Renault Wind Transmission Issue

Greetings. Your description does paint a concerning picture. When you say it won't start, does it crank at all, or is it completely dead? The check engine light suggests a stored fault code. Have you had the chance to retrieve this code? A fault in the transmission system could indeed prevent the engine from starting as a safety measure. Also, the 'jerky' gear changes could be related to faulty transmission sensors or even a misaligned gear linkage. It's important to gather as much data as possible before proceeding.

Thanks for the reply. It does crank, just doesn't fire up. I haven't pulled the code myself, but a buddy did and said it pointed to something with the transmission's park/neutral switch. What does that even mean, and could that really stop the engine from starting?

Understood. The park/neutral switch is a critical component. Its primary function is to inform the vehicle's computer – often referred to as the Engine Control Unit (ECU) – whether the transmission is in 'Park' or 'Neutral'. This information is essential for the starting sequence. If the switch is faulty, the ECU might incorrectly believe that the vehicle is not in 'Park' or 'Neutral', thus preventing the engine from starting as a safety precaution. Given the symptoms – failure to start, check engine light, and gearbox issues – combined with the error code, it does strongly suggest a problem with the control unit responsible for managing the automatic transmission. I highly recommend taking your Renault to a qualified workshop. They can perform a thorough diagnostic assessment and pinpoint the exact cause. Based on the information you've provided, a defective control unit seems probable, and these repairs can easily cost around 1000€.

Thanks a lot for the detailed explanation! Sounds like I'll be taking it to a shop then. Will let you know what happens. The shop confirmed that the Transmission Control Unit was defective and had to be replaced. It was a costly repair, but the car is running smoothly again. Thanks again!