2003 Nissan Micra - 2003 Nissan Micra, car slowed down, warning lights

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Wed 21 Dec 2022 17:45
2003 Nissan Micra - 2003 Nissan Micra, car slowed down, warning lights - MrD2018

For the past 3 years, I have only used it for driving short distances in my town so it has been driven at about 30mph max during this time. Today I decided to visit a relative about 20 miles away.

Once the car was up to 60mph I noticed the engine seemed to be a bit noisier than it usually is. A few miles along the way I had to slow down for traffic in front of me but after that I noticed that the engine did not seem to want to speed up to 60mph again. It got slower and slower so I had to change down gears and the check engine light came on.

I found a side road to park on by which time I’m pretty sure the battery light was also on and then the engine just seemed to cut out. I started the car again but the engine seemed to be going slower than it usually does and the warning lights were still displayed so I turned the engine off. There also seemed to be a strange smell which I remember from the engine overheating on an earlier occasion but I may have imagined this! A garage is going to have a look at it tomorrow. Any idea what could have happened?

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Wed 21 Dec 2022 18:27
2003 Nissan Micra - 2003 Nissan Micra, car slowed down, warning lights - elekie&a/c doctor
Strange smell could be clutch slipping or engine overheating. No temperature gauge on these so difficult to judge .
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Wed 21 Dec 2022 18:49
2003 Nissan Micra - 2003 Nissan Micra, car slowed down, warning lights - Engineer Andy
Strange smell could be clutch slipping or engine overheating. No temperature gauge on these so difficult to judge .

No temperature gauge? Blimey. There was one on the previous gen one I owned, as that confirmed to me a stone that had nosily kicked up underneath had indeed broken the water pump belt on my way home from work one day.

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Wed 21 Dec 2022 18:58
2003 Nissan Micra - 2003 Nissan Micra, car slowed down, warning lights - elekie&a/c doctor
There’s a warning light , but by the time that comes on it’s “game over”
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Wed 21 Dec 2022 19:13
2003 Nissan Micra - 2003 Nissan Micra, car slowed down, warning lights - Adampr

Could be lots of things. If we're playing the guessing game, head gasket is probably the first on the list. I suppose it could be as simple as a blocked exhaust or one or both of the belts breaking.

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Wed 21 Dec 2022 23:07
2003 Nissan Micra - 2003 Nissan Micra, car slowed down, warning lights - Andrew-T

Do you check the oil level regularly ?

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Thu 22 Dec 2022 01:06
2003 Nissan Micra - 2003 Nissan Micra, car slowed down, warning lights - RJY

I started the car again but the engine seemed to be going slower than it usually does and the warning lights were still displayed so I turned the engine off. There also seemed to be a strange smell which I remember from the engine overheating on an earlier occasion but I may have imagined this! A garage is going to have a look at it tomorrow. Any idea what could have happened?

Was there any oil in the engine?

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Tue 27 Dec 2022 17:42
2003 Nissan Micra - 2003 Nissan Micra, car slowed down, warning lights - MrD2018

The garage did not have time to move the car before Christmas but they did give it a quick check at its breakdown location and their first thought was there was a problem with the timing belt(damaged but not snapped) but due to the unusual noise, etc when the engine was running they are not 100% sure. They are going to have a proper check once they move the car to the garage. They found the oil in the engine was fine and at the correct level.

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Thu 22 Dec 2022 23:39
2003 Nissan Micra - 2003 Nissan Micra, car slowed down, warning lights - Big John

Any oil showing on the dipstick? Also if there is what does it smell like? To me this sound like a major overheating or oil starvation issue. Getting slower and slower not a good omen sadly.

Edited by Big John on 22/12/2022 at 23:40

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Fri 23 Dec 2022 08:54
2003 Nissan Micra - 2003 Nissan Micra, car slowed down, warning lights - skidpan

No temperature gauge? Blimey.

Not at all abnormal on modern cars, our Superb PHEV does not have one.

But as said above they do have i**** lights.

There’s a warning light, but by the time that comes on it’s “game over”

Modern gauges are little more than warning lights. Ever noticed how they rise quickly to normal and sit there even when you are stationary in traffic with the engine fan on. Old gauges accurately told you the temp modern gauges don't.

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Fri 23 Dec 2022 13:28
2003 Nissan Micra - 2003 Nissan Micra, car slowed down, warning lights - galileo

No temperature gauge? Blimey.

Not at all abnormal on modern cars, our Superb PHEV does not have one.

But as said above they do have i**** lights.

There’s a warning light, but by the time that comes on it’s “game over”

Modern gauges are little more than warning lights. Ever noticed how they rise quickly to normal and sit there even when you are stationary in traffic with the engine fan on. Old gauges accurately told you the temp modern gauges don't.

My 1950 MG Y type had the luxury of an oil pressure gauge as well as a temperature gauge, I think there was also an ammeter. it also had built-in in 4 wheel hydraulic jacks, like my Ford V8 Pilot.

The Y type was essentially a Morris 10 with 'luxury' features. Unlike many present gizmos they were actually useful.

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Tue 27 Dec 2022 18:46
2003 Nissan Micra - 2003 Nissan Micra, car slowed down, warning lights - elekie&a/c doctor
It’s a timing chain on these , rather than a belt . Very common for them to stretch on this engine and cause running faults . If the engine still runs , then it hasn’t snapped.
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