Renault Scenic (1996 - 1998) - 1998 1.6 auto- engine won't start.

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
View Threaded
Sun 25 Jan 2009 09:48
1998 1.6 auto- engine won't start. - Richard L
My Father has a 1998 1.6 Renault Scenic automatic. It is kept in a garage. Twice in the last three months it has not started and had to be recovered to the local Renault dealer. Both times it had stood overnight in the garage. The dealer has now decided that the UCH (universal control hub?) is defective and needs to be replaced at a price of around £400. Is there any other solution? Could it be a defective connection or a drop in battery voltage? Is there any independent specialist who can check out the fault and perhaps do the repair for less? We are located in Ashford, Kent.

I wonder if the car is worth repairing but he has just spent £350 on it (tyres, exhaust and mirror) in preparation for the MOT.

The car is important to my Father as he not very mobile and uses it to get around.


shouting hushed

Edited by Dynamic Dave on 25/01/2009 at 12:40

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 25 Jan 2009 11:33
1998 1.6 ENGINE WILL NOT START - partner2002
For what it's worth, I knew someone who had a '99 Clio which would inexplicably fail to do anything. I discovered, by accident, that if I removed a small fuse, and then refitted it, that it was like rebooting a computer. This was at a time when Renault immobilisers weren't the most reliable devices.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 25 Jan 2009 20:31
1998 1.6 ENGINE WILL NOT START - Richard L
Thanks for the tip. Do you know which fuse you disconnected?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 26 Jan 2009 22:48
1998 1.6 ENGINE WILL NOT START - skreech
Dont know much about renaults. but the fuse he is talking about would probably be the one fot the ecu. im not sure but renault may call it the universal hub thing that you mentioned.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Looking for a garage you can trust? Honest John's Good Garage Guide has thousands of reader recommended garages, plus how-to guides and tips on servicing.

The Good Garage Guide