery is old then it will be flat by the morning.
- 5. If you can’t get in via the key card electric door locks either because the battery in the key card is flat or the main car battery, then there is the emergency key which the salesman told you about. He also told you that the key hole is in the passenger side door handle. It is not that easy however. There is a hole the right size but the key doesn’t go right in nor does it do anything. It is, in fact, only a slot to enable you to prise the whole of the bezel off—the service department says that they often break when you do this, requiring a new one, but it can be done with care pulling the plastic part towards you with the key firmly in the slot. When removed, a full size standard door lock is underneath. If the main car battery is flat, as in my case, you still can’t open the other doors or the boot (where the jump leads are) but you can release the bonnet catch by leaning across. If you have to get in the boot then you will need to climb over the front seats and try to release the fold down rear seat and get in that way.
- 6. When the main battery dies or is removed, the radio code is lost. For maintenance, I am told there is a way to preserve it (does anyone know how?) but if it is unplanned then you need to reenter it. You did write it down somewhere didn’t you! Switch on the radio and then select preset 1. Press preset 1 a further “n” times to increment the first digit to the right value. Repeat with presets 2, 3 and 4. The display now shows the correct code number. Press the button on the underside of the steering column control (the one that selects preset/list/manual). This sets the code in the system. There may be a control on the radio to do this as well.
- 7. When removing the battery it is best not to leave the key card inserted. It can sometimes lock all the doors either as it (the battery) is removed or when it is replaced.
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Both locking buttons on my 2 Laguna key cards gave away almost simultaneaouly. The Renault dealers quoted me an astronomical price to replace them. I split one card in two and found the locking contact plate had broken away from the circuit board. I found that by aligning the contact plate with its original contact points and pressing it I could unlock the car. I have selotaped the contact plate on its original position on the pcb and it functions fine. I then found that the half of the split card that holds the pcb would still slide into the starter slot and give ignition power. I tried rejoining the two halves – selotaped contact plate in place – but could not get a tight enough fit (more care splitting the two halves apart may have helped). However I now have a card, pcb board exposed, which locks and unlocks the doors and starts the car. Figuring that the unlock contact plate on the other card had also become displaced I lightly tapped the side of the card. Surprisingly this did the trick. I now have two functioning cards, although how long they will continue to work is anyone’s guess. Before working on the cards I tried locking the car without the use of the card. You can lock and unlock the passenger side door using the conventional key that pulls out of the card but this does not operate the other doors. You can lock the other doors with a screw driver by turning the small plastic nut in the doors (see the manual). However I could not find a way to lock the tail gate. So if the lock function on the key card fails you cannot lock the car by other means.
Conclusions: Renault have produced a badly engineered key card, too prone to damage in normal use. They have compounded the lousy customer experience from this by charging extortionately for replacement cards. And then they have failed to provide a proper lock-car back up when their feeble key cards fail.
I too have had my key card fail on locking button only, good tip about locking the other doors, I’ll try that – this is only the latest in a long line of major problems I have had with this model (don’t get me started on the tyre pressure sensors) – I will never buy anything from Renault ever again – Regards
Both of mine have failed in the same way (bit upsetting when you realise you cant lock your car!!) – when you shake the keys you can hear the contact rattling round. Not the easiest of things to open, but once i had, i re located the contact and funnily enough – we have life! However, i too was a bit brutal getting the key open and am now stuck with a really short range on the fob (i literally have to stand against the car for it to work). No other probs for me – other than a horrible clutch and every now and then the elec windows / s/roof dont work. Damn you over complicated renault tat!
An alternative way to lock the doors (and the tailgate) is to open a rear door, lean in and press the central locking switch. Now close the rear door and all should be locked. Use the emergency key to get back in and reverse the procedure.
Try http://www.keyrepair.co.uk
Cards repaired
Thanks Gary, looks like a good deal to me.
I see I am not alone in having endless trouble with the tyre pressure sensors. After experiencing all the common problems (low pressure on cold mornings, persistent flashing of warning for no reason, damage to sensor requiring a new one when the tyre is changed etc etc) my laguna now says STOP in red letters every time I drive it. The garage say it is due to the pressure sensor system (the offside rear always flashes irrespective of the actual pressure in the tyre), and have changed the tyre without improvement. I am about to sell the car, and don’t want to change and reprogram the sensor, especially as this may not cure the problem – any suggestions. I will never buy a car with tyre pressure sensors again – but would like to cure this one (at least long enough to sell it !)
James
The general consensus for a cure (if possible ) is to over inflate the tyre by a bit (50psi is thought to be enough) and then drop it back to the correct pressure. This should clear the stuck sensor. That is assuming that the sensor is still attached to the valve.
hi again
sometime my oil light starts to flash and the sevice light comes on but other times its ok can you tell me wots wrong of anyting is wrong , thanks for the help last time
chris
Hi All, I am closing comments on this post. It has been enjoyable while it lasted but many comments are straying onto subjects that I know nothing about and there are many questions but no one answering. I recommend that people wanting to know about Laguna problems join the excellent RenaultForums where there are people who know the answers.