Hands-free keycard?

[coldandtired]

One of the things that attracted me to Renault was the keycard, and I was very disappointed when I bought it to find that I still needed to place the card in the slot and press the button. This turned it into a, let's be honest, normal but rather more inconvenient, key. But being able to push the shopping cart to the car and have all the doors automatically unlocked and ready while the card was still in my bag mellowed me somewhat.

After a month of putting the card in the slot and pressing the button, last night leaving work for some reason I forgot and was a few hundred metres down the road before I realised the card was still in my bag. The car was driving fine, no warning lights, headlights were okay, no alarm sounds.

So, my question is, is this normal behaviour? Would the engine have cut out after 10 minutes? Does this mean my card system is malfunctioning?

[moggiemegane]

Yes this normal for hands free, as long as the card is in the car you can start the car and it will be ok, I normally put it in the slot so I don't sit on it or leave it in the car.

[-KJ-]

There are 2 versions of the card: one is handsfree, one is not. The last one needs to be in the slot during driving. The true handsfree card stay be in your pocket.

You can check if a Megane has the full handsfree card by looking behind the doorhandles: if there are little square sensors behind them, it's the full handfree version. You don't need to use your card to open the car, just put just hand behind the handle. The sensors will notice your hand and via the antennas in the doorhandle, the car will look for the presence of the card in the direct surroundings of the car. If they detect the card (in your pocket/bag), the doors will open.

Why don't you read the manual, it's all very clearly explained in there.

[coldandtired]

I did read the manual (in two different langauges just in case) and it says to put the card in the slot to start the car. That's why I was surprised when it started without it. So does this mean that every Megane has the slot even if you don't need it?

[busternlouie]

There are 2 versions of the card: one is handsfree, one is not. The last one needs to be in the slot during driving. The true handsfree card stay be in your pocket.

You can check if a Megane has the full handsfree card by looking behind the doorhandles: if there are little square sensors behind them, it's the full handfree version. You don't need to use your card to open the car, just put just hand behind the handle. The sensors will notice your hand and via the antennas in the doorhandle, the car will look for the presence of the card in the direct surroundings of the car. If they detect the card (in your pocket/bag), the doors will open.

Why don't you read the manual, it's all very clearly explained in there.

Also look for the buttons on the outside of the door handles. These allow you to lock the car without using the card. You can leave the card in your bag permanently!!

[Ray]

also going by your signature, you have a privilege model. Assuming the specs are the same in the UK as Poland, then you will have handsfree as it's standard equipment for that trim level.

[coldandtired]

Thanks for the help, guys. This makes me feel a lot better, and it will shut up my gloating Peugeot-owning friend!

Does the car also auto-lock if you walk away from it?

[jinxy]

Somebody maybe able to help me here

My wife's Meg 1.5 dci Dynamique has the square sensors behind the handles but not the buttons on the handles.

Should the doors still unlock by just palcing your hand over the sensors as long as the card is in range? It has never worked on her car. Just assumed she did not have this feature. Also the card has to be in the slot for the car to start.

Can the proxiamity feature be enabled some way?

[onlydiesels]

your car does`nt have handsfree. i think all megs have the squares behind the handle cos if not,renault would have to produce different door skin panels.

[jinxy]

your car does`nt have handsfree. i think all megs have the squares behind the handle cos if not,renault would have to produce different door skin panels.

Cheers for that........just what I thought.

[busternlouie]

Does the car also auto-lock if you walk away from it?

unfortunately not, you still have to lock it yourself!

[Ray]

unless.. it's locked and you unlock it, but DON'T open a door.. then after 2 mins it will re-lock.

[coldandtired]

It's so much more fun without needing to take the card out of my bag! Now I just need to find a way to cover up the slot somehow...

[Meganekid74]

I've just checked mine, it definitely has the Hands free. but as long as i have the key card in my pocket, especially on the drivers door, it wont automatically unlock until i pull the handle? It also happens on both the rear doors. But when i go to the passenger door and place my hand behind the handle the car unlocks. Could there be a problem?

Please HELP

[VroomVroomClonk]

Mine only has two doors as it is a convertible, but basically does the same as yours. On my passenger door the car unlocks as soon as I touch the handle, but on my drivers door I have to operate the door handle first for it to unlock. I have always assumed it is because the car is designed as a left-hand drive for France, and Renault didn't bother swapping that feature to the other side for UK cars.