[Glenn Reuben]

My automatic Nissan Micra SE (05 reg) has started juddering when I have put the brakes on. Now I know the oil is low and needs to be checked, but my MOT is due in March anyway.

Do you think I should get this checked sooner rather than later? What are the chances the car will stall or break down?

[Abbasolutely 40]

I dont mean to sound facitious but if you know the oil is low why dont you top it up today ?

[soulboy77]

Sooner rather than later is always better when it comes to cars. Sounds as if your brake pads have worn down to a dangerous state.

[Keefy-boy]

Presumably you know the oil is low because you have an oil pressure warning light on? In which case you shouldn't drive the car at all until what is causing that (hopefully just an oil top- up) is rectified, you run a big risk of wrecking the engine.

The juddering may be unconnected.

[Glenn Reuben]

I was going to do the oil, but I've read conflicting accounts of what type of oil I should use. Castrol, Nissan and other companies recommend different types.

The oil warning light only comes on intermittently. It flashes occasionally when braking and then disappears again quickly.

[Andy2]

Get that oil topped up ASAP. Never drive your car with a low oil level or you'll find yourself stranded miles from home with a seized engine.
As for the juddering, it could be anything from a faulty anti-lock system to worn pads, warped discs or broken suspension.
Please take better care of your car and get these things sorted, or you'll end up killing someone.

[Keefy-boy]

Are you sure the light is the oil pressure warning light and not a brake warning light?

[Glenn Reuben]

No, it's this light:

http://repairpal.com/images/managed/...l_Lamp_Red.jpg

Does anyone know what oil is best? Part or fully synthetic? 5w30, something like that?

[Finglonga]

Originally Posted by Glenn Reuben

I was going to do the oil, but I've read conflicting accounts of what type of oil I should use. Castrol, Nissan and other companies recommend different types.

The oil warning light only comes on intermittently. It flashes occasionally when braking and then disappears again quickly.

If it is the oil pressure light EVERY time the light comes on damage is being done to the engine due to oil starvation.

Also the MOT is just a safety check and they will not check the oil on a MOT test. That is something that should be done weekly along with checking all other fluids and tyre condition and pressure. That is part of owning a car.

As for the type of oil Halfords will have a book by the oils to tell you exactly the oil you need for your car.

The juddering could be anything from tyre pressures to warped cracked disc, imposable to say without seeing the car.

[Justabloke]

This thread is a wind up right?
BUT just in case.. as other have said. top the oil up. cars have warning lights for a reason and its not just to make the dash pretty.

Now ordinarily, I'd not suggest this but as you admit to being pretty clueless just take the damn car to your local kwick fit; do it now.
They can be pricy but for all that they do a halfway decent job generally. (There are always horror stories but you need a bit of balance about these things.)
They will sort out the oil out and advise any problems with brakes.
Seriously, why would you willingly drive a car that has dodgy brakes Talk about Darwinism in action

[Flossychick]

Get to you local petrol station and buy some oil ASAP! The attendant there should be able to point you to the right oil, but a basic one is fine for a 7 year old Micra. Juddering when braking - if your steering wheel is juddering, then it points towards your brakes or more importantly your discs are warped. This can happen when you run your brakes so low, that every time you are now braking, you are wearing into your discs. An expensive job to do both. It could also be something else as mentioned in other posts. When you brake, do you get a nice squealing noise? Then your brakes are in need of repair, as that is metal to metal. Getting brakes repaired when they are wearing low and not completely gone, will always save your discs for the future.

If you need to find an honest mechanic, ask family and friends for a recommendation for where to go. Do it TODAY!! Or risk breaking down and very expensive repair bills. Finally, learn how to do basic weekly checks on your car to stop all this happening.

[Glenn Reuben]

Okay. Sorry everyone. Not having a great day today. I admit I'm a novice when it comes to cars so please be patient with my naivety. I only noticed the problem today.

[Jimmy Connors]

Originally Posted by Glenn Reuben

Okay. Sorry everyone. Not having a great day today. I admit I'm a novice when it comes to cars so please be patient with my naivety. I only noticed the problem today.

Has your Micra been serviced regularly?

Please get the oil sorted Glenn.

[Si_Crewe]

To be pedantic, if you don't know what oil is already in the engine you should really drain the oil out and replace it entirely rather than topping it up.

In fact, if you're gonna do it properly what you should do is drain the oil, replace it with the cheapest appropriate oil, run the car for a couple of weeks and then drain it again and this time refill it with the proper oil and change the filter at the same time.

Course, having said all that, bunging in ANY suitable oil is better than leaving it low.

