MajorCommonEngine

Renault Scenic: Crankshaft position sensor stalling and no-start

Crankshaft position sensor stalling and no-start is a common engine fault on the Renault Scenic on the 2003–2009 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs ≈A$140 to ≈A$410 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 6 documented faults on the Renault Scenic.

Vehicle: Renault Scenic
Years: 2003–2009
System: Engine

This page covers the Renault Scenic as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Renault Scenic faults6 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

Scenic II models widely suffer intermittent cutting out, stalling when warm, and hard or no-start caused by a failing crankshaft position sensor. The sensor signal drops out and disrupts engine timing so the engine dies without warning, then may restart once cooled. It affects both dCi diesel and petrol variants, and dirty sensor tips or corroded connector pins are a frequent contributing cause. Diagnosis is straightforward and replacement is inexpensive relative to the disruption it causes.

What you would notice

Engine cuts out or stalls while driving, often when warm
Intermittent hard starting or failure to start
Engine restarts after cooling down
Erratic or fluctuating tachometer

How to check it

Where to look. Crankshaft position sensor at the bellhousing or lower front of the engine block near the flywheel

During an extended test drive, especially once the engine is fully warm, note any stumble, stall, or cut-out, and check whether the tacho drops erratically. Ask the seller directly about any intermittent stalling or no-start episodes, which owners across this generation report from around 100,000 km. Have a scan run for crank-sensor codes, and inspect the sensor connector for corrosion where accessible.

What it costs to put right

≈A$140 to ≈A$410 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, converted to Australian dollars, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the car ever cut out, stalled, or refused to start intermittently?”
“Has the crankshaft position sensor been replaced?”
“Do the symptoms appear once the engine is fully warm?”

Now check the Renault Scenic you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car still has money owing on it, has been written off or reported stolen, what kms it showed in past sale ads, whether it has had accident repair claims and what it is worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate and its state for the A$17.90 Vehicle Check, or the full history from A$24.99.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

BreakerYard (breakeryard.com) - Renault Scenic common problems and solutions
Independent Renault Forums (renaultforums.co.uk) - Scenic 2 crankshaft sensor threads
JustAnswer (justanswer.com) - Renault Scenic 2 cutting out troubleshooting

Renault Scenic buyer questions

Is crankshaft position sensor stalling and no-start serious on a Renault Scenic?

We rate it major and common on the Renault Scenic. Scenic II models widely suffer intermittent cutting out, stalling when warm, and hard or no-start caused by a failing crankshaft position sensor. The sensor signal drops out and disrupts engine timing so the engine dies without warning, then may restart once cooled. It affects both dCi diesel and petrol variants, and dirty sensor tips or corroded connector pins are a frequent contributing cause. Diagnosis is straightforward and replacement is inexpensive relative to the disruption it causes.

How much does it cost to fix on a Renault Scenic?

≈A$140 to ≈A$410 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Renault Scenic years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2003–2009 Renault Scenic. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.