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Re: 1.2 DIG-T - Oil loss

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 7:57 am
by gloucester
Jumes - welcome to this forum.

I had a 2015 1.2DiG-T Tekna and was generally very pleased with the car. However my views are tainted by the dealership experience so bear that in mind.

I bought mine at 8 months old and on just under 10k - it was an ex Hertz rental car, something I only realised having agreed to the purchase. But the price was £7200 less than list so attractive (£18k). However apart from wheels needing replacement owing to rim damage (and falsified advertising by the dealer using photos from another car in his adverts - despite them being tagged with the correct registration number) there was no other evidence of it being ex-rental and it wasn't a problem when I eventually sold it either.

Having been on here between that point and now, I was very well acquainted with the problems of the engine but had to make a decision come three years (mid 2018) when the warranty expired - it was on about 20k at that point. A similar mileage to yourself.

I'd never had to top the oil up and the engine wasn't making any unusual noises. I don't know whether it had been subject to any modification - there was nothing recorded in the service book, but then that was a replacement one in any case.

I decided I couldn't face having the car without a warranty with the engine problems always "lurking" in the background ready to strike. I got quotes for 1, 2 and 3 year warranty extensions from Nissan - but the battles I was having with the dealer meant that took three visits and one month to elicit the figures. And the figures were higher than others on here were quoting (see below). I wasn't prepared to try a third-party warranty.

I think I'd have kept the car had the dealer been better, but after a lot of thought decided to trade the car in and migrated to another manufacturer.

In respect of the "five years", no, I've only recently seen that and don't know of any corroborate source. However you can get a warranty extension as I've mentioned which would take the period up to six years. It's not as comprehensive as the initial three year warranty but would certainly cover major areas such as the engine. Note also that the automatic gearbox also has issues though mine was a manual.

With respect to third-party warranties, I've never had one on any car so don't have direct experience of them. However clearly a lot of people use them. Check the terms and conditions carefully including not only what elements of the car they cover but also the total cost.

In your position, looking to buy a car from a franchised dealer, I'd go for one under three years old (so the warranty can be extended - I'm not sure of the position if it's run out) and take out the official Nissan warranty - for as long as you intend keeping the car (I think three years is the maximum). Even though that might be fractionally more expensive than an aftermarket warranty, you'll then have (relative) peace of mind that if anything goes wrong it ought to be sorted without too much hassle or expense.

gloucester wrote: Mon Oct 01, 2018 4:38 pm If you can afford it go with the Nissan one - surely it's going to be easier to claim on that than an aftermarket one?

By the way the prices I was quoted were MUCH higher than chrisw99 has quoted - copied in from another topic:

For my 1.2DigT Tekna on 19,500 miles the quote was starting 29/06/2018:

One year/80,000 - £377
Two years/100,000 - £747 (that's an extra £370)
Three years/125,000 - £1207 (that's an extra £460)
The longer version:
gloucester wrote: Sun May 20, 2018 8:51 am After a month spent trying to find out details of the Nissan Extended Warranty, being passed from pillar to post, I've eventually managed to get a quote.

A month ago I asked the dealer at the (early) three year service for details - they couldn't find any and promised to send details through.

Two weeks ago when the £800's worth of warranty works noted above was carried out I pointed out I hadn't received any details of the extended warranty and "I've been away for a week!" was the lame excuse. Again they couldn't find details.

I complained to Nissan via Facebook and quickly had a response. They said: "We're sorry to hear you've not received the extended warranty details that you've requested. Please contact our customer care team on 0330 123 1231 and they will look into this. Lines are open 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 8am-2pm Saturdays."

I rang that number - took two goes to get through. I was given another number to ring - 0844 573 8022 - I complained about the fact that was a premium rate number and that I shouldn't have to pay to find out the required information.

Googling revealed that the current number for Nissan Extended Warranty Administration is not that but 0344 573 8022 so I rang that. They politely but firmly said "Nothing to do with us mate - only dealers can give you details - we just administer on behalf of Nissan". This is despite the fact that number is mentioned on https://www.nissan.co.uk/ownership/nissan-car-warranties/extended-warranty.html

So back to the dealer and eventually after a LOT of button pushing they found the details on their website. For my 1.2DigT Tekna on 19,500 miles the quote was starting 29/06/2018:

One year/80,000 - £377
Two years/100,000 - £747 (that's an extra £370)
Three years/125,000 - £1207 (that's an extra £460)

I've now discovered the "small print" at assets.nissan-aftersales.co.uk/Care_Warranty_Handbook.pdf

Anyway the end result is that regardless of the fact I've now got these figures, I'm fed up with Nissan and have been to a Suzuki dealer - test drive on Wednesday...

