Can anyone please shed any light on the following:

 

I've a 92 ZX TT.

 

I was driving at 40mph when there was suddenly a 'Pop' and my engine died. It will restart if left for approx. 15 mins, but then dies again within seconds.

 

No smoke was omitted from the engine when the 'Pop' occurred.

 

Does this sound like a problem anyone else has experienced (please, don't be blown turbos!!!)? If so, please give me a clue...

 

Thanks

 

Drew

Did the 'pop' sound like something exploding, or maybe the engine misfiring ?

 

As whatever it is seems to fix itself, at least until it warms up I would consider looking at the PTU first.

 

When it stops working are the plugs firing ? Does it stop dead or gradually come to a halt like it's running on less and less cylinders ?

Thanks for the mail Adam.

 

The sound was a misfiring type of pop, but it only occured the once, and the car then lost all power and came to a gradual halt.

 

The PTU? Please explain. I was wondering whether checking the CGU (on-board computer engine management unit?) would be a good place to start?

I'd start with the easy stuff. Dead stops are often to do with the ignition system, these cars dont have a distributor but instead a crank angle sensor (CAS), a power transitor unit (PTU) and a coil on top of each spark plug. The CAS works out which cylinder should be firing, tells the PTU which sends the signal to the coil which fires the plug. So first find out whether there is a spark when you turn the engine over. If there isn't then look to the CAS or the PTU and the wiring that connects them. The online manual will be helpful, there is a diagram showing where all the basic devices are.

Take a look here :- http://www.300zx.co.uk/tech/manual/manual/efec/005.gif

The pop sounds like dieseling i.e. the unburnt fuel builds up pressure and detonates under pressure. This is because there is no spark to fire it off.

 

Sounds exactly like a PTU failure to me.

 

I think 50% of us have replaced this little bugger. It's the silver finned thing on the front of the engine easiily visible.

 

Leave it to run and when it cuts out do an ECU diagnostic to confirm.

 

Simon

Other than the "POP" sound the other symptoms exactly describe the PTU failure I had.

 

Thought AndyP had a fix for the PTU's. Am I right Andy?

 

------------------

crazyeddie.co.uk

Mixed sucess so far, one home run, one abject failure

 

However, I do now have a spare that I fixed and have tested, albeit very briefly - it was Johnnys.

Still no joy with mine then Andy?

 

Never mind