Some basic plip key questions...

Level 1 User Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 31

Hi All,
New here (bought a late 96 megane for the mother from another member, and he pointed me your way Wink

The car has just one problem-the dreaded plip key defect. There are 2 keys in my posession. One works the odd time, the other doesn't work at all. Thankfully (and contrary to what I thought) my mother seems fine with the manual code entry using the c/l button. I didn't give her enough credit to be able to do that!

I will try resoldering all the components on the PCBs before I do anything as one key sometimes working and the one key dead would point at the keys rather than the receiver (but we'll see later on tonight).

My questions really concern the types of IR plip key that were made. When did Renault first introduce IR plip keys and when did they cease?

I found a fob without key blade on ebay and it looks like an IR one, what models has a seperate fob for the immobiliser instead of building it into the key unit?

I get the feeling most of the IR plip PCBs on ebay would work on any Renault of the same era, any thoughts on this? because I don't care if the PCB doesn't fit into the key fob I have, I'd just remove the blade from the ebay key and stick the fob part on the keyring Wink

(If the key PCB resoldering doesn't work then before I go buying stuff from ebay I'll check out the reeiver unit for moisture ingress/damage as per the many threads on this)

Sorry for starting another plip thread but would like to get a feel for how they developed and then maybe it'll allow me to buy a wider selection of known working PCBs from ebay.

Great friendly forum by the way, already learned a lot about the first non-german/japanese car I've ever owned! (well it's my mother's car, not actually mine but I'll get the task of maintaining it!)

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

first thing you should do is check the batteries on the IR unit on the keys if you haven't already. (i suggest that because you have not mentioned it)

i'll be honest and say i do not know as much about the megane set up compared to the 19, the 19's are all very simple in comparision, only two things can really go wrong with them, water damage to the reciever thru leaks in the sunroof or aerial hole or damaged plip on the fob.
and all you needed to do to get it working again was to swop over the reciever and fob plip from another 19 (with the exception of one revision on the ECU where the immob was hardwired into the ECU)

Level 1 User Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 31

Yeah sorry, should have been clearer-I checked the batteries and they're both at a full 3V each, like new.

I assumed some of the early meganes would use a similar set up to the R19, was this naiive of me guys?

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

OK do you know if it has A: an renault fitted alarm and B: Fuel Injection cut off ?

Level 1 User Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 31

Wicked Neo wrote:

OK do you know if it has A: an renault fitted alarm and B: Fuel Injection cut off ?

It has an aftermarket alarm fitted and I think it's fuel cutoff because the car turns over and sounds like it's going to run for about 1 second before cutting out if you haven't entered the immobiliser code. Am I right in that? If it were the ignition system being immobilised I doubt I'd hear the car 'sort of start', it would just crank over and not 'catch',if you get me? (I'm not being very clear here!)

Level 1 User Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 31

Well, the problem appears to be down to the keys-I've just retouched all the solder joints on one of them and it is now plipping away without even the need to reprogram the thing! Very Happy

Gonna try the other one now, will keep you posted but I swear I had a close look at every joint on the PCB and couldn't see a problem, just goes to show even the slightest dry joint and the key will stop working Exclamation

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

yes it will be fuel cutoff, renault experimented with that on one version of the 19's ECU, and as yours is fuel cut off its different from any of the 19's plips and recievers.

Level 1 User Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 31

Cheers Neo,

Now,
I have one key working fine as I say but 'm having trouble reprograming the other one and I don't know if it's the key or the way I'm doing it. Here's what the knowledge base says;

If you wish to re-synch the plip enter the code.

When you put the final digit in the light goes out comes back on and back off again (i.e. the 30 second interval) press and hold the central locking button again and the doors should lock and unlock, remove the key and plip away at the sensor, in about 3 tries the doors should lock and unlock again.

The key should now be re-programmed and work as it should.

Could I just get some clarification on this. I enter the code and the light comes on for 1 second, goes out for one second and then on for 30 seconds which seems to be correct.

Now, do I press and hold the central locking button until the doors lock and unlock because I can hear the door lock but not unlock immediately after it locks, should it do this or should it nlock at the end of the 30 se period?

I assume it should lock and unlock immediatley and then I should switch off the ignition, remove the key and plip, but should I keep my finger on the c/l button while I'm removing the key from the ignition and plipping or take my finger off the button at some point?

The problem with doing it wrong is that the thing takes like 10 mins to rearm by itself so I can't just retry it a different way quickly!

Thanks for any help guys, it's much appreciated believe me. Wink

Level 1 User Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 31

Ok, well I'm not completely sorted yet but getting closer. I have two plip keys but can only seem to program one.

Anyway, from reading this post on another Renault forum, I have been able to get the car to do the door lock/unlock thing. That description I linked to isn't exactly explicit, so here it is for anyone who searches here in future;

1) With the immobiliser led rapily flashing, turn ignition to on (lights on instrument cluster on).
2) Enter code using c/l button.
3) WAIT until led comes on, goes off and comes on again for 30 seconds.
4) When the above has happened, turn the ignition to the 1st position, ie, not all the way OFF! (you should still have the clock lit up with the key in this position).
5) THEN press and hold the c/l button for just over 2 seconds, the doors WILL lock and unlock.
6) The led will then illuminate steadily and you have to fairly quickly remove the key from the ignition (means turning it off completely but the led stays illuminated even though the clock turns off) and aim it at the receiver, pressing it three times in quick succession.
7) On the third press the doors lock and unlock and the PLIP is synced.

I haven't been able to set the sync the second one at the moment. Will try again and add to this thread for future poor souls Laughing

I'd like to hear frm anyone who's been able to sync both of the plips.

Level 1 User Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 31

Well, the key I synched last night and used to lock and unlock the car a number of times failed to work this morning.

It was raining last night. I think there might be a combination of factors, including water ingress into the receiver.

I'll have to take a look at that, has anybody else had keys and receiver give trouble? Likely?

Cheers all.

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

i guess i have been lucky, the only times the plips on any of my 19's have not worked is when the battery in the fob is on its way out.
And on the 19 you don't have to resync them.

Level 1 User Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 31

Wicked Neo wrote:

i guess i have been lucky, the only times the plips on any of my 19's have not worked is when the battery in the fob is on its way out.
And on the 19 you don't have to resync them.

It's a really sh!tty system on the phase I megane, certainly compared to my last car (I don't own a car any more-I'm a motorcyclist nowadays!), a 98 tdi passat with an RF induction immobiliser (no batteries or anything in the key).

Can't even blame crappy french dsign either-the whole system has SIEMENS writen all over it! Bloody germans and their crap design Laughing