Nissan Almera (2000 - 2006) - Loosing power, noisy engine

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Wed 15 Aug 2007 14:40
Loosing power, noisy engine - JaggyG
when driving my Almera on motorways or journeys over 20-30 minutes, i lose all power in the engine. When in fifth gear i put my foot to the floor and have no power, i drop down gears and still no power. the engine is still running and hasn't cut out but makes a horrible noise and sounds like a tractor. i have to stop and when i do i get this really strong smell of burning. once i have stopped for 10 mins or so and the engine cools a bit i can continue my journey. All my oil and water levels are fine and my temperature gauge does not rise to suggest over heating.

I took my car to an independant garage yesterday for a diagnostic check and nothing showed up. I have noticed a recall on almera's in 2004 for the following

Recall Ref: R/2004/089
Exact Model: Almera, X-Trail
Description: Possibility that the sprocket bolt at the rear side of the camshaft could break
VIN: JN1TENT20U0000007 to JN1TENT30U0035143
Defect: The timing chain tensioner may become defective, which can result in the timing chain jamming. Should this occur, the engine may stall or fail to start. The condition may also result in the camshaft turning in a non-uniform fashion, which could lead to the failure of the vacuum pump drive, and a reduction in braking assistance.
Launch Date: 23 June 2004

My vin number is not listed. It is a 2004 1.5s first registered june 2004.
Could this be the cause? and if it is although my vin number is not on the recall list can i still get them to fix this free?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 15 Aug 2007 14:45
Help with my Almera Please 1.5s 2004 - JaggyG
Just another quick point, my vin number is not one of the ones included on the recall.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 15 Aug 2007 15:03
Help with my Almera Please 1.5s 2004 - Screwloose
The reference to a vacuum pump would indicate that recall applies to a diesel engine.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 15 Aug 2007 15:13
Help with my Almera Please 1.5s 2004 - RichardW
Brakes binding, clutch slipping? Where's the smell coming from?
--
RichardW

Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 15 Aug 2007 15:37
Help with my Almera Please 1.5s 2004 - JaggyG
Brakes are binding, clutch is not slipping to my knowlege. burning smell is coming from right hand side of engine. I am a novice at this so do appologise.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 15 Aug 2007 15:40
Help with my Almera Please 1.5s 2004 - JaggyG
Brakes are binding on, as far as i am aware the clutch is not slipping. the burning smell is not a clutch smell more of an electrical/oil and it comes from the right hand side of the engine as you stand at the front of it. i am a novice at this sorry.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 16 Aug 2007 00:20
Help with my Almera Please 1.5s 2004 - GregSwain
Have got a vague image of a QG15DE engine in my head, and all I remember on that side is the battery and air filter, plus miscellaneous relay/fuse boxes and ABS stuff. Of course under all this is the gearbox/clutch, which in my mind is the prime suspect. Is the "tractor" noise purely the engine labouring at low revs? If so, do the revs increase normally when you drop a couple of gears? (e.g. changing from 5th to 3rd at 50mph). Going uphill at 30mph in 5th, are the revs constant, or is the clutch slipping?

