This could be expensive!

 

Was driving to work as normal, but went to accelerate onto a roundabout and something went bang... and then made a grinding noise for a second or two and the engine cut out and wouldnt start again - although the starter motor wasnt doing anything, so not necessarily that bad a sign.

 

Pulled over, and my first thought was snapped propshaft, or maybe a shafted diff... however, quick look under the car and nothing appears to be hanging off, but there was now an oil leak from the engine. In the 45 mins it took for RAC to come, it leaked all the oil out :(

 

its with a garage now awaiting diagnostics, but anyone any ideas? There was no smoke or steam at any point, and the engine wasnt under much load when it happened - was probably only doing 2-3000 rpm or so.

 

I'm really hoping its not terminal engine failure, as its just got to a state where everything was working, and i was hoping for a trouble free summer! Anyone have any ideas?

Worst case scenario, Con rod through the oil sump, and my guess would be that. there should be no other reason you will have a bang, grinding noise and oil coming from the engine, unless its been punctured in someway shape or form.

 

Though if you expect the worst, then any thing else is a plus if its something different.

 

Not trying to be a scaremonger or anything, but sounds what happened to me and i put 2 con rods through the block and oil sump.

My first thought was starter motor fallen off? more common than you would think, the threads in the gearbox are notorious for failing but read your post a bit more about the oil issue too!

 

Jeff

Edited May 6, 201114 yr by JeffTT

Well im hoping that something merely dislodged an oil hose causing the leak... but nothing looked particularly out of place when i popped the bonnet, so still not really sure!

 

This might be a silly question, but would conrod suddenly give up like that? i did a 200mile round trip this weekend just gone no problems at all!

Can do if cam belt snapped?

Can do if cam belt snapped?

 

Or had a stress fracture.

 

My engine when it gave up the ghost, looked great until you had a look past the side of the oil filter. then there was a few big dents and a whooping great big hole.

But as Jeff said about your post, about the starter motor not doing anything, no noise maybe it did fall off, they can come loose.

You opened the bonnet, but did not look under the car, hope you fix it soon mate.

Grinding noises?

 

Sounds expensive... :scared:

 

Hope it is something simple though - fingers crossed bud

Does not sound good, I had a similar experiance with an SR20DET in my s14a!

Bang's and grinding is not the best of sounds. I'd say if ALL of the oul has leaked out then it will be a pretty big problem.

 

Peter

You more than likely have an electrical fault! Fault being the con rod has gone through the alternator!!! :lol:

Does not sound good matey...........

 

But please post up findings, as this will help out many future z owners in a similar situation.

 

I do hope ur 300 will be okay buddy.....

 

Cheerz,

 

Alz.

Well, its not looking good, so quick poll.... if you had a good car with a bad engine, what would you do?

funnily enough..

 

I'd go for a rebuild - but its not the cheapest option..

Well, its not looking good, so quick poll.... if you had a good car with a bad engine, what would you do?

 

Id buy, zerocools engine off him for £550 and do an engine swap, its a known good engine, got paper work for the rebuild and has only done around 8k miles since its rebuild, so basically a brand spanking new one to slot in your zed.

Well, its not looking good, so quick poll.... if you had a good car with a bad engine, what would you do?

 

It would be out of 2 options for me, depending on budget and Intended goals.

 

1. If you wanted big power, say 500bhp+ and had the budget (£4000-£6000), then a Fully forged engine rebuild, headwork, Bigger turbos, injectors, intercoolers, manifolds.

 

2. If budget was smaller, and not looking at huge power (up to 400bhp). Then Replacement 2nd hand engine, that can be seen running and compression tested before purchase. Engine £500-£800. Fit yourself, or same amount of money again for labour. I would not advise purchasing an unknown engine.

 

Your current bottom end is scrap though. You need a new bottom end if your getting it rebuild.

 

If you stick to a 2nd hand engine, then its worth considering investing in getting Turbos reconditioned (£250-£600), Cambelt kit and EFI Loom (£250) at the same time.

Edited May 9, 201114 yr by Yowser

If you wanted big power, say 500bhp+ and had the budget (£4000-£6000), then a Fully forged engine rebuild, headwork, Bigger turbos, injectors, intercoolers, manifolds.

 

double that figure and you're getting close.. don't forget you've got to rebuild the engine too... Unless you rebuild it yourself and save a few quid?

double that figure and you're getting close.. don't forget you've got to rebuild the engine too... Unless you rebuild it yourself and save a few quid?

 

I was trying to be cost effective, price is about right, based on experience, but yes you could easily spend a LOT more though. Depends how wild you go, parts used and who's doing the work.

Edited May 9, 201114 yr by Yowser

I would be on the phone to Z world as I have had so much crap in the past trying to source 'a good' engine. Drive in drive out . Obviously raise the funds first :biggrin:

I was trying to be cost effective, price is about right, based on experience, but yes you could easily spend a LOT more though. Depends how wild you go.

 

Granted - but I think it would be a pretty crude engine for that amount.. and you'd have to build it yourself. Not everyone is capable of, or wants such a challenge. But I take your point.

 

As for sourcing an engine, I'd listen to what Vodkashots was saying about Zerocooled's engine - if I were you I'd bite his arm off at 500 quid. Infact, I'd be on my way up there now, cash in hand!

 

You can always get someone (i.e Zedworld) to fit it for you.

ah, this isnt going quite the direction i thought it might....

