Nissan Micra accelerator problem

.Johanna.

My ten year old Nissan doesn't always gain speed when I push the accelerator, sometimes I have to take my foot off pedal to make it work again. I'm guessing the accelerator cable needs replacing. Any idea how much I can expect to pay for getting it replaced?
The engine light's been on for a few months as well, at MOT they said it's because it's not feeding enough fuel and it wasn't necessary to replace it, so they just turned the light off.

forgotmyname

You obviously have a fault and need to find a garage that have a clue howto fix it.

Turning the light off doesnt cure the problem.


No mention of exactly which micra you have, So you maybe a bit shocket to find you dont have a cable but
a simple potentiometer instead, Which Nissan may relieve you of about £200 for.


But even more good news, Running with the incorrect fuel mixture for so long may now cost you more than the
cars worth to fix.

Oxygen sensors and the CAT could be ruined now.

.Johanna.

The last garage I went to said the throttle body just needed a good clean and it solved the problem. The engine warning light has stayed off since as well.

None of the garages said anything about oxygen sensors or CAT needing replacing.

Strider590

.Johanna. wrote: »

The last garage I went to said the throttle body just needed a good clean and it solved the problem. The engine warning light has stayed off since as well.

None of the garages said anything about oxygen sensors or CAT needing replacing.

No you misunderstand............ You've been driving about with the ECU warning light on for several months, it's not there to look pretty. The damage done by neglecting this, may have caused further damage to other parts within the vehicle, especially if fuel/air mixture is involved.

The garage(s) you've been to should have resolved this issue fully, not just patched it up and told you "oh it's nothing".

I don't know if you have a throttle cable, the Micra changed shape/design in 2002, so it might be an electronic throttle body, in which case it could be worn out or sticking.... Especially so if the former owner drove like an OAP, as the throttle body "won't have been exercised" so to speak.

Anything else that would cause this are pretty much all service items (fuel filter, spark plugs, etc etc etc).

If you do have a throttle cable, then it either works or doesn't and if it hasn't snapped (which it clearly hasn't, else it wouldn't drive) then the problem can only be fuel starvation or ignition timing.


I would ask whether when this problem occurs, does the engine "stumble" (almost stalls) or does it simply remain at idle speed?

.Johanna.

It's 2001 Nissan Micra. I had the filters and spark plugs changed when I had it serviced this winter.

The engine didn't "stumble", just refused to gain speed and I agree the two previous garages should have solved the problem when I asked them about the engine light being on. The first garage just checked the fault code for me which came back with a list of possibilities and said that he was guessing it is the last one on list. Then he said to come back if the light comes on again. The light stayed off until I drove on dual carriageway, but I decided to get a second opinion from another garage when I had MOT. Again they just switched the light off and said I could have a part replaced, but it would be costly and wasn't really necessary and wouldn't affect my car much.
The problem with the speed was a recent one, but I thought maybe it was connected to the engine warning light being on.

Strider590

Obvious things I forgot to ask.......

Does the engine make any accelerating noise when you try to accelerate? (sort of what I was getting at earlier)

Is it an Automatic?


I sort of assumed that Micra's aren't available in Auto, but a little research proves the theory incorrect

.Johanna.

It's not automatic and didn't make any accelerating noise, but it has been working ok now that I took it to another garage where they did engine management check and cleaned and refitted the throttle body. They said if the problem comes back I might need a new throttle body.

Strider590

.Johanna. wrote: »

It's not automatic and didn't make any accelerating noise, but it has been working ok now that I took it to another garage where they did engine management check and cleaned and refitted the throttle body. They said if the problem comes back I might need a new throttle body.

Yeah, or a 2nd hand unit from the scrappers (or ebay).

Looks like new they cost £350+

2nd hand from £25 - £90..... I know what i'd do.

mikey72

This sounds like it's a drive by wire, and the electronic throttle body is playing up.

There is a chance the light was caused by a gummed up body initially, which cleaning would help.

There is nothing wrong with turning the light off and seeing if it comes back on again, if there is a ream of fault codes thrown up. It could easily be a single glitch if there is no specific fault. The MOT would have checked the emmissions, so while it's not a good idea to drive with the light on, all the doom and gloom isn't required.

jase1

Failed throttle body is a known fault on the late 1990s/early 2000s Micra.

As said, second-hand part the way to go.