I've just agreed to buy a 95/N 1.3 Micra SLX. It's a little minter with a touch over 60k on the clock, power steering, not a single mark on the body or interior and a full MOT. I managed to get the price down to £800 due to a couple of bits of minor work that need doing. I was amazed by just how nippy and responsive it was, especially the slick gearshift, and was more or less sold after thumping effortlessly down the local dual carriageway for a few miles without having to worry about winding it up before overtaking.
This was the first time I'd ever driven one though, and I noticed a couple of things that I wouldn't mind advice on:
1. Do Micra temperature gauges usually sit at around the halfway mark when they reach operating temperature? The fan hadn't kicked in by the end of the test drive and the needle position was consistent all the way through.
2. I noticed a very slight rustling sound under acceleration, usually a few seconds after a gearchange. This was only audible with the windows up (due to wind noise). It didn't coincide with anything odd in the handling or performance, and had disappeared completely after 5 or so miles. Any ideas?
3. Does anyone know the timing chain replacement interval for this model. I'm assuming that it has one due about now (60K).
4. The passenger side electric window works perfectly from the passenger door switch, but will only go up from the driver side. The driver window works perfectly. Is this likely to be just the switch on the driver side, or the passenger motor? I'm not that fussed about it really, but if it's easily tweakable then I'll sort it.
Any other tips on keeping this particular little beastie in good order would be appreciated! Now I just have to get rid of the Favorit..
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Dont know the micra per say, but can comment on the temperature gauge. This is normal behaviour and a sighn of a well sorted cooling system. In this weather, normal or spirited driving should not kick in the fan. The only time the fan should come on is in very hot weather or crawling in traffic. Yours seems to indicate the cooling system is doing its job near perfectly.
You may need to leave the car to idle for some time just to check the fan kicks in (even then this weather may be too cool)
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That's what I was hoping. I've had cars that have done both and wanted to be sure - the Favorit doesn't even deflect the needle from the bottom limit until it's been sitting with the engine running for a while.
Cheers for the input :)
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"Do Micra temperature gauges usually sit at around the halfway mark" --- Yes. Mine too.
"The passenger side electric window works perfectly from the passenger door switch . . " --- therefore the window winding motor is OK. Thus I would look for the fault to be in the driver's side switch or wire connection to it. Hope this helps.
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Sounds like you've got a bargain here!
That switch, I suggest you take it out and take it apart. You've probably got a poor connection in the UP position.
If you can't get this sorted, then a new switch won't cost the earth.
Hugo
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Micra is a well-sorted and reliable little car if looked after.
Change coolant and use ONLY Nissan coolant (its not much more than the Halfords stuff) - mix it with distilled water 50/50.
Timing chain should last a long time - although not as long on the Micra as on other Nissans (which effectively last the life of the car). You will hear it rattling when it needs changing. Nissan do a kit which includes chain and pulleys; its not too expensive and not a terribly difficult job.
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Cheers for the info - I'm about to start it off on a proper service schedule so I'll bear that in mind. Does the coolant make that much difference? How so?
I think the chain is ok but I don't want to take the risk really, especially as the previous owner was a bit slack with oilchanges. It rattles at startup (which I believe is normal for these) but seems to come up to tension after a couple of miles and runs very quietly afterwards. I'll get my mechanic to have a quick look over the whole thing anyway, just for peace of mind - I can't really afford for this motor to go byebye prematurely (especially as my better half seems to have taken quite a shine to it..) ;)
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Sounds like you've got a bargain here!
I thought so too :)
It's a cracking little car - looks nearly new, and has had a remarkably easy life. It hasn't had as regular a service schedule as I'd have liked, but doesn't seem to have suffered unduly from it. It's also one of the only cars where I've actually liked the feel of the power steering, the other being the Fiesta before the current one. It's surprisingly nippy too - that little 16V 1.3 lump is a gem, and I barely had to work it at all when overtaking lorries on the dual carriageway.
TBH, if it gives me less than half the hassle I've had with the Favorit, it'll be a godsend..
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Hope so - I shall give it a look over when I pick the car up. I'd assumed it was the switch, but I was wondering whether or not the contacts where the driver side switch connects to the passenger side motor were prone to going wonky - I've been known to take things apart in the past based on rash assumptions.. ;)
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