I'm fairly certain that recall applies to the 2.2 litre non-Renault diesel engine, so ignore it. The only problem with QG15s was only present in the early ones - the timing chain used to skip a notch, or fall off completely, mangling the engine. Yours is far too recent for this to happen.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 16 Aug 2007 17:39
Help with my Almera Please 1.5s 2004 - Kingpin
Have you checked it isn't the front brake caliper seizing and slowing the car down? Is there smoke and burning smell from the front wheel? If so that will be the problem, I have heard of brake calipers seizing up on these cars. When it happens does the car move with the brakes off? It may be nothing to do with the engine. What makes me think this is that you say it goes away after waiting, ie the brake cools down and releases itself?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 16 Aug 2007 21:41
Help with my Almera Please 1.5s 2004 - GregSwain
I've had 2 Nissans, and the brakes have been sticky on both - the only symptom has been a squeak at low speed without the pedal depressed. Current Almera is sticking now (seems to get worse in Summer), and I'm not planning on doing anything unless the problem worsens - it passed an MOT in April with good braking efficiency. Unless it's completely seized, in which case the steering will pull considerably and the car will handle appalingly, I doubt that it's the brakes. Still the "tractor" noise issue which is puzzling me as I've never heard of this on a recent Nissan engine.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 17 Aug 2007 14:04
Help with my Almera Please 1.5s 2004 - JaggyG
Someone has suggested it could be a coil pack that is away, as this would result in rapid power loss and burning smell. as for the brakes seazing on it think this could be a totally un-related problem. possibly new calipers needed, although car only passed MOT in June and this wasnt picked up.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 17 Aug 2007 15:04
Help with my Almera Please 1.5s 2004 - GregSwain
Could be coil pack - tractor noise maybe misfiring? If it doesn't misfire at idle I'd maybe change the plugs before spending big money on coil packs. I agree that the brakes are unrelated - no need to get new calipers though, just get an independent mechanic to remove the pistons, clean thoroughly, re-grease and put back together (unless of course it's still under warranty, in which case I'd go to the main dealer and try getting the coil packs and brake callipers for nothing!)
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 17 Aug 2007 15:28
Help with my Almera Please 1.5s 2004 - JaggyG
Blooming warranty ran out 6 weeks ago! Doesnt misfire whislt idle. will change the spark plugs this weekend and get a mechanic to have a look at the brakes.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 17 Aug 2007 17:34
Help with my Almera Please 1.5s 2004 - scrapmetal
Its a known fault on these for the pistons on the rear callipers to seize up, resulting in the callipers needing replacing, however, usually older than 04 plate.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 17 Aug 2007 21:38
Help with my Almera Please 1.5s 2004 - fossyant
Sounds to me that it's gone into limp mode - does the engine management light come on ? Sounds like a MAF error or O2 sensor if the car won't respond.

Have you had anyone look at it ? Hang on here for Aprilia as he is the resident Nissan expert.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 17 Aug 2007 21:47
Help with my Almera Please 1.5s 2004 - Aprilia
Yes, read this but can't really add anything. I'm not sure what the 'tractor' noise is - if a garage has looked at it and not found a problem then what chance have I got over the internet?
If down on power when under load then it sounds HT related, so check out the coils, as mentioned above. I doubt a sticky caliper would hold a car back this much!

Incidentally, stripping the brake pads out and lubing the slides with copper grease will help stop the sticking.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 7 Oct 2008 16:06
Loosing power, noisy engine - maximus666
I have almost exactly the same problem and its ANNOYING me!!!! slight difference with my problem is sometimes i lose power after travelling 2 or 3 miles!!!!! GGGGGRRRRR.... my Almera is a 1.5 W reg and i feel gutted to of bought it and thinking about your replys makes me sick to think i may spend good money and still have the same problems. Can anyone "Aprilla" maybe? tell me how much (roughly) it would cost to have a garage change the callipers? or give rough prices for the various other "fixes" that my car may need? funds are tight and i would appreciate approx costs. ((((((((((((((Pleasde HELP)))))))))))

thanks very much.
Alan.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 20 Mar 2010 14:48
Loosing power, noisy engine - vcr

hey there... aprilia or someone can help me?

i hawe almera 1.5 2000yers.. when i am driving and i press gas pedal to the ground i dont fell power as well as was before about 1 minth ago... it cames step by step.. 1st ant 2nd gear's its allmost good but 3rd,4th,5th. its terible.. engline sounds good.. but if i am driving in a hill on 4th or5th gear car slows down need more power it seems like u hawe one more car on ur back... if driving in normal road 1st and 2nd gerars aceleration allmost good but taking RPM not so fast like before.. and if i am driving on 80km/h 3rd gear or 100 on 4th gear or 130 on 5th gear its hopeless to get more speed it acelerating so slow...

now look what i done.

checked car with diagnosis pc,not foults or ant troubles all sensors works fine.

checked exaust its good... all lambdas working.. ewerything working...

may it me timing chain ? or coils ? but remember engine sounds good.... help me ;) thanks

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 27 Jan 2011 21:48
Loosing power, noisy engine - budscal

Definitely brake seizing, pull over and feel the wheels to see if overheating. I recently bought an 02 almera 1.5 and have had sticking brake problems since buying, feels like power loss but even while coasting downhill car is slowing down. Have had the caliper(passenger side) cleaned and finally replaced(not cheap!) and its still sticking. Have checked the brake hoses and cant find anything out of the ordinary, brake starts to seize after any kind of heavy braking or about 30 mins driving. Cant keep throwing money at the problem(cost me £160 so far), starting to burn blue/burn discs, they'll be knackered next, has anyone got any ideas?!

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 21 Oct 2012 04:33
Loosing power, noisy engine - Bogle

did u get this fix i have a b15 nissan and it give me same problem now

Reply | Report as offensive | Link