Hello, I was a lucky man to be able to get my 300ZX 3 weeks ago and have not stopped fussing over it yet much to my wife's annoyance !! However, I have a few questions for some of you people that I hope you might be able to answer.

1) I need to get hold of an English Fairlady manual as mine has only been in the Uk Since November, the manual is all in Japanese including all the service docs, where can I get an English version ??

2) When doing over 65 MPH (which I know is not wise but inevitable in a beast such as these) I get this funny very quiet electronic ping coming from the air-con unit (I think), it only starts at this speed and continues no matter how much faster you go, anyone got any ideas for a new starter ??

3) I think that my driveshaft / propshaft might be going as when I reach between 70 and 80 MPH (here I go again) the car starts to vibrate (I think it might be the driveshaft as it is like a very fast drumming noise) Any ideas or previous experience ??

4) I need to get a new headlight bulb (blew this weekend) and popped into Halfords etc and much to my joyous surprise no one had seen anything like it before, they all kept telling me that it should be a 448 No. unit but it was not the same, it is for the drivers normal beam and the current one is made by Toshiba 12V 55W and has two prongs, any ideas ??

 

That is it for now, god I hope someone writes back to me and helps me in my newly devoted way, had it for three weeks and waxed it four times already, wife not impressed !!

 

thanks

 

 

Dan

 

Hi,

Speak to Luke at www.Zcentre.co.uk,I got my

English manual from him....he also sells the Jap spec. bulbs...although you can alter the Halfords bulbs with an extra spade connector soldered on.(see the 'Tech Sec' on left of screen).

The pinging noise is probably the jap spec speed warning chime, which is usually disconnected when you alter the speedo to mph.

I would check all the wheels are in balance b4 going any further with the vibrations.

JEZ

 

Thanks a lot, I will do all that. Have any of you guys any idea how many Z's there are in this country, I have only seen two others near me (West Sussex) both of those are manuals non turbo

 

Dan

 

what ? you have only seen two and they are both non-turbos ? west sussex people all drive imports then hey ? ;) only joking...

 

keep your eyes open for the next meet, and you should see a whole lot more....

 

If you still have vibrations after balancing and 4 wheel align, then you have the next common problem which is driveshaft, centre support bearing or gearbox mount.

 

but definitely get the cheaper easier checks done first.

 

Thanks a lot you guys !!

I will get the balancing etc checked, do you know anywhere in West Sussex type area that have specialists to deal with our cars ? I worry immensely about taking it to someone who is not an enthusiast as I am not sure what they will do !

 

Dan

 

http://www4.bs.monash.edu.au/oz32/Tech/Alarm.htm for details of how to disconnect the speed chime.

 

Hi Dan,

 

One invaluable piece of advise, DON'T take your prized posession anywhere near a Main Nissan Dealer!

 

I mean, it's obviously upto you, but if you check out some of the older posts about peoples experiences then you may see what I mean.

 

Not another one with vibration, bloody hell, were all these common faults built in at the factory or something?

 

How many miles has yours done Dan?

 

Tim

;-)

 

Hi Dan,

 

I had to replace a two-pronged main bulb last month - it's a Japanese non-standard bulb unfortunately - had to go to a Nissan main dealer (aarrgh!) and cough-up £24 (inc. VAT). However, it did arrive within 5 days...

 

I spoke to Luke from the Z Centre last night and apparently almost all Z's have had bad vibration experiences even the ones that came out of the showrooms over here just three months after. He said that in the US they recalled all of the new ones (Ithink 92 to 94) and replaced the propshaft and mountings and them of course those of us who got a UK one or a Jap one were not fortunate enough to get this option before we bought ours. I am getting my balancing looked at this weekend and the tracking but then also looking taking it to a guy called Andy Millace at New Way Nissan in Aldershot, I know it is a main dealer but according to Luke this guy actually trained up on twin turbos and is one of the only guys Luke has met that really knows his shit mechanically on the Z's and who works for Nissan.

I will certainly not take it to a standard Nissan dealer unless one stands out and comes recommended.

 

Dan

 

At last someone with the same strange ping from the air-con unit as mine, but I get the ping anywhere above 20-30. I thought I was going mad.... Could this still be the speed chime as I do seem to have a problem with the speedo as it occasionally reads 0 when its cold or pulses at low speeds.

 

Sounds like your car is having the same issues as mine as I also have a vibration occurring above 40-50. Craig I will try your advice out and get the car balanced and aligned, although it only had a full 60,000 service in December. The car seems to have gone down hill ever since..

 

 

Dan,

 

Things to check for vibrations.

 

Road Test stuff.

Check Location of vibrations.

 

If you feel it thru the Steering wheel, signs point to wheels or Front steering rack. See below

 

If the vibrations are felt more thru the seat in a left and right sorta way then back wheels are a good possibility, Check for Toe end Wear and other signs of tracking problem on the tyres as below. Also check for play in the bearings and the Track End Rods of the HICAS and the rack itself, (I.e Check for signs of lateral play when focing the wheel in and out from its axle)

 

Check the Props shaft "tunnel" i.e the raised section behind the gear stick and hand break. If you feel distinct vibrations from there (may be a good idea to have someone else drive) it is a drive line problem see below. You can also try depressing the clutch while the vibrations can be felt if they lessn or appear to change frequency - this all depends on your feel for the vibrations speed and road you are on, some people notice absolutly no difference when they do this. But in theory there should be as the load on the bearing is lessend when drive is disenguaged.

 

Exterior / Mechanical Checks

 

Wheels :

Balance,

Check for damaged rims.

Tracking - Proper 4 wheel allignment is need on tt's or it will not be correct.

 

Prop Shaft balance.

Measure run out with a Micrometer or similar instrument.

Check the Transmission mount.

Check the Center Shaft bearing.

Chance are if the vibrations are coming from the shaft then it will be one of the above,

 

Z ya

 

Nico91TT

 

 

 

 

 

Wow !! cheers Nico, that gives me a lot to cover, I am a bit of a pussy when it comes to doing anything myself so maybe on the next meet I could get one of you guys to take her out and see if you recognise the symptoms. I cannot do the clutch thang as it is an Auto Twin Turbo 2+2. I had better get someone to look at it but the general feel from the links and forum discussions is that this is a very common problem .

 

Dan

 

Dan

...I had the same problem with my Jap import. Turned out to be a front tie rod (approx £100 from Nissan) easy to fit. It holds its appropriate front wheel straight and is often ok up to higher speeds when the wheel starts to wobble. Feels awfull, not like wheel balance. Also, my prop shaft vibrates. I had all the usual wheels and tyres checked out and after much searching, came down to the propshaft. I've still got to sort it. It feels worse at slow speeds when the car is cold and the road surface is smooth. It feels like there is a flat spot on one of the tyres. You can hear it thumping the ground (or at least you think you can). The vibration stays with you all the way up to...mph, it just gets drowned out by other noise.

 

...good luck

 

Jack

 

Dan,

 

Not sure exactly where you are but there's a guy I know who is 5 minutes off the M23 towards East Grinstead who has done a fair bit to my Z - specialises in imports and knows his stuff. Drop me an email if you'd like details.

 

Not sure where you are but my other half lives in Brighton so I spend a fair bit of time there. Also, I'm in Crawley next Friday evening and Saturday morning if you're anywhere near and want me to see if I can help with diagnosis. And if you do then please bring a friend who wants to buy my Z !

 

Dave

 

I've had all of the above. LOL

My Jap '91 Auto TT vibrated severely at 65mph but disappeared very quickly above and below this speed. It seemed to be coming from below the hand brake area. Turned out to be the centre support bearing.