Micra - battery problem

mumblin deaf ro

An elderly relative of mine has a 2003 Micra - the battery kept going flat. She has hardly driven the car in a year (only 12K miles on the clock) and I'll sell it for her once it's working as she is sick and is giving up driving.

I brought it to a main dealer because i thought it might have been the phantom-2003-micra-battery disease which they would have dealt with before - the previous indie garage that looked at it was stumped. (The 2003 Micra is known to have a problem with its ECU that kept draining the battery but they say it isn't that, because there were recalls at the time.) They have replaced the battery but there is an intermittent problem so they are continuing to run tests. They have had it nearly a week.

How long should I leave them 'running tests' before i conclude that they're not going to be able to resolve this? Any other thoughts on what the problem might be?

Thanks,

Ro

PS: we're honest people so we're not going to sell it with the fault unresolved.

colm_mcm

I presume the condition of the alternator has been checked?

mumblin deaf ro

To be honest I'm not sure what they have checked. Are there any obvious signs that would point to an alternator problem? Would I have noticed a noise for example?

Bogger77

I'd suggest bring it to a decent auto electrician, to have a look at it. they'll be quick to spot alternator and such issues.

mumblin deaf ro

Thanks - any recommendation for an auto electrician in the north dublin area?

crosstownk

12k miles in 7 years indicates that the car may not be driven often enough for the battery to recharge - especially if there is any drain on the battery from an alarm. Short runs may not recharge the battery enough. How long would the car sit between journeys and how long would each journey be?

Has the new battery drained during the week it has been for testing?

Maybe another family member who puts up more mileage could drive it for a while and see if that sorts it out.

mumblin deaf ro

She hardly ever drives it more than one or two twenty minute journeys a week - it hadn't been driven since about last Sept. It hasn't left the garage since it got the new battery so I'm not sure how that's holding up.

Sarn

My car and my mother's are both rarely driven (different models), both from 2003 and have had the same problem. Based on our experience the batteries just run down when not driven enough.

746watts

read the article on www.honestjohn.co.uk about micras......... the ECU is constantly checking that things(sensors/solenoids etc) are turned off and so drains the battery in tandem with short journies, the apparent fix is hook up the diagnostics to the nissan PC and switch off the software that requests the check.
Also check the boot isn't left open as the lever for the fuel lid does the boot in the opposite direction. Open boot = courtesy light on .

Yawns

seems a simple problem. The car is not being driven long enough to re-charge the battery. If it has an alarm this would be a major drain as it is alarmed almost 24/7 with the exception of 1 or 2 20 min journeys a week.

If the garage has not found a solution, give it back to you and the battery is working, best thing to do is drive it yourself or someone can drive it. Drive it for a week everyday for at least 45 mins a day and see how it holds up.

mumblin deaf ro

Thanks guys.

i was aware of that honestjohn article, but thanks for posting it anyway.

I think I'll suggest getting the car back from him and just drive it myself for a while and see if that makes a difference.

Yawns

mumblin deaf ro wrote: »

Thanks guys.

i was aware of that honestjohn article, but thanks for posting it anyway.

I think I'll suggest getting the car back from him and just drive it myself for a while and see if that makes a difference.

Best thing to be done. It will cost far less if it turns out to be this anyway
Some nice long drive runs will help sort her out.

mumblin deaf ro

Maybe I should bring the Micra to the motors meet? Guys? Guys? Where did everyone go?