Nissan Dualis Problems

In conventional automatic transmissions, a delay when selecting gears (often reverse) indicates worn internals and the need for a rebuild. Your Nissan is fitted with a CVT transmission rather than a conventional auto, but it still operates on the basis of hydraulic control. Which means that the problem could still be one of internal wear. A transmission specialist is likely to be your best point of contact for this problem.

The first thing to do, though, is check the level of fluid in the transmission. A level that is low can mean delays when selecting gears and even slipping of the transmission under load. However, if the level is low, there must be a leak somewhere as these are sealed systems and should not require regular topping up.

A car that continually breaks the same component time after time probably has a bigger problem than simply the part that keeps breaking. It sounds like you need to have the transmission and torque converter checked for alignment and correct interface. Any problem with the way they fit together could explain why an O-ring keeps failing. Continuing to replace the O-ring won’t fix a more complex problem.

Either that, or the mechanic who is changing the O-rings is making the same mistake over and over again and not using the correct lubrication or fitting procedure.

That's a pretty impressive innings for a Dualis. You obviously maintain it well and drive it sensibly. The engine light on your dashboard is telling you that the car's on-board computer has noticed something isn't right and needs to be fixed or reset. This could be anything from a stretched timing chain to an oxygen sensor in the exhaust system or dozens of things in between.

The best approach is to have the car scanned to see what fault codes the computer throws up. From there, you'll have a much better idea of what the problem is.

The orange or yellow engine light means the car is still safe to drive, but you still need to have it looked at as soon as you can to avoid doing further damage to whatever system is not working properly. If the warning light (of any sort) is red, then you should stop driving as soon as it's safe to pull over and have the vehicle towed to a workshop.

Clutch life in most cars is determined by the type of driving you do and the type of driver you are. Cars that do a lot of urban running or towing will almost always have a shorter clutch life. Those used for highway journeys where the gears aren’t being changed as frequently tend to have longer clutch life.

But it’s also true that a driver who is gentle with the clutch and gearshift (as opposed to one who makes fast, hard changes) will also stretch the clutch’s lifespan.

I don’t think 100,000km out of a clutch is any reason to complain and suggests that you’re one of the gentle drivers out there. But before you commit to replacing the clutch, make sure that the slipping is not from poor clutch adjustment or oil on the clutch from a leaking engine seal, rather than a truly worn-out clutch. Of course, even if it is a worn oil seal (the rear-main seal is the most likely culprit) the gearbox and clutch must be removed to fix it, so a new clutch at 100,000km would be a good idea anyway to avoid having to remove all those components later for a clutch change.

Nothing is unfixable. Presumably it was done while the Dualis was at the dealer being serviced, if so it is the dealer’s responsibility to fix it. If they can’t simply straighten it, they might have to replace the headrest, whatever it takes, it can be fixed.

Providing you have used the correct battery and have installed it correctly in the fob there shouldn’t be any problem. Go to a Nissan dealer or an auto locksmith and have them sort it for you

It’s more than the average kilometres for a 2013 Dualis, but that’s not necessarily a problem. If it’s been serviced regularly it should be fine.

The dual-mass flywheel was introduced to reduce the vibrations in the driveline, so in that sense the mechanic was right, but unless you’re very sensitive you’re unlikely to be bothered by any vibrations that might result from changing to a single-mass flywheel. The advantage of switching to a single-mass flywheel is that the clutch is likely to last longer and be cheaper to replace when it does wear out.

The Dualis is a solid and generally reliable car, and if it is in good mechanical condition and has been regularly serviced it shouldn’t give you too many headaches for the next few years, but it’s impossible to say with any certainty that it won’t either.

It’s more than the average kilometres for a 2013 Dualis, but that’s not necessarily a problem. If it’s been serviced regularly it should be fine.