2002 Micra ECU problem - please can someone help?

[petrolhead76]

Hi Everyone,

New to this forum so go easy on me...my wife has got a nissan micra 2002 1.0L hatch which has started to struggle to start first thing in the morning (the engine turns over and doesn't start...or it starts and you have to press the accelarator down to get the engine to tick over for a few seconds otherwise it stalls).

Took it to a garage today thinking it would be the starter motor but the mechanic said it was the ECU...which would cost me around £600 to put right (get a new ECU from nissan etc.).

Pretty shocked that I would have to spend £600 on a 2002 plate micra

a) Has anybody come across this problem before?
b) Is there a cheaper way of getting this sorted (i.e. do I have to get the ecu changed - also could I potentially just buy one from a breakers yard as opposed to get a new one from nissan?)

Any help greatly appreciated...got made redundent last month and am fairly young so struggling to make ends meet and this is the last thing I needed.

Thank you.

[aldi]

Without knowing why he's come to the conclusion that it's the ECU, I'd say its deff. worth a second oppinion. I understand genuine ECU faults are quiet rare, its usually a bad sensor, corroded connector, dodgy ground or something.

[thong]

throttle body's are a known fault on these

[petrolhead76]

thanks for the response guys - i took it to an independent nissan dealer who produced a computer report which showed "ECU diagnostic fault"...I get the car serviced in line with the manual and have had it from new...no faults whatsoever in the last 4 years apart from this

I think I'll definately get a second opinon...also he was charging £500 for an ECU unit but I'm seeing them on ebay (I know its not the same, guarantee etc) for £20-£30...must be missing something.

Thanks for all your help.

[annodomini2]

Try a major scrappy, you may pay more than your local independent, but your less likely to have problems and more likely to get something for your vehicle.

[stevieturbo]

Try asking here ??

www.ilexa.co.uk/forum/index.php/board,31.0.html

I'd also imagine any ecu purchased would need to be coded for the vehicle by a Nissan dealer when you buy it. Damn immobilisers.

[petrolhead76]

thanks for the responses - didn't realise there was any coding required