Renault Scenic oil light flashes but doesn't start

Mum2three

Hi, i went to drop something off at a friends house this morning. When i got back in my 2000 Renault Scenic it turned over but wouldn't start and the oil light flashes. I checked oil level i have the minimum required but will top up more. The car did start so i drove home. Has anyone had this before or any advice please

Thanks very much

AdrianC

The oil light isn't oil level. It's oil pressure. It'll come on if you have too low a level, yes, but that's because the oil pump is sucking air instead of oil... Always keep the oil level at the maximum, not the minimum.

But if it's not starting, you'd expect the oil pressure light to be on - since the engine's not being spun fast enough to generate pressure. It'll probably go off whilst the engine's being spun on the starter, but might well come back on very shortly after you stop.

As for why it didn't start... <shrug> Petrol? Diesel? Did it cough and "try", or nothing? Is the engine management light on?

Mum2three

AdrianC wrote: »

The oil light isn't oil level. It's oil pressure. It'll come on if you have too low a level, yes, but that's because the oil pump is sucking air instead of oil... Always keep the oil level at the maximum, not the minimum.

But if it's not starting, you'd expect the oil pressure light to be on - since the engine's not being spun fast enough to generate pressure. It'll probably go off whilst the engine's being spun on the starter, but might well come back on very shortly after you stop.

As for why it didn't start... <shrug> Petrol? Diesel? Did it cough and "try", or nothing? Is the engine management light on?

Thanks, oil is now topped up. It's a 1.6 Petrol, it turned over but didn't start. I went and checked oil level then tried again and it started. No engine lights on and i drove it to school run just now and seems like nothing happened.

Thanks for the reply

colino

Didn't the old Renaults oil pressure light flash when it was due a service?

spacey2012

was the Light orange ?
It may have been the standard lamp for everything which looks like a glow plug symbol.

On ANY Renault, always go straight for engine relays as a cause of non starting.
People advertise for non running renaults, in the secret knowledge that they will have spent thousands on clueless code reader "mechanics" only to see those in the know swap a £3 relay over and it start straight up.

Mum2three

It was the oil lamp one and flashed reddy/orange then went out when i got it started. I've had the car 3 years and havn't had this before. Was last serviced in Feb. Thanks for all replys