Hi all we have a warning on the dash, an amber oil can icon comes on for a few seconds followed by the word service then it goes out and all is normal, we are not sure if this is a service interval reminder or a fault, we have just bought the car and do not have the handbook for a reference,...
First, when you switch on the ignition it runs through a full fault test, so all items should light up to show they are actually working. So the word Service coming on briefly should be normal like all other indicators.
Second and very important is that all Renaults use the word Service incorrectly (bad translation from the real meaning and our common English word for maintenance) The 'Service' word coming on does not mean anything to do with servicing in the terms of maintenance! It means 'Attention there is a fault' (the specific fault being indicated by another warning light) which you need to attend to, or get attention for. So whilst the oil pressure is low just after starting and until the light goes out, the Service light should accompany the low pressure warning light, as it would do if the pressure dropped at any time.
Only the newer model like the Espace IV have a service interval indicator and that is a mileage countdown built into the computer matrix display accompanied by a spanner symbol. Espace III do not measure service intervals or usage, so you can see that the word Service does not relate to maintenance schedules at all.
... according to the service book which we do have it was last serviced on 7/6/07 at 83k it has now done 88k, if this is a reminder how do i reset it as i will service it myself?
There is none and you cannot reset anything.
Can anyone advise about changing the auto transmission oil, i looked at some info on this site which was extremely helpful, thanks guys, which says it has to be plugged into the xr25 so am not sure if i can do this myself...
There is a setting which you can alter with the Clip or older XR25 to say the Auto oil has been changed but it is only a reminder really and has no real effect. It would not matter if it was not changed.
However, if you change the Auto oil you need to be aware of the oil level procedure which is different to other cars. You have to overfill the gearbox by around a litre, then run it up until it reaches 59 degrees centigrade (read on Clip) and then drain down via the inner sump plug until it stops running. The point is the sump plug is actually two plugs - an inner and outer. Remove outer to drain. It has a tube of the correct length that is inside the box. When you remove the inner plug, the oil can only drain down to the top of that tube, which gives the correct level inside. This is why it has to be at a set temperature as the fluid expands with temp. and also the engine must be idling too. As you should know, when you 'drain' an auto you do not in fact drain it completely, since the torque converter retains most of it's oil. When the engine is running this is topped up from the gearbox, so the oil level cold and not running is higher than when running (it drops as some of it is pushed into the convertor).
Roy