O/T Micra/Renault 1500 Dci Engine noise

[Brucey]

I've just taken my 2006 Nissan Micra back to the dealers for the 3rd time in an attempt to rectify a 'rattle' that comes from the engine at around 1500 rpm. It also has a flat spot at around 2000 rpm.

 

So far, the Nissan dealers have 'reprogrammed' the ECU and refubished the injectors.

 

They are now telling me that this noise is normal for a car with 53K on the clock which I feel hard to believe, especially as the noise is not consistant over the rev range.

 

To me it sounds like a small end as it tends to be worse when cold and when under load.

 

My fear is that it may be the start of something more serious that will fail when the warranty runs out. They are obviously getting cheesed off with me repeatedly returning it for the same fault.

 

My next step will be to ask to hear a similar car make the same noise!

 

Any advise would be appreciated, especially any pointers as to possible causes. When I asked if it had hydraulic tappets, they said buckets and shims so I was suprised when they said they had not even checked the valve clearances.

 

Bruce.