2003 Micra (K12) Ignition Switch problem

podgeandrodge

Lads, my wife has a 2003 Micra and for the last few years it occasionally would not start without forcing the key quite strongly to the uppermost part of the ignition (point 4 in picture).

Since last week though it's happening regularly. I am assuming this is a faulty ignition switch and want to know if:

1) I have to go to a main nissan dealer and will it cost a fortune or

2) Is this something an independent mechanic would handle

Thanks for any advice.

MrMarsh

This is a pretty common problem with Micras and not hard to fix. The ignition switch at the rear of the barrel is at fault. You can get them handy enough from any Nissan dealer, nost of them will have them in stock. Fitting it is fairly straightforward if you're handy or your mechanic could fit it in a few minutes.

podgeandrodge

MrMarsh wrote: »

This is a pretty common problem with Micras and not hard to fix. The ignition switch at the rear of the barrel is at fault. You can get them handy enough from any Nissan dealer, nost of them will have them in stock. Fitting it is fairly straightforward if you're handy or your mechanic could fit it in a few minutes.

Thanks Mr Marsh - are you suggesting I purchase the part from a dealer and get someone else to install it or would it be as cheap or near enough to let the dealer do it? Are we talking much?

andyseadog

i changed the switch in my k12 before. if you have an hour and a philips screwdriver, thats all you need

i think nissan wanted 75 but then i got one second hand for 30.

afaik nissan revised the unit too, it was originally black, so if your buying second hand you want a white one and thats the revised unit. or it could be vice versa, basically whatever colour yours is, you'l know the revised unit is the other.

podgeandrodge

andyseadog wrote: »

if you have an hour and a philips screwdriver, thats all you need

Might be all you need andyseadog but I'm a different story

What sort of money are we talking to let a dealer do the whole job?

andyseadog

podgeandrodge wrote: »

Might be all you need andyseadog but I'm a different story

What sort of money are we talking to let a dealer do the whole job?

half an hours labour ish, i really would attempt it d.i.y. it first!

alias no.9

There was a recall in the UK but Nissan garages here deny all knowledge. When it happened my wifes old k12, the guy told me that they they always keep them in stock so I enquired if it was a common problem and he started backtracking. I then asked if there'd ever been a recall and he flat out denied it, I told him about the UK recall and he tried to tell me that somehow they wouldn't use the same parts because UK cars would be different .
I said they're built in the same factory in Sunderland and asked him how many different types of switch they needed to perform the same simple task.

podgeandrodge

andyseadog wrote: »

half an hours labour ish, i really would attempt it d.i.y. it first!

Out of the question!

What sort of money are we talking for a dealer to do this?

podgeandrodge

anyone have an idea on price from a dealer that would be expected on this? thanks.