Have you ever feared your Renault Zoe wouldn’t turn on? I have.
And have you ever feared the exact opposite: that your car wouldn’t turn off, regardless of what you’d do?
Has this happened to you right now? Are you reading this on your phone, sitting in your car, trying to come up with a solution?
Fear not. Today’s article is all about troubleshooting this situation.
We’ll go over five potential causes of your Renault Zoe not turning off and suggest some fixes you can try to resolve the issue.
By the end of this article, your car should be turned off and you should be able to go on with your day.
Let’s do this!
1. Check if Your Brake Switch Is Faulty
Your Renault Zoe can only be turned off if the brakes are on. When the brake switch malfunctions, it disrupts the signal transmission that allows the engine to shut off when the key is turned off. As a result, the engine may continue to run even after your attempts to turn it off.
If you suspect a faulty brake switch in your Renault Zoe, here’s what you can do:
- Check if the brake lights are working properly when you press the brake pedal. If the brake lights do not illuminate, it may mean a faulty brake switch. Hint: If you are alone, you can reverse up close to a wall to see if your brake lights reflect on it.
- In some cases, lightly lifting the brake pedal with your foot while turning the key to the off position can help turn off the engine. This may provide a temporary solution until you can have the brake switch repaired.
- The brakes are a critical component of your car and can severely impact safety while driving. So you should contact a qualified technician or visit a Renault service center if you’re experiencing brake issues.
If you run the steps above and the car still hasn’t turned off, move on to the other fixes on this list.
2. Check For Software Updates
If your EV is having any sort of issue, there is a high probability that it is related to software. The first thing to do is to check if there are any software updates that you can perform on your car.
To see if there are any software updates available for your Renault Zoe, go to this website and enter your VIN number.
The exact place where you can find your VIN number depends on your car’s model, but it’s usually on your V5 document, as well as inside your car, engraved somewhere. Try the driver’s door or the trunk, as shown in this video.
If there are any updates available, install them. Remember to regularly check for updates to avoid reaching a point where problems emerge. Updating your car’s software on a regular basis helps maintain its optimal functionality. It also ensures a good experience, including proper shutdown.
3. Disconnect the 12V Battery
Besides the main battery, your Renault Zoe has a smaller, 12V battery that serves as a secondary power source for several components in the car. The lights, the audio system, and the infotainment system, for example, are all powered by this battery.
The 12V battery plays a crucial role in the car’s shut-down process. When you turn off your Zoe, the 12V battery helps manage the electronics and ensure a smooth shut-down sequence.
So if your Renault Zoe is not turning off, disconnecting the battery and turning it on again might fix the issue. Think about it as if it was the typical “turn off — turn on” fix that solves many electronic glitches.
This is how you can proceed:
- Start by locating the 12-volt battery. It’s usually located in the engine compartment, but if you’re having trouble finding it, check your car’s manual or this Youtube video.
- Once you’ve found the battery, disconnect the negative terminal (marked with a “-” symbol).
- Leave the negative terminal disconnected for about five minutes, as this will allow the car’s systems to reset and recalibrate.
- Finally, reconnect the negative terminal, making sure it’s secure.
This procedure will give your Zoe’s systems a fresh start, allowing them to recalibrate and potentially resolve the shut-down issue. It’s a simple and harmless fix that often does the trick.
Although this is not a highly technical procedure, you should only attempt to do it if you’re comfortable with it. If you’re unsure or afraid you might harm your car, it’s best to seek professional assistance.
4. Reset the Onboard Computer
If disconnecting the 12V battery didn’t work, let’s move on to the main battery, to do a reset on the onboard computer.
The onboard computer of your Zoe is like the brain of the vehicle, overseeing several systems and processes. As with other electronic devices, sometimes a good old-fashioned reboot can work wonders to clear out glitches and restore ideal functionality.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Pop open the hood of your Zoe and locate the main battery.
- Disconnect it by loosening the nut securing the negative terminal of the main battery, and removing the cable from the battery post.
- Give it a few minutes for residual power to drain out. Wait for 10 minutes, as the on-board computer resets and recalibrates itself.
- Reconnect the main battery by sliding the negative terminal back onto the battery post and tightening the nut securely.
Similarly to the 12V procedure, this will allow your Zoe’s system to fix temporary glitches and recalibrate itself.
If your car still won’t turn down after this, don’t worry: there is still something else you can try.
5. Check the Engine Control Unit
The engine control unit (ECU) is a crucial component that manages engine functions, including the shutdown process. An ECU malfunction in your Renault Zoe can disrupt the normal operation of your car’s engine.
If you suspect an ECU malfunction in your Renault Zoe, here’s what you can do:
- Try checking for error codes. You can use an OBD-II scanner to retrieve any error codes stored in the ECU. These codes can provide valuable information about the specific nature of the malfunction and help guide the diagnostic process. You can learn how to do this by following the instructions in this Youtube video.
- Some of the fixes mentioned above should also help with this, namely disconnecting the 12V battery and performing software updates.
If none of the above works, it’s time to seek professional assistance.
Depending on where you live, you might have a garage specialised in EVs, and that’s always a safer bet because the technicians in there will have more experience with this type of questions.
However, there are some traditional garages that also deal with electric vehicle issues. If you’re unsure about the offer in your area, check the Renault assistance page of the country where you’re based. Here are a few ones:
Conclusion
Is your Renault Zoe off now? I really hope so!
By going through the five fixes proposed on this list, I hope you managed to solve the underlying cause of your car not shutting down.
Remember, troubleshooting car issues can be a process of trial and error. What works for one person may not work for another due to the unique nature of each situation. However, it’s only by experimenting with different solutions that you can find one that finally works!
If you still haven’t found the perfect solution, it’s better to have your car looked at by a professional. They can run more thorough tests and perform fixes that are normally out of the competence of regular car owners.
Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you soon, on one of our other Renault Zoe articles!