Micra/March K12 automatic - won't go into top gear

Tzardine · 08-10-2017 3:35pm #1

Hi Folks,

Looking for some advice. The wife has a Nissan Micra k12 automatic, she told me earlier that the thing wont shift into top gear. Driving fine otherwise.

I am away for a few days so wont be able to look at it at the moment. Any ideas what I should look at when I get back ?

Car is used as a little run around so I am hesitant to bring it into a garage unless really needed.

All advice welcome

colm_mcm · 08-10-2017 3:37pm

There isn't an O/D off switch on it by any chance?

Tzardine · 08-10-2017 3:41pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

There isn't an O/D off switch on it by any chance?

There is , but it never worked / did anything when pressed. No OD light displaying on dash either.

colm_mcm · 08-10-2017 3:42pm

That's what the O/D button kinda does, so maybe press it and see if it fixes it. There should obviously be a light when it's activated but who knows, it's probably related

Tzardine · 08-10-2017 3:44pm

Thanks, will have her give it a go. Will report back later.

Tzardine · 08-10-2017 6:28pm

So she gave that a try. The button does nothing.

colm_mcm · 08-10-2017 7:02pm

There's a kickdown cable that's attached to the accelerator on one end and the auto gearbox on the other, make sure that isn't stuck.

Tzardine · 09-10-2017 12:36pm

Thanks for your help so far Colm, much appreciated. I was able to get a look at it today.

The throttle is electronic on it. No physical cable. (I see in the thread title I said it was a Micra - Bad habit, its a March - If that makes any difference)

Fluid levels in transmission are grand, fluid is only a couple of years old too.

I took it out for a drive, it is going up and down through the box fine, except that it wont shift into top. Seems to be a whine coming from the rear passenger side too, but dont think that they are related.

Looks like it might be a job for the garage. The car is not worth much, and its only a run around for us, but the missus is attached to it (her first car). Hopefully not going to be a big bill.

colm_mcm · 09-10-2017 6:17pm

Is this a CVT gearbox then?

Tzardine · 09-10-2017 6:23pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Is this a CVT gearbox then?

No its a "traditional" automatic.

colm_mcm · 09-10-2017 6:30pm

Ok, nearly out of ideas so

could be a faulty solenoid on the gearbox. Not sure what sort of diagnostics you can do on a March.

Micra/March K12 automatic - won't go into top gear

Comments