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Nissan Micra: Timing chain stretch on CR10/CR12/CR14 (K12)

Timing chain stretch on CR10/CR12/CR14 (K12) is a common engine fault on the Nissan Micra on the 2002–2010 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,200 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
CR10 / CR12 / CR14
Years
2002–2010
Fuel
petrol
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

Early K12 Micras (especially 2002-2005 builds) had weak timing chains that stretch even at modest mileage, causing rattle, poor idle, power loss and misfires; badly stretched chains can jump teeth and wreck the engine. Nissan issued an official diagnosis and replacement procedure, and the problem is one of the best-documented K12 faults in owner communities. Regular oil changes slow it down but do not eliminate it on early cars.

What you would notice

  • Rattle from the front of the engine, worst at cold start
  • Rough idle and hesitation
  • Misfires / check-engine light
  • Whirring that changes with revs

How to check it

Where to look. Timing chain at the cam-drive end of the engine, behind the timing cover

Cold-start the car (bonnet should be cold to the touch when you arrive) and listen at the passenger end of the engine for chain rattle. Ask directly whether the chain has been replaced under Nissan's known procedure and look for the receipt.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$1,200 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 ever been replaced?”
  • “Is there any rattle when starting from cold?”

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 the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

  • Cisco's Micra Files 'Nissan official timing chain diagnosis and replacement procedure' (micra.com.au)
  • Micra Sports Club threads 'Timing chain K12' (#67494) and 'Question regarding K12 timing chain problem' (#34458)
  • Honest John Back Room forum 'Nissan Micra k12 - timing chain'

Nissan Micra buyer questions

Is timing chain stretch on cr10/cr12/cr14 (k12) serious on a Nissan Micra?

We rate it major and common on the Nissan Micra. Early K12 Micras (especially 2002-2005 builds) had weak timing chains that stretch even at modest mileage, causing rattle, poor idle, power loss and misfires; badly stretched chains can jump teeth and wreck the engine. Nissan issued an official diagnosis and replacement procedure, and the problem is one of the best-documented K12 faults in owner communities. Regular oil changes slow it down but do not eliminate it on early cars.

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

$1,200 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 2002–2010 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?

Cold-start the car (bonnet should be cold to the touch when you arrive) and listen at the passenger end of the engine for chain rattle. Ask directly whether the chain has been replaced under Nissan's known procedure and look for the receipt. Look here: Timing chain at the cam-drive end of the engine, behind the timing cover