But as for the brakes, it could be anything from pads or disks to suspension or wheel bearings.
It's like toothache though; it's never a good sign and it never goes away by itself.

If I was in the OPs situation I think I'd book it into a garage ASAP for a pre-MOT inspection.

[Guapa]

If your car is juddering when you brake, it sounds like the brake discs have been worn right down to the callipers. I would get your car in to be serviced asap.

[Si_Crewe]

Originally Posted by Guapa

If your car is juddering when you brake, it sounds like the brake discs have been worn right down to the callipers. I would get your car in to be serviced asap.

Awhatnow?

Brake discs worn down to the calipers?

Surely you mean brake PADS?

Worn brake pads are usually signalled by a scraping noise when applying the brakes.

Juddering brakes usually mean warped discs, dodgy braking system or worn bushes/bearings somewhere.

[Guapa]

Originally Posted by Si_Crewe

Awhatnow?

Brake discs worn down to the calipers?

Surely you mean brake PADS?

Worn brake pads are usually signalled by a scraping noise when applying the brakes.

Juddering brakes usually mean warped discs, dodgy braking system or worn bushes/bearings somewhere.

OK Mr Car Mechanic. No need to be rude!

Why don't you offer to do it for him, if you know what is wrong with his car and stop being rude to me.

[gds1972]

OP why don't you take the car and get the MOT and any additional service and brake work done now?

Don't forget a new MOT certificate can be post dated by up to one month to maintain your expiry date.

[billyboy789]

Christ on a bike, it warms my cockles to share the road with a doofus that has no idea that clean and plentiful oil is a vital part of the healthy running of a car engine.

Is it just me or is that common sense ?

Get it to a garage and get it serviced FFS.

[Waj_100]

You can put some 5w30 semi synthetic oil in to top it up, but if it hasn't been changed for a year or 9,000 miles or more get an oil and filter change done.

As others have said, if the steering wheel shakes when you brake and the brake judders at the same time, the brake discs are warped.

Micras of that age are prone to wearing brake discs and warping, I've replaced quite a lot.

If you want confirmation of warped discs take your car to an mot station and ask for a brake test....warped discs will show instantly during a rolling brake test.

[Glenn Reuben]

To those who are calling me moronic, please don't get so exasperated. I just haven't found time lately. I have apologised.

Thank you to those that did offer advice though. I bought some fully synthetic 5w30 oil today and topped it up. I then went to the local garage and got it all sorted. The issue, I believe, was with a bearing and it no longer judders. They also replaced one of my tyres. I've also booked the car in for an MOT and full service next week.

[edEx]

Originally Posted by Si_Crewe

Worn brake pads are usually signalled by a scraping noise when applying the brakes.

Juddering brakes usually mean warped discs, dodgy braking system or worn bushes/bearings somewhere.

If the pads are worn right down you can get the juddering without the scrape. Either way, someone is going to need new disks too by the sound of things.

Rather expensive part those I'm afraid OP.

[Jimmy Connors]

Originally Posted by Glenn Reuben

To those who are calling me moronic, please don't get so exasperated. I just haven't found time lately. I have apologised.

Thank you to those that did offer advice though. I bought some fully synthetic 5w30 oil today and topped it up. I then went to the local garage and got it all sorted. The issue, I believe, was with a bearing and it no longer judders. They also replaced one of my tyres. I've also booked the car in for an MOT and full service next week.

Glad it's all sorted now Glenn.

[Waj_100]

Originally Posted by Glenn Reuben

To those who are calling me moronic, please don't get so exasperated. I just haven't found time lately. I have apologised.

Thank you to those that did offer advice though. I bought some fully synthetic 5w30 oil today and topped it up. I then went to the local garage and got it all sorted. The issue, I believe, was with a bearing and it no longer judders. They also replaced one of my tyres. I've also booked the car in for an MOT and full service next week.

Glad you got it sorted

Don't tell me, it was a faulty driver's side rear wheel bearing?

The tyre could have contributed to the symptoms if the tyre had gone out of shape....this would cause a judder.

Your description of the fault didn't sound like a bearing fault, but the main problem on the Micra is the driver's rear wheel bearing which would sound like a roaring, humming, or buzzing noise.

[Glenn Reuben]

Originally Posted by Waj_100

Glad you got it sorted

Don't tell me, it was a faulty driver's side rear wheel bearing?

The tyre could have contributed to the symptoms if the tyre had gone out of shape....this would cause a judder.

Your description of the fault didn't sound like a bearing fault, but the main problem on the Micra is the driver's rear wheel bearing which would sound like a roaring, humming, or buzzing noise.

It might well have been. I don't remember exactly what the guy said but your description seems to match the one in my limited memory.