Hello everyone,

 

My name is William. I have been a 300zx enthusiast for years now and finally made the jump.. It has made me a bit skint this month but I really couldn't resist after being offered silly money for my old bmw e36 328i.

 

Picking up an import Manual TT with 92k KM on the clock. One owner from 2003 when imported, and only done an handful of miles in the past few years. All the bits have been done, shocks, cam belt, hicas, starter etc etc etc.... Mot till Dec. being a Jap it hasn't got any rust, only flaws are a few interior niggles which can be overcome! Has cost me £2.2k plus the train ticket and fuel home, but I think it sounds reasonable. Oh and it is dark blue which is pretty smart :p

 

Really excited, not looking forward to the 7 hour train journey but hey ho! Sure you will be seeing more of me now I have finally made the jump.

 

My past experience is with the BMW, a few 2.2 preludes, accords, audi, jeep etc etc... They say don't ever meet your idols, I am hoing this doesn't apply this time! Have test driven a handful so far and never been impressed with their condition (oil leaks etc) so fingers crossed this is the one!

 

Will hopefully be meeting people at the Aug 4th meet in Beaulieu!

 

All the best,

 

William.

Oh god yeah the wheels are a train wreck.. Going to pop them on ebay but pretty sure no one well take them. Will offer then to some 17yr old in a corsa.

 

Well this is registered as a 94 on the V5... What other differences would be able to tell the difference between the 4th series? It is nice to hear that this was a feature of later tts as that means I can count on the 60k on the clock being correct! :)

 

 

Have a read at this for model differences.

http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?133503-model-comparisons

Have a read at this for model differences.

http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?133503-model-comparisons

 

Great read thanks!

Hello mate and welcome.Thats a lovely colour on the 300..I remember years ago buying a 300zx model and painting it in a very similar blue.Ive had mine a couple of months,Got a bit of a gearbox issue at mo.up at jeffs.But i tell you what mate when i drive herThe attention she gets and the power.Only my first 280zx comes anywhere near close.

Hello buddy, thanks! yeah it works very well, my favourite is the gum metal grey like your photo but they are so hard to find well looked after. what was the gearbox issue? Sorry to hear it. So glad my gearbox issue was (is) a quick fix. Jeff knew even before I had told him what the issue was haha, great guy!

 

Ahh those 280s are absolutely beautiful!!

 

best, W.

Hello mate gearbox issue fixed by jeff and about 1000 quid cheaper than the bloke down here who wanted to rebuild my box!!!,Cant wait to go and pick the old girl up now.I hope jeff is going to stick around the 300zx scene as he really knows his stuff..I had what is now very rare 280zx 2 seater,which i fitted with a janspeed turbo in the days when you could just pull things off and put things on a car.I was into zeds when all the other kids were renault 5 turbo.escort xr or rs turbo boys etc..And in the garage is my true love a 260z 2 seater being slowly restored.had loads done to it and loads more still to be done

Morning All!

 

Good news about your Gearbox seagull! - Jeff is such a legend. What was the issue in the end?

 

I have just bought some new wheels! Think they will look pretty good, if not then I can always sell them and make a bit of money on them...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121138647487?redirect=mobile

Morning All!

 

Good news about your Gearbox seagull! - Jeff is such a legend. What was the issue in the end?

 

I have just bought some new wheels! Think they will look pretty good, if not then I can always sell them and make a bit of money on them...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121138647487?redirect=mobile

 

That's good news mate - and those wheels are much better...:wink:

 

Nice looking ZX you have there too - and (ahem) in one of my favourite colours.....

 

Richard:thumbup1:

Thanks Richard! :)

 

So today it decided to start misfiring slightly on idle, not terrible and is only when you don't use any throttle.

 

Looking on the forums it seems that it is going to e one of a few things - spark plug, coil pack, injector, injector ring, MAF sensor...

 

when it happens it sometimes effects both exhausts which means the miss is on both banks?.. this would tell me is isn't necessarily an isolated cylinder, maybe the MAF? Any ideas? Also before the car is up to temp there is a medium amount of whiteish smoke/steam coming out of the exhaust - this disappears completely when the engine has warmed up, anything to worry about?

Thanks Richard! :)

 

So today it decided to start misfiring slightly on idle, not terrible and is only when you don't use any throttle.

 

Looking on the forums it seems that it is going to e one of a few things - spark plug, coil pack, injector, injector ring, MAF sensor...

 

when it happens it sometimes effects both exhausts which means the miss is on both banks?.. this would tell me is isn't necessarily an isolated cylinder, maybe the MAF? Any ideas? Also before the car is up to temp there is a medium amount of whiteish smoke/steam coming out of the exhaust - this disappears completely when the engine has warmed up, anything to worry about?

