Whilst on a recent journey in my 37,000 mile 2004 Nissan Almera Tino, a message on the screen came up advising me of a possible malfunction of the Engine Control System, the remote possibility of an immediate breakdown, the need not to drive at high speed and to contact a Nissan agent as soon as possible. I took the car to my local Nissan dealer from whom I bought the car new and who has always serviced and maintained it. They ran a diagnostic test, which they say took about an hour, for which they charged £90.48. The code indicated a fault in the fuel system. They informed me that further tests were needed which could take up to 4 hours at a charge of £90.48 per hour. I expressed my amazement that 5 hours were needed to find the faults, but was told that they worked in line with Nissan recommendations and so I reluctantly agreed to this. After these tests were carried out I was informed that faults in the air flow meter and oxygen sensor had been detected and that the costs for these parts were £355.90 and £152.03 respectively. A further 1 hour's labour would be needed, or more if the fitting did not prove to be straightforward. As a result, I am faced with a bill of at least £1,050. I consider these costs to be unreasonable. I intend to write to Nissan Customer Services to ask for a major contribution towards the costs. Do you agree that 5 hours is an unreasonable length of time to diagnose faults that shouldn’t have arisen in the first place, and that these charges are excessive?

Asked on 19 June 2010 by KP, Kings heath, Birmingham,

Answered by Honest John