1998 Nissan Micra Automatic - NCVT light and not starting

ShaShaBear

My boyfriend has had an intermittent NCVT light coming on in his car with some slight chugging problems and loss of power. Today, however, the car gave in completely and now won't move at all, no matter how hard he revs the engine. He tried that self diagnostic where you hold the pedals and cycle through the gear positions but the light didn't come on at all, let alone flash and the car still isn't starting. Since it's a bank holiday it's a bit of a nightmare getting a mechanic. Any ideas?

Wheelnut

Sounds like he has gearbox failure, those CVT 'boxes are not noted for long life.

(BTW: how can he rev it if it won't start?)

ShaShaBear

It's not the transmission, he had that checked a few days ago when the light first came on. And I mean as in the car won't move!

colm_mcm

Do you mean no matter how hard he presses the accelerator the engine wont rev up?

Does the starter motor turn over, is it just that the car stays idling and doesn't rev up?

ShaShaBear

Yep, starter engine is turning over he says, just the car won't move, except maybe jolt about half an inch forward. Same in Ds and Reverse

colm_mcm

So you're saying if the car was in N the car revs up as normal?

Can the car roll freely along in N with the handbrake off?

ShaShaBear

No idea, the car is currently stuck in a parking spot on a flat main road, but he can push it with the handbrake off, not that I know if that makes any difference All I know is he puts it into drive, presses the accelerator, it goes VRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM, but doesn't move anywhere.

colm_mcm

Then it's definately a gearbox problem.

Re the diagnostic, are you sure you did that correctly?

ShaShaBear

AFAIK he did, followed it step by step from a print-out, and when we got to the end the NCVT light didn't even come on like it does when he's driving. And it obviously still wasn't going after that

colm_mcm

In that case I'd say you've gone beyond DIY and its time to get a mechanic,

ShaShaBear

colm_mcm wrote: »

In that case I'd say you've gone beyond DIY and its time to get a mechanic,

Aye, he's hoping to see someone tomorrow

Wheelnut

ShaShaBear wrote: »

It's not the transmission, he had that checked a few days ago

ShaShaBear wrote: »

All I know is he puts it into drive, presses the accelerator, it goes VRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM, but doesn't move anywhere.

So the engine is working and the car is not moving but it's not the transmission?

Sorry, but it is the transmission.

ShaShaBear wrote: »

Aye, he's hoping to see someone tomorrow

I think that's a good move.

ShaShaBear

A mechanic looked at it earlier in the week and said the transmission was fine and it was most likely a computer/electric fault, eg the sensor! Mind you, the car was still moving at that point, and isn't now.

Wheelnut

ShaShaBear wrote: »

A mechanic looked at it earlier in the week and said the transmission was fine and it was most likely a computer/electric fault, eg the sensor! Mind you, the car was still moving at that point, and isn't now.

ShaShaBear wrote: »

Aye, he's hoping to see someone tomorrow

Hopefully not the same mechanic?

ShaShaBear

No

So, transmission... Time to kiss the car goodbye?

colm_mcm

Try naas gearbox centre for price of replacement

Likely to be close to the cars value before it broke.

ShaShaBear

Yeah not really worth his while in that case. He paid 800 for the car! Had another mechanic look at it today, said he's almost sure the sensor for the transmission needs to be replaced, and not the whole transmission though.