 

Not sure about the misfire William - but regarding the smoke, it just sounds like water vapour mate. As it dissapears when the engine is warm, I'd say nothing to worry about! As it's your first ZX - and they are all getting on in years now - you'd do well to watch oil and coolant levels for the first few hundred miles; just to gauge whether it's losing or using any fluids. If it doesn't, then all's well I'd say.

 

Richard:thumbup1:

Hi Richard.

 

Thanks for the pointers - I have a feeling it is using water, although the previous owner said it used none, the overflow seemed empty yesterday so I am keeping an eye on it! Can't see any signs of leaks so hoping it won't be the head gasket!!! Argg,

 

Going to get my mechanic to look at it this week, hopefully get a compression test. The oil all looks good, hasn't used any and look very clean.

Hello and welcome...nice lookin z :)

You've got an old car with a habit of poor connections, due to extreme heat. The coil pack connectors, injector connectors mad ptu loads need cleaning. Then once clean the car needs driving. The rusty exhaust system will hold onto moisture much longer than you'd realise, there's lots of it. Only a drive will push the heat and dry through. Positive thoughts first.

I like the way you think! I'm flushing the rad this week and testing for leaks. It was misfiring this morning but stopped misfiring by the end of my drive to n so pretty sure it is just connections :) thanks for the heads up! Looking forward to diving in and cleaning her up!

I like the way you think! I'm flushing the rad this week and testing for leaks. It was misfiring this morning but stopped misfiring by the end of my drive to n so pretty sure it is just connections :) thanks for the heads up! Looking forward to diving in and cleaning her up!

 

Just drive with caution until you get it serviced.

Hello Everyone,

 

Quick update - Gearbox has now been fixed, lovely and quiet. This noise was the gaskets, one of which was back to front. The slop in the gear stick was due to there being literally no gaskets on the linkage, so that feels literally brand new! so lovely.

 

Lastly the water leak is from behind the radiator on the block where the pulleys are which I believes means water pump!?.. probably one of the best outcomes as I seem to be able to pick them up for £30?!

 

:)

yeah £30 to buy but a bugger to fit should have the timming belt done at the same time really

haha yeah quickly realised that one!... time for a major service it is then! Least I have a good mechanic on my side who gives me a great price!

That colour is fantastic!! So jealous :)

 

Tom

Hello Everyone,

 

Quick update - Gearbox has now been fixed, lovely and quiet. This noise was the gaskets, one of which was back to front. The slop in the gear stick was due to there being literally no gaskets on the linkage, so that feels literally brand new! so lovely.

 

Lastly the water leak is from behind the radiator on the block where the pulleys are which I believes means water pump!?.. probably one of the best outcomes as I seem to be able to pick them up for £30?!

 

:)

 

yeah £30 to buy but a bugger to fit should have the timming belt done at the same time really

 

Definitely!! If your waterpump has gone, then you need to remove the front of the engine and cambelt anyway; so for the cost of the belt it's just economical to replace it (and the thermostat) too. On the subject of the waterpump - when they fail, they leak more after the engine has been switched off, as opposed to running; plus it will probably run hotter in this weather with a leaky pump too.

 

Oh, and one more thing, if you can get a replacement pump for £30, I assume that is not an original Nissan one? Best check it against the OEM one, as pattern waterpumps have been known to have a smaller impeller than the stock part. Not as good for pumping the water around the engine in a car where cooling is critical!!

 

Hope that helps - and good luck mate!

 

Richard:thumbup1:

Hi richard, thanks for the heads up.

 

Yeah I'm going to speak to Jeff tomorrow and find out about OEM parts, belt and stat too. Although I would ideally like to. This blaady misfire sorted first as I am yet to find someone who has fixed their misfire!...

 

It is basically an idle misfire. Although the engine seems to ocassionally not return to a normal idle and would rev a bit high (1300rpm ) when driving. Other times the car idles perfectly fine at 900rpm, and then all of today it has had a slight misfire on idle.

 

Are the exhaust connected at all or are they seperate? - the misfire is ocassionally felt through both exhaust (holding hand close to both exhausts) so either they are connected or the mis is on both banks? Tried fiddling with CPS and connection looked fine... Hmmm

*although I would ideally like to get this bloody misfire

Hello mate.hope you got it sorted.Ive just driven back from brum in my 300 and ive bored the old woman senseless about how good she is running.Once you get her running properly mate you wont stop the smile

Hey dudde, just read your gearbox thread actually! Jeff is such a legend, can't believe he is leaving though, sad news!

 

Glad to hear your box is fixed, I love the 300 and very happy to put some time into fixing it, sure it well be rewarding! :)

Great looking car there. Glad you're getting rid of the wheels. The car itself looks really tidy and sapphire blue pearl is a gorgeous colour. 99 rear lights and a new perspex strip would sharpen the back up a little. Other than that, really nice.