Hi,
My Micra 1.0 shape 1997 (R reg) has always started first time since I bought it 12 months ago. It's been a brilliant little runner, runs smooth and never stalled. The week before xmas, on the first day of snow it wouldn't start, wouldn't even turn over. Got the rescue out and he said the battery was dead and advised a new one. Had a new battery fitted and took it for a run to make sure it was fully charged but due to severe ice on the hill up to the main road I didn't take it out again for over a week, but turned the engine over a couple of tiimes.
Yesterday I tried to start it up and although it was turning over it wouldn't start. Got rescue out again and he said the engine was flooded. He tried for an hour and couldn't get it going so took it to the garage on the truck.
The garage said it was just flooded and changed the plugs. I went to collect it and it started up first time, but on driving it home it was idling really rough at the traffic lights. It was really vibrating and felt like it would stall. It didn't actually stall, but as it's never done anything like that before I rang the garage and they said it may indicate that something more is wrong with it and that could have caused the flooding.
Is that likely, or could the rough idling be because it hasn't been driven for over a week and it's cold? He advised running it over the new year and then take it in for them to have another look at it. Is it likely to stall and flood again? Just worried if it stalls at the lights I might not get it going again.
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your garage man sounds spot on to me
these micras can and do flood
might just be damp in the ht leads so take it for a good drive and get everything nice and warm
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Hi, thanks for your response.
They are an excellent garage, but I hope he's wrong on this occasion! Just been out doing some local errands and had to park up a few times and each time it started fine. Odd thing is , that the rough idling only seems to start once it's been going for a while and the engine is warm. Although the vibration doesn't seem quite as bad as it was after collecting it from the garage this morning. Do new batteries and/or spark plugs need time to adjust/bed in, so to speak? Or am I being hopeful? Will try to start it up in the morning and hope it doesn't flood again.
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I seem to recall from earlier enquiries on this site that there is a problem with the air temperature sensor on the Micra which leads to overfuelling and perhaps the symptoms you have. I am useless at searching this site but this problem has definitely been mentioned. I think you have to replace the sensor and part of the wiring loom, not too expensive or difficult IIRC.
Somebody in the know will be along to advise you hopefully.
Good luck!
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Thanks, I have found the thread you mentioned. It does sound similar, will have a read. :)
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I think what it needs now is an 'Italian tune up' - in other words, take it for a good hard thrash for at least 20 miles AFTER its reached its normal temperature. The cause of the initial failure is flooding and by changing the plugs fixes it as a quick fix. The engine still has unused fuel floating around and as you've only used it for a couple of short runs, it still needs 'clearing out'. After you've done as I've suggested and you still have idling problems then you need to take it back to the garage so they can test it further.
Robin the Technician
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Thanks Robin. I will do the Italian job on it tomorrow! Here's hoping I don't cause the longest traffic jam ever! ;)
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