Can I drive my car? (Nissan micra)

Eyespy

Hi,

I have a tiny problem and was just wondering what most other folks would do in the same position. I have a nissan micra (my first car ) and when I was driving home the last night, a malfunction indicator orange light lit up on my dashboard. I have made an appointment to drop it into the garage but it's not until Saturday afternoon. I couldn't get one sooner. The mechanic said that the car would be ok to drive in the meantime until I drop it in but I'm worried about the car cutting out and dying on me on the road.

I have looked at the manual that came with the car and it just give guidelines on what not to do if this light comes on. It does however say that this light usually comes on blinking, then goes solid if the problem persists. I'm just worried that it will go red and then I'll have done more damage. I'm worried that by driving home I'll already have done more damage to the car. I do need the car tomorrow though.

Does anyone know what part of the car this light belongs to and also, would you drive it? Is it a very serious malfunction? Thanks for any or all comments, I do appreciate it

Drummerboy08

Going purely on your title - Can I drive my car? ( Nissan Micra)

No, you cant.

It depends on the light really. What does it look like?
Usually the rule is if the light's red, dont drive. If its amber you should be alright for a while.

Berty

There are many different lights on your dashboard.

What does this symbol look like?

What year is your car?

eyesofvenus

Its probably the amber MIL light?

If its this you should be ok to drive it

Muckie

If its the yellow engine light on the right of the display cluster.
Your car should be fine to drive(apart from the any chugging ) problem
sounds like the trottle body that needs replacing.
Let us know how you get on. Good luck.

robbie_998

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Going purely on your title - Can I drive my car? ( Nissan Micra)

No, you cant.

Thank you sir

where is MrMicra and he's magnificent reliability and recommendation of taking a driving test in one ??? :P

Eyespy

Hi folks, it's a 03 micra and the light is almost like little square box with a tap on it. I'll try and find a picture if I can. What troubles me is that the mechanic when I told him said it could be one of a hundred things. Malfunction indicator light orange is what it is called on the manual and it's to the right of the speed dial and rev counter.

I tried to get a picture on the web of the light and can't sorry but I did find this answer on yahoo from 2 years ago.
"Malfunction Indicator Light "Check Engine light" if it stays on there is a problem. And if a worse problem like engine mis-fire occurs the MIL will flash indicating theres a emissions problem that can ruin other expensive emission controls. Like the exhaust cat converter."
Source(s):
Nissan Master Tech

This is the light that is staying on at the moment. I don't know a whole lot about the engine despite having the car a year. I know it's shameful. But I am very worried that I won't be able to drive the car to the garge to get it checked now.

Eyespy

eyesofvenus wrote: »

Its probably the amber MIL light?

If its this you should be ok to drive it

Yep, that's the one. I haven't started the car since getting home yesterday, I was afraid it might go on fire or worse Thanks eyesofvenus

robbie_998

Eyespy wrote: »

Hi folks, it's a 03 micra and the light is almost like little square box with a tap on it. I'll try and find a picture if I can. What troubles me is that the mechanic when I told him said it could be one of a hundred things. Malfunction indicator light orange is what it is called on the manual and it's to the right of the speed dial and rev counter.

I tried to get a picture on the web of the light and can't sorry but I did find this answer on yahoo from 2 years ago.
"Malfunction Indicator Light "Check Engine light" if it stays on there is a problem. And if a worse problem like engine mis-fire occurs the MIL will flash indicating theres a emissions problem that can ruin other expensive emission controls. Like the exhaust cat converter."
Source(s):
Nissan Master Tech

This is the light that is staying on at the moment. I don't know a whole lot about the engine despite having the car a year. I know it's shameful. But I am very worried that I won't be able to drive the car to the garge to get it checked now.

could you take a pic using your phone and upload it here ???

jimmyw

I'm just worried that it will go red and then I'll have done more damage. I'm worried that by driving home I'll already have done more damage to the car.

How can it change colour? Or is this a featere of this car. I would have thought that it stays the same colour all of the time.


P.S hope its not the oil light you are describing!!!!

Berty

Is this it?

Eyespy

Muckie wrote: »

If its the yellow engine light on the right of the display cluster.
Your car should be fine to drive(apart from the any chugging ) problem
sounds like the trottle body that needs replacing.
Let us know how you get on. Good luck.

It is. Thanks Muckie. I'll give everyone a full update once I get it looked over. Would the throttle body be expensive to replace?

Avns1s

Eyespy, your mechanic is right. It could be any one of a large number of things AND it will, in all probability, be fine to drive it, until he gets chance to look at it at the weekend.

Eyespy

robbie_998 wrote: »

could you take a pic using your phone and upload it here ???

I will, thanks for all the help lads. I really appreciate it.

Eyespy

Berty wrote: »

Is this it?

No Berty, but I'm going out to get a pic of it. I'll upload it asap.

eyesofvenus

This is it


should be fine to drive for next two days

Eyespy

jimmyw wrote: »

I'm just worried that it will go red and then I'll have done more damage. I'm worried that by driving home I'll already have done more damage to the car.

How can it change colour? Or is this a featere of this car. I would have thought that it stays the same colour all of the time.


P.S hope its not the oil light you are describing!!!!

Hi jimmyw, nope not the oil. My descriptions sucks, sorry. What I meant was that I was afraid that the amber light would go out and the corresponding red one would come on.

jimmyw

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/Images/eng_man_light_72.jpg

http://www.carservicetips.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/oil1.jpg



The first light is engine management and should look like the first pic, and the second is the oil pressure.

eyesofvenus

Eyespy wrote: »

Hi jimmyw, nope not the oil. My descriptions sucks, sorry. What I meant was that I was afraid that the amber light would go out and the corresponding red one would come on.

