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CriticalCommonEngine

Nissan Micra: CG10DE/CG13DE Timing Chain Stretch and Guide Wear

CG10DE/CG13DE Timing Chain Stretch and Guide Wear is a common engine fault on the Nissan Micra on the 1992–2003 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $800 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 22 documented faults on the Nissan Micra.

Vehicle
Nissan Micra
Engine
1.0L / 1.3L
Years
1992–2003
Fuel
petrol
Gearbox
manual
System
Engine

This page covers the Nissan Micra as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Nissan Micra faults22 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

The front of a dual overhead camshaft engine with the timing cover removed, exposing the timing chain and sprockets.Example of the part — not this vehicle

The front of a twin-cam engine with the timing cover off — chain, sprockets and guides.

Logansenf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

The 1.0-litre CG10DE and 1.3-litre CG13DE engines in K11 Micras use a simplex timing chain with a plastic-ramp tensioner guide. With age and infrequent oil changes, the guide wears through to metal, chain stretch causes timing retard, and eventually the chain jumps a tooth causing valve damage. Particularly prevalent in high-mileage K11 imports from Japan. The repair is straightforward but seldom done proactively, so many K11s arrive in NZ with worn chains.

What you would notice

  • Rattling on cold start from top of engine, clears after warm-up
  • Rough idle and misfires at cold start
  • Difficulty starting or cranking longer than normal
  • Timing-related check engine codes (P0340, P0335)
  • Hunting idle that improves once engine reaches temperature

How to check it

Where to look. Top front of CG10/CG13 engine, beneath cam cover, timing chain on intake side

  1. Listen carefully during cold start for metallic chain rattle from the cam cover area.

  2. Check oil change history and look for sludge under the oil cap.

  3. Verify chain tensioner was replaced if chain service is claimed.

  4. If a workshop inspection is possible: Compression test all cylinders to rule out prior valve damage from jumped chain.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$800 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the timing chain and tensioner guide been replaced?”
  • “What is the oil change interval history?”
  • “Has the engine ever rattled on startup?”

Now check the Nissan Micra you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Nissan Micra buyer questions

Is cg10de/cg13de timing chain stretch and guide wear serious on a Nissan Micra?

We rate it critical and common on the Nissan Micra. The 1.0-litre CG10DE and 1.3-litre CG13DE engines in K11 Micras use a simplex timing chain with a plastic-ramp tensioner guide. With age and infrequent oil changes, the guide wears through to metal, chain stretch causes timing retard, and eventually the chain jumps a tooth causing valve damage. Particularly prevalent in high-mileage K11 imports from Japan. The repair is straightforward but seldom done proactively, so many K11s arrive in NZ with worn chains.

How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Micra?

$800 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Nissan Micra years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 1992–2003 Nissan Micra. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Listen carefully during cold start for metallic chain rattle from the cam cover area. Check oil change history and look for sludge under the oil cap. Verify chain tensioner was replaced if chain service is claimed. If a workshop inspection is possible: Compression test all cylinders to rule out prior valve damage from jumped chain. Look here: Top front of CG10/CG13 engine, beneath cam cover, timing chain on intake side