Nissan Micra Automatic

The gearbox has probably expired. Everything I've read about CVT autos says that they pack up at around 50k-80k.

Peter

This one has done less than 35k kilometers.

There is a brush holder connected to the electromagnetic clutch which is scheduled for replacement at 2yr/36k mile intervals. You could do worse than try that.

HTH

Steve

"Bob Davis" wrote

. I would guess that the clutch-equivalent bit of

(acceleration

In which case, and considering the replacement cost, it is a load of rubbish which is best avoided like the plague. Resale value of cars fitted with such rubbish, at six years old or more, should be less than zero as a consequence.

There must be a viable cheap repair for this part, surely?

Huw

I tend to agree. In a manual transmission car, the clutch could last less than 20,000 miles or alternatively for the life of the vehicle, just depending on driving technique and usage. But it is usually relatively cheap to replace, and most of the cost is labour. Most of us would accept that replacing a worn clutch is a normal expense to be encountered during the life of a vehicle. If this component costs this much to renew, it should be designed to last the life of the vehicle (as most auto transmissions are,) or have replaceable parts which would enable a cost-effective repair.

It's not normally the case for transmissions - repairs are not usually cost effective, a reconditioned unit on exchange is usually the best you can hope for.

Thanks Steve!

relatively

usually cost

Repairs to transmissions are very often highly cost effective unless they have done a large mileage and are generally worn out. The trick is to find someone who can do the job and who charges reasonable labour rates. These two stipulations rule out most main dealers due to them employing fitters rather than mechanics and due to their high overheads causing the necessity for high labour rates. Remember that a recon unit is a repaired unit and the work has to be done by someone, they don't recon themselves by osmosis. The point is, as you say; and we agree on this; such a repair cost is just not acceptable on an economy car when it gets on a bit. The car is, in effect, scrap when this thing goes wrong. The used car purchaser and the trade is not daft [well not ALL are anyhow] and will discount an used car to take account of the risky cost of repair. In effect, I would think, that once one of these things reach five years or more old, no one with an ounce of common sense would touch it with a barge pole. In effect, it would be near worthless unless an ignorant mug comes along and takes a fancy to it.

Huw

In fact the list price here is Euro7000 = UKP5000 How many Nissan Micras have you heard of with a similar problem?

ignorant

That is a totally absurd price, if only because a whole new Micra is only about twice the price.

One keeps hearing about the occasional one. AFAIK the gearbox is not a particularly popular option in the UK [maybe we have more sense :-) ] but it was also fitted to Ford Fiesta at one time and was withdrawn as an option because it was a reliability and cost disaster.

Huw

In UK. In NL there is a 55% car tax. In addition the car is a top of the range model.

It is the official list price for a private purchase. The list price is more if bought from a dealer.

So far on internet I have found one person who had a similar problem. The main dealer has never seen a similar problem.

So? It's a car, not an animal.

My SD1 is restricted to about that sort of annual mileage under its classic policy. Is there now a cruelty to cars law?

If you're talking autos, it's rarely cost effective to attempt just a repair, as most of the cost involved is labour. So if you're going to spend 500 quid or so on removal, stripping and thorough cleaning - all essential after near any failure, then the extra 100 or so to replace all the wearing parts makes sense.

With a manual, few repairs - other than replacing worn synchro rings etc - are rarely effective either, since gears tend to lap into one another, and simply replacing one which has stripped with a new one - or changing worn layshaft bearings etc ends up with a noisy box.

I've no experience of CVTs, but hearsay is that it's usually more cost effective to fit a complete new unit - and secondhand ones are extremely hard to come buy since the failure rate on otherwise perfect cars is so high.

The failure rate on *all* CVT transmissions is unacceptably high - otherwise they'd have been developed for a wider range of vehicles.

If you don't believe me, just try finding a secondhand unit. ;-)

No argument here - My point was that normally a repair to a transmission is a highly labour intensive job, normally best left to specialists with the requisite skills, experience, facilities and tooling. It's also not much more effort to strip down and refurbish a box fully than just replace the failed part. Hence why a refurbished box, rebuilt by someone who (hopefully) is well experienced in the work is often the better, and frequently the only, option. As you say, most dealers will on even consider it, and finding a local garage with the skills and equipment is not easy.

Absolutely

If the gearbox is dead and you know you won't be getting it repaired (due to cost?) then why not take it to bits yourself? I've no idea on the CVT transmission but a standard auto isn't that complicated - you just leave the valve block well alone! Besides, the wear is usually in the clutch plates or brake band which are reasonably easy to get to, though I found refitting the brake band round the planetary gearset a little tricky...

Darren

I don't know that it's dead. So far all I have is a dealer wanting to replace the whole thing, when it might be something trivial turning the light on.

It has an electromagnetic powder clutch.

I'm not sure you are correct but I tend towards your view as far as steel belt car types are concerned. They are available for a wide range of cars now though. Audi fits them to high torque 2.5litre diesels, although I have no idea of their reliability record in that application.

Maybe that is because they don't fail? Just kidding:-)

As it happens I am awaiting delivery of a computer controlled CVT gearbox fitted to heavy plant. This heavy duty and efficient gearbox is surprisingly simple, with only one synchro unit for a high/low range and an epicyclic unit with the sun as a mechanical input and the ring gear variably driven by swash plate variable displacement hydraulics. No clutch packs, even for the forward/reverse shuttle. Many interesting and useful driving modes from full driver control to full computer authority variable control. Even the accellerator pedal can be changed into a forward speed controller at the push of a button. Apparently, out of 30,000 units built over ten years, only three units have suffered a serious mechanical failure. The manufacturer guarantees unit replacement with a new one for £3000 if it does fail at any point. Not bad for a machine that costs £65000 and which will hopefully be worth around £18000 in ten years time.

Huw

"martin" wrote >

Let's hope it is a trivial fault. The signs are not good. Do let us know what the fault is when you find out.

Huw

I will, if I do find out.