Nissan Pulsar 2014 Problems

You would like to think it would last the life of the car, but there are many reasons it might need replacing.

The transmission in your car is a CVT and changing the oil is definitely recommended. If you doubt that the full service hasn't been done go back to the dealer and ask for an explanation.

We checked with Nissan and a spokesperson confirmed that the "Nissan Pulsar range does not have parking lights. Nissan took into consideration market trends when developing the Pulsar" and decided not to fit them.

It should definitely be replaced. Nissan spokesman Peter Fadeyev says: "This matter can be checked and, if needed, rectified by a trained technician at any authorised Nissan dealer."

Provided the service is done "by the book" and with manufacturer-standard parts, there will be no effect on your warranty.

The car world has changed a lot since your Pulsar Q was a top-drawer choice and these days I would recommend the Mazda2, which gets The Tick and should be similar money but slightly easier to handle.

Just about every small car will match the space of the Tiida so you have two choices, go for a class leader such as the Mazda3 or return to Nissan for a value deal on the Pulsar. The Mazda gets The Tick but the Nissan is very good value.

CVT transmissions in general have been the subject of criticism; it's not only Nissans that can be affected. CVT transmissions are not new; they've been used since the 1970s when they were fitted to DAFs. General Motors looked at them in the 1980s, but abandoned the plan to build them in France for use throughout the GM world, including Holden. The problem was the Van Dorn belt, which is the heart of the transmission. In those days they wouldn't handle high torque, so they were ok on small engines, but on larger engines, such as a six-cylinder. They've come a long way since those days and they are much better, but they can still have problems. The things to look for are slipping on take-off and shuddering. It's not something you should be overly concerned about, but it's something you should be aware of and conscious about. The use of fish oil is a good idea if you live near the sea. Even though cars today use good quality steel treated to prevent rust the extra protection of fish oil makes it worth doing.