AFAIK there is no other red one? Only red ones are oil and battery i think?
This is your Malfunction Indicator Light, ecu throws this up when there's a fault with your car, could be anything, but if it was serious im sure you'd know about it by now

Eyespy

eyesofvenus wrote: »

This is it


should be fine to drive for next two days

That's the one, thank you eyesofvenus. I was just afraid to do anything in case I made whatever is wrong worse. Even the thoughts of driving as far as the garage was giving me a minor heart attack. But that's great. Thank you again.

Drummerboy08

Could be any number of things, as your mechanic said.

As long as it stays amber it'l be fine. If you have AA cover, call them out. They'll have a diagnostics machine in the van to read the fault code. They might not fix it, but at least you'll know what it is (within reason).

Eyespy

eyesofvenus wrote: »

AFAIK there is no other red one? Only red ones are oil and battery i think?
This is your Malfunction Indicator Light, ecu throws this up when there's a fault with your car, could be anything, but if it was serious im sure you'd know about it by now

There probably isn't. Just looking on the manual, it doesn't actually mention one , I just thought that when some of the other lights were red, this one might have a corresponding one. The first poster after me was right (forgot their name, sorry), I can't drive . I'm mortified. But thanks again for everything. I really was freaking out. I'm not as bad now.

jimmyw

You can drive it to the garage, might affect your emmissions, but its only temporary.

Eyespy

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Could be any number of things, as your mechanic said.

As long as it stays amber it'l be fine. If you have AA cover, call them out. They'll have a diagnostics machine in the van to read the fault code. They might not fix it, but at least you'll know what it is (within reason).

That's all I wanted to hear, thanks drummerboy08. And again, I'm ashamed to say I never thought of the AA. I'll get on to them tomorrow. Thanks again. I really appreciate it.

Eyespy

jimmyw wrote: »

You can drive it to the garage, might affect your emmissions, but its only temporary.

Thanks jimmyw, that's all I wanted to hear. I'll be delighted as long as I can get it as far as the garage.

Drummerboy08

Eyespy wrote: »

That's all I wanted to hear, thanks drummerboy08. And again, I'm ashamed to say I never thought of the AA. I'll get on to them tomorrow. Thanks again. I really appreciate it.

Just when you call the AA, tell them a light has come on in the dash, in your opinion the car isnt driving properly, and you dont feel safe driving it until you know whats up.

They'll do alot to get out of coming out to the car, so make sure they do by bending the truth...

Eyespy

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Just when you call the AA, tell them a light has come on in the dash, in your opinion the car isnt driving properly, and you dont feel safe driving it until you know whats up.

They'll do alot to get out of coming out to the car, so make sure they do by bending the truth...

Thanks for that Drummerboy08, I'll do it first thing in the morning.

Berty

My mother was driving her Astra with that light coming on every so often for around 14 months. I had it for around 4 days and it mostly affected the gears. I would lose power and then pump the clutch and it would return.

Mechanics could not track down the problem and my mother could not be arsed paying money on a 98 Astra so one day when the problem was in remission she traded it in.

AzureAuto

I think the light you have descibed is the engine managment light. This light is triggered when the self-diagnosng computer in your micra notes a problem with the performance of your engine. It can come on for a variety of reasons.

I am a mobile mechanic in the kildare area who specialises in japanese motors. I also have a diagnostic computer and wealth of experience. If you need help, let me know.

Matty_eat_world

Hi there, what did the problem turn out to be? My girlfriend has just bought a 55 plate micra this morning, and the very same light came on during the drive home! (no sign of it on test drive, unfortunately) I'm aware it could be a number of things, but was wondering if there's a general issue a lot of them have?

oregano

New model Micras show engine management light when the timing chain has been stretched. You can still drive it. Phone a Nissan dealer, give them the chassis, and they will quote a price for a new chain. Buy it, and get it fitted by an independent garage. It's not a hard job, and all the 03 Micras I've sold this year have had to get the chain done...

AzureAuto

I agree with the above, as reliable as the Nissan engines are those engine managment lights do often come on or a variety of reasons including timing chain stretch and knocking the cam and crank sensors out of phase. This would usually be accompanied by driveability issues though. What area are you from, as I have diagnostic computer and could plug you in?

Matty_eat_world

Nissan are going to look at it, thanks for the advice. It's a 55 plate and hasn't yet had the chain replaced so is probably due one sooner rather than later. Doesn't seem to have effected performance though, so will be intrigued to find out what it actually is.

Eyespy

Hello again folks,

just a quick update on the car. It's the cam shaft chain and it will eventually have to be replaced. The mechanic said that it'll be ok to drive until the car starts to chug/cough or something similiar. Then to drop it in and he'll refit it. Is it really as expensive as 700 euros though? Anyway happily the goblin is fine to drive at the moment so hopefully I'll get as far as the new year before the chain goes. Thank you all so much for the help. It was much appreciated.

corktina

i suppose it would be irresponsible to suggest taking out the bulb and sellin git on quick?:cool:

robbie_998

corktina wrote: »

i suppose it would be irresponsible to suggest taking out the bulb and sellin git on quick?:cool:

watch only fools and horses lately ?

although sell it quickly and get another one

corktina

is there no adjustment on the chain? At least it isnt a belt , so less likely to snap... price seems a bit high, shop around I guess.