Who do I complain to?

carolannjo

Hi I have a nissan almera which is a 2001 plate and has done 36,000 miles we have had it from new. Recently the engine warning light came on and we had it looked at, fault came up as MAF sensor, replaced this to no avail and to cut a long story short had to replace the timing chain at quite considerable cost. The Nissan website says this should last the life of the car if regular maintenance oil change carried out ( ours is fine in that regard). So my question is who apart from Nissan can i contact to find out if this is unusual or whether this should be the subject of a recall ( several on the go already for VIN numbers up to but not including ours). I have found a thread on internet which is full of stories like mine so obviously there is a problem, but these people have had no joy from Nissan and I expect I will be the same. There must be some one I can ask about this but WHO? Hope some one can help.

vansboy

Go to http://www.honestjohn.co.uk clik Car By Car Breakdown, then select your model & see what it cojmes up with.
Then clik The Backroom - Discussion & post the Q in there.

Lods of SENSIBLE answers will soon appear!!

VB

bexwitt

carolannjo wrote: »

Hi I have a nissan almera which is a 2001 plate and has done 36,000 miles we have had it from new. Recently the engine warning light came on and we had it looked at, fault came up as MAF sensor, replaced this to no avail and to cut a long story short had to replace the timing chain at quite considerable cost. The Nissan website says this should last the life of the car if regular maintenance oil change carried out ( ours is fine in that regard). So my question is who apart from Nissan can i contact to find out if this is unusual or whether this should be the subject of a recall ( several on the go already for VIN numbers up to but not including ours). I have found a thread on internet which is full of stories like mine so obviously there is a problem, but these people have had no joy from Nissan and I expect I will be the same. There must be some one I can ask about this but WHO? Hope some one can help.

Hi carolannjo - I also have the same problem. How did you get this fixed? What should I do? I took it to my local garage and they replaced the air flow controller part but the engine failure light has come staright back on and the car is jumping around like a kangeroo/dodgem car again. Please help?

Crabman

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=278&

According to Honest John's database this is a well known fault and there was a recall to replace an engine sensor - if it's the same as the MAF sensor it's odd your VIN number isn't covered:

Recalls

29-1-2002: 34,480 Almera and Primera 1.5s, 1.6s and 1.8s recalled because engine crankshaft and camshaft position sensors may case engine to stall and not re-start. 25-2-2002: Parking brake may not set properly because of misalignment between ratchet and pawl teeth. 26-11-2002: During production, convetor may have damaged front left hand tyre. Tyres on 2,758 cars to be inspected and replaced if necessary. 8-12-2003 Recall of 108,563 1.8 and 2.0 litre petrol engines built 1998 - 2003 over angle and position sensors which can cause engines to stall and/or fail to re-start. Sensors to be replaced.

anewman

Seems *very* unsual for a chain to be changed at 36k miles in such a young car. Chances are that will have a pre-tensioner as well, so should last the life of the vehicle as you mention. If there is a problem with a timing chain, the first thing you can tell about it is it will make a noise and a sort of tinny rattle. A timing chain will slightly stretch with use, but will never snap or slip. Even if it is loose and noisy.

carolannjo

anewman wrote: »

Seems *very* unsual for a chain to be changed at 36k miles in such a young car. Chances are that will have a pre-tensioner as well, so should last the life of the vehicle as you mention. If there is a problem with a timing chain, the first thing you can tell about it is it will make a noise and a sort of tinny rattle. A timing chain will slightly stretch with use, but will never snap or slip. Even if it is loose and noisy.

It would be unusual if your car is anything other than a nissan!!!!! The timing chain stretches and causes the car to jump around like a kangaroo when being driven and engine warning light comes on. Also the rev needle thingy fluctuates!!
We have two nissans the one I originally referred to had 36k on the clock. One year later we had to replace the timing chain on our 02 almera same symptoms and same diagnosis by a nissan garage. Cost at nissan £1200 cost at local garage £500 nissan were going to contribute to cost of second failure but because i could not prove it had been serviced before i bought it they refused!!!!!
Google almera and timing chain and you will see how common this is!!! More info on the ilexa forums.
Bexwitt only answer is to get chain replaced nothing else works. Don't let them mess about with more sensors they are never the problem!!!! Will cost though specially if you go through nissan!!

GeorgeI

My advice to is to avoide Nissan Almeras like the plague.
They have a Renault timing chain inside them which causes the engine to stall without any warning.
Fixing it can cost more than £700 in a local garage as it take 5 hrs to replace, God know how must it costs in a Nissan garage!
My Nissan nearly killed me as the engine stopped while I was overtaking! I'm lucky I'm alive today.
When I phoned Nissan they said my vin is not included. Perhaps they are waiting for someone to get killed before they start fixing their own faults.
No more Nissans for me: I would rather be alive.

goldspanners

GeorgeI wrote: »

My advice to is to avoide Nissan Almeras like the plague.
They have a Renault timing chain inside them which causes the engine to stall without any warning.
Fixing it can cost more than £700 in a local garage as it take 5 hrs to replace, God know how must it costs in a Nissan garage!
My Nissan nearly killed me as the engine stopped while I was overtaking! I'm lucky I'm alive today.
When I phoned Nissan they said my vin is not included. Perhaps they are waiting for someone to get killed before they start fixing their own faults.
No more Nissans for me: I would rather be alive.

you seem to be on a 1 man mission to never allow anyone to buy a nissan almera.

your engine didnt stall, the timing chain snapped or one of the chain pulleys collapsed which in turn has caused some internal damage to other vital engine components. £700 to replace the timing chain asscociated pullys/bearings and any valves that have been damaged and also replace the cylinder head gasket and change all fluids is a pretty good price for all that work, some chains can cost well over £700 just for the part.

as ive said on at least one of your other crusading posts lots of cars have timing belts and lots of them fail costing much more than your does to replace.

just google timing chain snapped and you will see just how many different cars it affects,most will be vauxhalls though i imagine.

Inactive

goldspanners wrote: »

you seem to be on a 1 man mission to never allow anyone to buy a nissan almera.
.

Indeed, he had to look back to 2007 to find this thread... :rolleyes:


There are far worse cars than a Nissan Almera.