 

I meant to say, if you have a good car but a bad engine, and are thinking of getting a different car... what would you do?

 

Unfortunately i think this might be it for me with zed ownership... its a great car, but ive had a run of bad luck recently and an engine failure tops it off... i just can't afford it anymore!

Sorry to hear that Brillo,

 

I'd start looking at Honda forums instead - somewhere where reliability isn't such a thorn in the member's sides. Zed ownership shouldn't be for the faint-hearted. Just because the initial purchase seems affordable, doesn't necessarily mean that the ownership experience is going to be. As many people have said before, these are premium cars and have running costs as such.

 

I still think you'd be better off repairing your car - broken Zeds are 10 a penny. I think 1500 quid would see you back on the road with a pretty decent ownership prospect looking forward. Just depends if you can find that 1500? Sorting out the engine is a pretty big step in the right direction, for reducing future expense. Your choice bud - but looks like you're looking at it from a practical point of view and I can't fault your logic. Zed's are enthusiast's cars, not everyday cars.

 

Plenty of cars out there that offer a better ownership prospect, but they're not going to be as exciting as a Zed - that's for sure.. Its your call.

 

What lines were you thinking along?

 

PS, I'll make you a good offer for your wheels if you're looking to break it..

 

[looks up, sees vultures circling]

Edited May 9, 201114 yr by leo-r32gts

ah, in that case. You could sell it as it is, but unfortuantly you would be luck to get 1000 for it, most likely less.

 

You could break it for more, but its a lot of work and time, and takes up a lot of space to break a car.

 

If your handy with the spanners, drop 500 engine in. Job done. Alternatively your looking at about 500-800 labour for somebody to remove and fit an engine for you.

 

Sorry to hear that Brillo,

 

I'd start looking at Honda forums instead - somewhere where reliability isn't such a thorn in the member's sides. Zed ownership shouldn't be for the faint-hearted. Just because the initial purchase seems affordable, doesn't necessarily mean that the ownership experience is going to be. As many people have said before, these are premium cars and have running costs as such.

 

I still think you'd be better off repairing your car - broken Zeds are 10 a penny. I think 1500 quid would see you back on the road with a pretty decent ownership prospect looking forward. Just depends if you can find that 1500? Sorting out the engine is a pretty big step in the right direction, for reducing future expense. Your choice bud - but looks like you're looking at it from a practical point of view and I can't fault your logic. Zed's are enthusiast's cars, not everyday cars.

 

Plenty of cars out there that offer a better ownership prospect, but they're not going to be as exciting as a Zed - that's for sure.. Its your call.

 

What lines were you thinking along?

 

PS, I'll make you a good offer for your wheels if you're looking to break it..

 

[looks up, sees vultures circling]

 

Well said...although Its funny you should mention Honda's as I was only thinking the other day that the most unreliable car make I've had is Honda, despite their excellent reputation. :lol:

 

I've owned 3 Honda's, including my current daily driver. Two of them, a Honda HR-V and a Rover 216(Honda engine) ended in castrophic failure with conrods through the block, and as of this week my daily driver Accord will only rev to 3k rpm as the MAP sensor appears to have failed on it. :headvswal:

 

Im sure my experience is an exception. However In contrast, I've owned 4 Z's over the past 7 years. Excluding the slicktop, the other 3 were daily drivers and super reliable and cost less to run in Maintenance than my much newer Daily drivers, including new company cars. :rockon:

ah, this isnt going quite the direction i thought it might....

 

I meant to say, if you have a good car but a bad engine, and are thinking of getting a different car... what would you do?

 

Unfortunately i think this might be it for me with zed ownership... its a great car, but ive had a run of bad luck recently and an engine failure tops it off... i just can't afford it anymore!

 

If your cutting your loss, then as stated already, you might wont to think about if you can be bothered to break it for parts and sell on, or sell as spares and repairs, if the body work is all good, selling as a whole will get you a higher price for it even though its knackered.

 

you will how ever make more cash breaking it, if its got performance parts on it and have the time and place to tackle something like that.

 

Personally id stick a new engine in, and just maintain it better with out powering it everywhere, a cars reliability comes down to how its maintained vs how its being driven. and come on, its a 300zx, who doesn't like to put there foot down every once in a while.

 

Biggest problem though, is when we buy these cars, we never truly know how the last owner has driven it, or if it was maintained correctly (just because there is a receipt for work done, doesn't mean its been properly maintained if you know what i mean)

 

I recently broke a 300zx with a engine with 100k miles on the clock, the engine is now in a new car and running strong and true, in the last 11 years, its only covered 300miles, so in the past 10 years before that, it managed to cover 100k miles, most likely motor way miles as there was only 4 owners on the log book from new (UK spec) with me being the 4th. although the body work suffered and it looks like it had been sat for 11 years doing bugger all (it showed lol) mechanically it was fine apart from turbo seal failure. plus it was bog standard, so i doubt in its life time was ever thrashed.

 

So it goes to show, that being looked after and not hammered around, doesn't matter if it looks like its going to fall to bits. they are actually about as reliable as most other cars.

 

Unfortunately most people thrash them, or upgrade them and like to push the 300zx and stress the parts. yes they are a sports car, but if your going to hammer it around all over the place then expect things to break.

 

Id say, sort the engine, maintain it well, and look after it with driving it conservatively most of the time and she will do you good.