Re: 1.2 DIG-T - Oil loss

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 9:04 pm
by jumes
Thank you for such a detailed and informative reply, it is very much appreciated. I think I will definitely go with a under 3 year old version from a dealer and look to extend the warranty with Nissan themselves.

After posting last night I contacted the dealer via their website asking questions regarding the 1.2 DiG-T oil problem and if it will be covered by their 12 month warranty. I received 3 replies, all of which say the car is available to book a test drive with no acknowledgement of my questions whatsoever.

I also had a search for alternative vehicles via autotrader but couldn't find anything I liked within my age/price combo so I'm still seriously considering a 1.2 DiG-T.

Re: 1.2 DIG-T - Oil loss

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 10:20 am
by fullm
chrisw99 wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2019 7:05 pm If you can live with the rattle.
I can't. It drives me figuratively insane.

Re: 1.2 DIG-T - Oil loss

Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 2:53 pm
by fullm
Update:

My rattle has been diagnosed as the timing chain (was pretty confident of that already). Nissan have agreed to pay for the replacement, as I rather suspect they know the problem is theirs and want it to go away. I guess I'm going to need to be very vigilant with oil levels for the rest of the time I own the car.

Re: 1.2 DIG-T - Oil loss

Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 2:59 pm
by chrisw99
fullm wrote: Tue Sep 24, 2019 2:53 pm Update:

My rattle has been diagnosed as the timing chain (was pretty confident of that already). Nissan have agreed to pay for the replacement, as I rather suspect they know the problem is theirs and want it to go away. I guess I'm going to need to be very vigilant with oil levels for the rest of the time I own the car.
Do you mean replacement timing chain or replacement engine? Mine was exactly the same, but when I took it in for the timing chain to be replaced they rang me back and said they've changed their mind and will replace the whole engine instead.

Re: 1.2 DIG-T - Oil loss

Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 3:01 pm
by fullm
chrisw99 wrote: Tue Sep 24, 2019 2:59 pm
fullm wrote: Tue Sep 24, 2019 2:53 pm Update:

My rattle has been diagnosed as the timing chain (was pretty confident of that already). Nissan have agreed to pay for the replacement, as I rather suspect they know the problem is theirs and want it to go away. I guess I'm going to need to be very vigilant with oil levels for the rest of the time I own the car.
Do you mean replacement timing chain or replacement engine? Mine was exactly the same, but when I took it in for the timing chain to be replaced they rang me back and said they've changed their mind and will replace the whole engine instead.
A replacement timing chain. No mention of a replacement engine, not that I expected there to be one.

Re: 1.2 DIG-T - Oil loss

Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 3:11 pm
by chrisw99
fullm wrote: Tue Sep 24, 2019 3:01 pm
chrisw99 wrote: Tue Sep 24, 2019 2:59 pm
fullm wrote: Tue Sep 24, 2019 2:53 pm Update:

My rattle has been diagnosed as the timing chain (was pretty confident of that already). Nissan have agreed to pay for the replacement, as I rather suspect they know the problem is theirs and want it to go away. I guess I'm going to need to be very vigilant with oil levels for the rest of the time I own the car.
Do you mean replacement timing chain or replacement engine? Mine was exactly the same, but when I took it in for the timing chain to be replaced they rang me back and said they've changed their mind and will replace the whole engine instead.
A replacement timing chain. No mention of a replacement engine, not that I expected there to be one.
Trying to recall exactly what happened. I took it in to the dealer for the rattle, they diagnosed the timing chain and said it would need to be replaced. I had to wait for the warranty to be approved.
About a week later, I got another call saying that Nissan GB had told them they have to change the engine instead. The timing chain was just a symptom of the faulty engine that has the piston on cylinder 3 upside down so it burns oil, also starving the timing chain chamber of oil in the process. A compression test showed the engine was only really firing on 3 cylinders.

Re: 1.2 DIG-T - Oil loss

Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 3:24 pm
by fullm
My dealer performed a compression test which came back okay, if that means anything at all.

Re: 1.2 DIG-T - Oil loss

Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 3:59 pm
by PJB729
fullm wrote: Tue Sep 24, 2019 3:24 pm My dealer performed a compression test which came back okay, if that means anything at all.
It would be interesting to see a response from your dealer to the statement below!!!!!!! If the piston ring on your engine has been fitted incorrectly then it seems reasonable that it’s only a matter of time before it fails


The timing chain was just a symptom of the faulty engine that has the piston on cylinder 3 upside down so it burns oil, also starving the timing chain chamber of oil in the process

Re: 1.2 DIG-T - Oil loss

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 8:00 am
by fullm
I can certainly ask them. Would the compression test identify such a thing?