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03 K12 Micra check engine light

  • 11-02-2015 08:48PM
    #1
    Jacovs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,996 ✭✭✭


    Having a bit of trouble with my 03 1.0 Micra. Around xmas I went to start it one cold morning and I think I flooded it by trying to drive off before letting it heat up enough. Tried starting it again, the engine turned but wouldnt start, so left it a few seconds and all was grand. This never happened before in the 12 months ive had the car. Its happened again the other morning, except this time after the car started and died and then started again after a few seconds, the check engine light now stays on while the engine is running. Then yesterday morning I tried starting the car, and it started but didnt seem to be picking up revs and died after a few seconds. Then it wouldnt start at all for a couple minutes, but eventually did again, and there was a strong smell of petrol. The car is due a service, which I intended to do myself, but would i be better off just getting it to a mechanic and get it checked out and serviced in one go?
    Anyone have any suggestions of what couldve caused the check engine light to stay on now?


Comments

  • #2
    visual
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,267 ✭✭✭visual


    Really need to read the codes to understand the fault display by check engine light
    It's possibly faulty sensor


  • #3
    Mech1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,133 ✭✭✭Mech1


    Ok guess, but an educated guess, when you get it scanned you will have cam / crank timing errors, one or the other. Do not spend any money on cam / crank sensors, it wont fix it.

    Get the timing chain changed and all sprockets etc. Then get rid of the car cause it will happen again.

    Big job, really big job.


  • #4
    visual
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,267 ✭✭✭visual


    Nebiour has same issue with chain stretching has less than 50 k up on it and very disappointed. It still start most times so he is living with it for the moment.


  • #5
    Jacovs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,996 ✭✭✭Jacovs


    Thanks for the advice. Mine is around 48k miles on it now, so you guys could be right. Hopefully not though, since if its a big job then it means big money. I was hoping the light came on in error when starting the car after flooding it that morning.
    Where would I get the fault code read in north dublin? Nissan dealer charged me 50 just to check my starter for something before and then wanted nearly 900 to replace it, so id say they will try and get a mortgage from me for a timing chain job.
    Anyone take a guess at what it would cost to have the timing chain fixed?


  • #6
    Jacovs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,996 ✭✭✭Jacovs


    Mech1 wrote: »
    Ok guess, but an educated guess, when you get it scanned you will have cam / crank timing errors, one or the other. Do not spend any money on cam / crank sensors, it wont fix it.

    Get the timing chain changed and all sprockets etc. Then get rid of the car cause it will happen again.

    Big job, really big job.

    Right so had the car in last week for the service and they checked the error code, which you were right, was the cam sensor. They inspected the timing chain though and said they cant see anything wrong with it, so I took a gamble and let them replace the cam sensor. They rang me on my way to collect the car later that day to say that the new sensor they got was faulty, so they removed it and put my old one back in and erased the error code for me and to keep an eye on it to see if it wasnt perhaps a mistake that it came on.

    As I left them though the car died on me cos it wasnt warmed up properly yet, and I had to let it sit in the road for a minute before it would start up again, and the check engine light was back on, so I took it straight back in to them. They erased the code for me again and said to bring it in sometime to have a new sensor fitted.

    The car was fine the past few days because id let it idle for a few minutes when its cold before driving it, so it didnt die on me. But the other night we were out and I didnt let it warm up properly and it died on me and the check engine light is back again.

    Does this still sound like a timing chain issue or is it just a faulty sensor?

    Im sure id be able to swap out the sensor myself, but if the problem is the sensor will this then erase the code or does it still have to be erased by someone? Meaning, if I swap the sensor and the check engine light stays on I know it wasnt the sensor?


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  • #7
    Mech1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,133 ✭✭✭Mech1


    Mech1 wrote: »
    Ok guess, but an educated guess, when you get it scanned you will have cam / crank timing errors, one or the other. Do not spend any money on cam / crank sensors, it wont fix it.

    Get the timing chain changed and all sprockets etc. Then get rid of the car cause it will happen again.

    Big job, really big job.

    Have you spent any money yet, without getting the chain replaced?

    If so, what was the point in asking?


  • #8
    Jacovs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,996 ✭✭✭Jacovs


    Mech1 wrote: »
    Have you spent any money yet, without getting the chain replaced?

    If so, what was the point in asking?

    No, they didnt charge me anything except for the diagnostic to check what error code it is.

    I do appreciate the advice given, as it let me go into it knowing what to expect and what questions to ask. On the day though, meeting the mechanic who checked the car and timing chain, I decided to rather go for the less expensive fix, the sensor. Since there is an error code for it, there is a chance it might be the actual sensor.
    I would rather spend 50-100 on replacing the sensor first if that is the problem. Otherwise I could spend a couple hundred more on replacing the timing chain, and if that wasnt the problem I have to pay another 50-100 for the sensor too.

    I would highly appreciate an answer, from you or anyone else who knows, on the last questions in my previous post.


  • #9
    jackdempsey1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6 ✭jackdempsey1


    Im having similar problems with the same model of car. I bought the car exactly a year ago and had relatively little trouble with it apart from an intermittent fault where sometimes it would not lock or unlock. When this would occur my windows and back wiper would not work. Alternator needed to be replaced and fault seemed to go apart from a lightbulb not working that did not seem to need replacing.

    My main issue now is similar to OP. Last month I started to get a rough idle. Last week I was driving along and the car was losing power then would accelerate on. Engine light came on and the diagnostic read camshaft sensor. The mechanic assumed the chain had stretched but upon inspection the chain was new and tight. I replaced the cam sensor but had the same issues and engine light came back on. Diagnostic came back again cam shaft sensor and this time the oxygen sensor was not working either. He erased the codes and droves it around the block, drove fine initially but then was losing power. Now it dies soon after starting up!

    Anyone familiar with this?


  • #10
    Mech1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,133 ✭✭✭Mech1


    Ok, this takes a bit of mechanical knowledge, a bit of time, and some tools.

    Remove the cam cover / rocker cover / lid of the engine!

    This may mean removal of an engine mount, I cant remember, so support the engine from underneath if needed, (well positioned scissor jack and a bit of wood to spread the weight)

    Look down the timing chain now visible and find the tensioner. (windscreen side of chain).

    If you can see a certain amount of tensioner piston protuding then new chain etc needed. google it! its been too long for me to remember the exacts on this but thats the general idea.


  • #11
    jackdempsey1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6 ✭jackdempsey1


    Mech1 wrote: »
    Ok, this takes a bit of mechanical knowledge, a bit of time, and some tools.

    Remove the cam cover / rocker cover / lid of the engine!

    This may mean removal of an engine mount, I cant remember, so support the engine from underneath if needed, (well positioned scissor jack and a bit of wood to spread the weight)

    Look down the timing chain now visible and find the tensioner. (windscreen side of chain).

    If you can see a certain amount of tensioner piston protuding then new chain etc needed. google it! its been too long for me to remember the exacts on this but thats the general idea.

    id an oil leak leak due to a pinched gasket so when we thought the chain might need replacing the mechanic opened up the engine to reseal it! Thats when he discovered that the chain was new. In this case could it still be an issue with the tensioner? I know very little and am only going by what the mechanic said.


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  • #12
    Mech1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,133 ✭✭✭Mech1


    Im out, too much like hard work this thread.


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