Hey, Just had a call from my mechanic . . . He's had the dash apart to route my scan gauge (I'm lazy I know!), but now car is not reading the key card?? Buttons are working i.e. to lock and unlock its just not reading it to start the engine. Anyone had problems with their key card after carrying out interior modifications? Desperate for help on this as I'm due at RS Tuning tomorrow! S-: Thanks, Rich
Has he checked the wires going to the card reader? He hasn't accidently pulled them out when removing dash?
I've forwarded him some info. I found on here about faulty key cards . . . Spoke to him on the phone and he's talking about transceivers / transponders and all sorts so I think he's on top of it. Luckily he also has a Megane so currently swapping some parts, fingers crossed!?
Ok bad news tried my transceiver in his Megane and it works so looks like key/card is at fault . . . About to take that apart to see if it could be damaged circuit board inside???
Common fault for the key cards to stop working a bit of solder comes loose/ breaks off inside the key normally from where they bend slightly in the pocket. If your in a jam i've seen people put a knife in the keycard reader (with the key) and twist it slightly while pressing the start button, this works but is a temporary fix (only really recommended if your stuck somewhere with no second key) If you've got a second key these guys will fix yours for £25 http://www.keyrepair.co.uk/ but you have to post it away so only really good if you have a spare Or if you want to try it yourself theres a few guides on youtube :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaFhFT2WFdg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yupzON-N6OI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN_7Vb34l6k
Thanks for the info. mate . . . He's now taken the key card apart and like you said one of the solders has snapped so going to try and repair it. Had a quote from a mobile auto locksmith of £160 for new key card and programmed etc. but earliest is Monday. I'm booked in at RS Tuning tomo?! )-: Fingers crossed the temp repair works nail biting times at the office . . .
Yes mate panic over! Phew . . . Mechanic managed to repair my keycard by soldering the broken connector. Also found an auto locksmith who had a new keycard in stock so got that programmed as well so I don't get stuck up North!?
Just FYI waiting for my new keys to turn up at reno 180 for one key or 240 for 2 keys and book In for programming
you can fix a card for under a fiver... it'll be the transponder inside the solder will have broken loose. Solder the contact points back up when you open the card and replace it with an eBay card. Thats what I've done and I'm useless!
Is that any Renault do you know? I'll have to bite the bullet soon, I don't like only having one card.
Yes a friend has a trade account there but she said there no cheaper through trade. And adam on here is cheaper for my parts that my local dealer. I had solder my card a few months ago but dropped it a few weeks ago and started rattling and playing up time for a new one and a spare.
I paid £160 for a non-hands-free one programmed in . . . I was panicking as I was driving to Leeds that evening S-: I knew there would be a cheaper alternative, in fact my old key card worked fine once repaired just needs a new case. Going to ring up the auto locksmith and see if he can do me an exchange for a hands-free one then keep my old repaired one as a spare.
Just spoke to my auto locksmith . . . He said even though they come with two keycards originally its not always possible to programme two new keycards. Once a keycard has been programmed to one car it can't be used on another vehicle so he can't do an exchange. So I thought I was buying a spare for my (repaired) hands-free keycard instead I've paid £160 and I still only have one keycard and its the wrong one!?! I would take Naith's advice and just repair yours and buy a new case on Ebay, or there are companies on Ebay you can send off to repair for £30 and you get a new case/battery. No need for a spare as there are always Auto Locksmiths on hand 24 hrs if you get stuck. Looks like I'm going to have to get used to non-hands-free, gutted was one of the things I really liked about the car S-:
