One of the most common error messages your diesel-powered Renault will show on its dash is the “Engine Failure Hazard” message. It’s extremely common in Megane and also other models powered with a 1.5L diesel (K9K) engine.
In most cases, the “Engine Failure Hazard” is caused by emission problems, air pressure from the turbocharger, or fuel pressure. Also, one of the sensors may be faulty or affected by broken tubes and hoses.
I will focus on the 1.5 diesel engine but you will also find a lot of information about locating and fixing the problem in all other Renault engines.
What does “Engine Failure Hazard” mean in Renault?
Whenever you see this nasty message, it means that the engine is experiencing some issues either with the air supply, fuel supply, or also emission control. I read hundreds of forum threads and spoke to several Renault mechanics before writing this and I should say that the major information presented online is incorrect.
Here are the most common reasons for this error message:
1) The turbocharger tube fell off or cracked
If your engine is in good condition and works just fine and suddenly you get this message and the engine loses power, the most common reason is the problem with the air supply from the turbocharger to the combustion chamber.
The first thing to check is the tubes that connect the turbo to the engine. If one of them is leaking air, you will easily locate this by hearing very unusual noises like whistling or hissing under the hood.
In most cases, such tubes need replacement and there is no other fix. But if it just fell off, you may try refitting it and checking if this works out.
It’s not always about the tubes that supply air to or from the turbo. It’s very common for the pressure sensor tube to get clogged. But it’s hard to locate unless you know how the turbo functions.
2) EGR tubes are packed with soot
Since this is a diesel engine, the EGR is not going to live eternal life. The soot and buildups of different kinds will slowly clog the tubes that connect the EGR valve to the engine.
I know that these tubes can be cleaned but it’s much easier and maybe even cheaper to buy the new tubes and hoses. Before this, you will need to take them off and check if they are clogged. This is a pretty hard task and I strongly recommend going to a trusted garage for help.
3) The EGR valve itself
The EGR may be clogged and this will lead to the valve getting stuck. The computer (ECU) will immediately feel the problem and report it in the form of a message. Unfortunately, cleaning the EGR valve will almost never help, and replacing this part is pretty expensive.
4) DPF issues
Diesel engines are equipped with a special filter. It works like the catalytic converter in petrol engines and aims to clean the exhaust gases from different particles.
Usually, these filters may live up to 200,000 miles or 300,000 kilometers if the fuel you commonly use in your Renault is of high quality. But the DPF may fail earlier. This will affect the readings of the oxygen sensors, so the ECU will react immediately.
5) Fuel pressure
Since diesel engines use high-pressure fuel pumps, the system is prone to damage. In 1.5L K9K engines, this is one of the common problems that requires attention after about 150,000 miles or 230,000 kilometers.
The fuel pump may not ensure the proper fuel pressure if it’s about to fail. In this case, when you press the gas pedal sharply, you will get poor acceleration and the “Engine Failure Hazard” message.
6) Other sensors and units in your engine
Unfortunately, the “Engine Failure Hazard” is a very broad message and it needs to be inspected carefully. Sometimes, it will pop up just when the battery is low or dying or when one of the engine sensors has gone crazy.
If you managed to check all of the common reasons for this message listed above and still couldn’t find the problem, you need a good scanner to get the codes stored in different control units.
Also, the message may be accompanied by other messages like Check ESP or Check Emission System. This won’t help you locate the problem. You need to know that Renault error messages are extremely misleading.
DIY and professional fixes for this message in Renault vehicles
I know that the main thing you want to read here is how you can solve the problem without paying much to garages and dealerships. OK, let’s see what kinds of solutions you have with zero professional tools.
1) Check the battery
This is a wild guess, but it can work in some cases. Check if the battery voltage is 12.5V when the car is off and that it doesn’t drop deeply at the moment of cranking the engine.
2) Check the pipes under the hood
As you may not know exactly which pipe is doing what, you will want to check all pipes that you can see under the hood. Are there any noises? Is some pipe disconnected? Check this out and try fixing it. If you find a broken or cracked pipe, you may try replacing it but I recommend using professional help for fixing this.
3) Look for other messages, lights, or symptoms
Gather all the information you can – this will help you understand the problem faster or spend less time and money on professional inspection.
4) Use a scanner to read the codes
I understand that Renault vehicles are pretty tricky and won’t reveal all the codes with the cheap ELM scanner. But at least you may try this option. The needed code may be stored in the ECU and you will discover the problem.
Unfortunately, there is nothing else you can do to solve the issue unless you have some knowledge and tools for this. If you still can’t find the problem or solve it, just visit a good garage and have the car inspected properly.
Can you clean the EGR in Renault cars on your own?
Well, it’s possible but not that easy. Also, you should know that cleaning the EGR valve and tubes may not be really helpful unless the procedure is carried out professionally. For example, you can clean one tube in the EGR system but if it’s clogged with buildups, there is a high chance that all other EGR systems are filthy and clogged, too.
When it comes to the EGR valve in Renault diesel engines, it’s quite hard to clean and it almost always requires replacement when it starts freaking out.
When it comes to petrol engines like the 0.9 or 1.3 TCe units, it’s very likely that you won’t get this problem because the engine just doesn’t last that long to let the EGR system fail. And petrol exhaust is not as toxic for the EGR valve as diesel combustion products.
Can you drive your Renault with the “Engine Failure Hazard” message?
Actually, you can drive carefully but you need to check several factors:
- check if the engine temperature is normal, don’t drive it if the temperature is higher than usual;
- turn off the engine and let it cool down, check the oil level to make sure it’s OK;
- visually inspect all the tubes and hoses that you can see under the hood and ensure they are not broken or fallen off;
- open the hood and let the engine idle, ensure that the engine doesn’t make any unusual noises;
- try driving carefully and make sure that the power is normal, and the engine doesn’t jerk or clunk.
If everything seems to be just fine, you can keep driving. But if you see additional warning lights like the oil pressure light, for example, you better avoid driving your car. Paying for a tow truck may eventually be cheaper than replacing the engine if something goes wrong.
Do you have any experience in dealing with the “Engine Failure Hazard” error message? Please share your thoughts in the comments below and help other owners avoid expensive mistakes!