Help us help you. By posting the year, make, model and engine near the beginning of your help request, followed by the symptoms (no start, high idle, misfire etc.) Along with any prevalent Diagnostic Trouble Codes, aka DTCs, other forum members will be able to help you get to a solution more quickly and easily!
Nissan Versa 1.5L hatch with an "intermittent" low power complaint especially when electrical loads are on. Scan showed App sensor 1 & 2 error codes. Carried car for test drive and App seemed normal but it kept echoing in my head that problem worsens with added electrical loads. Brought the car in and use my trustee uscope on an 11.8v (sing setting) trigger, 5v scale and checked the battery (less than 6mths old). On a crank 11.8 (triggered) >>8.4>> 13.8 (running). Did the same to a Mazda 6 11.8 (triggered) >> 10.2>> 13.8 running.
Recommended a battery upgrade. Car has aftermarket stereo with amps etc, lights also. Customer also complained about AC not blowing cold at low speeds after expensive/extensive servicing. Will update ASAP.
A bigger battery won't help much unless it has been ruined by repeated deep discharging. Did you check the charging voltage at fast idle (2000 rpm) with all the main electrical loads on ?
Unless the alternator output current can meet all the electrical demands there will be a nett loss of charge and low battery voltage, which eventually will reduce the number of amp hours the battery can store.
This model (sold as the Nissan Note in the UK ) is well known for alternator belt slippage especially after startup.
To check the battery properly without special equipment, first charge the battery for a few hours using a charger set to a low current rate until it reaches at least 80% charge. Then allow it to rest for at least 2 hours and then do an extended cranking voltage test.
Also istr these engines have a MAF a low performance complaint would make look at the MAF and check the inlet trunking for leaks.
" We're trying to plug a hole in the universe, what are you doing ?. "
(Walter Bishop Fringe TV show)
Last edit: 8 years 7 months ago by Andy.MacFadyen.
Charging voltage was 14.0 @2000 rpm. I'm guilty of not checking the MAF but did enquire and MAF was cleaned by another shop trying to solve the issue. Didn't get indication of belt slippage.