Hi all,

 

Got another issue with the Zed.

 

I picked it up from Lee's on Sat, ran like a dream all the way home. However, after leaving it over night in the rain (as I have no garage), I went for a drive on Sunday (nice weather). I got 2 miles down the road and it started revving erratically and then just cut out completey and would not restart. I had to get the breakdown people out.

 

After spraying a bit of quick start we finally got it going again and he was following me home. It cut out again about half way back and again wouldn't start for about a further 45 mins. Got it going again and it was just revving eratically and changing gears with very high revs. (its an Auto).

 

Finally got it home and checked all the connections in the engine bay and everything seems ok.

 

I tested it again yesterday on the drive way by just starting it up and leaving it to run. It idles nicely while its cold but as soon as it get to operating temp it switches off and won't start.

 

I then stripped back all the carpet in the passenger footwell and found it was damp so I dryed it all out and brought the sponge carpet base in to dry properly. After leaving it over night last night (again raining) the below picture is how it looked. Could this be the issue?

 

If the floor is wet, its ok when cold but as the ECU heats up it lifts the damp and shorts something?

 

I also ran an ECU diagnostic check and it came up with code: 12 - air flow meter circuit

 

Just want to get this sorted as soon as possible now as I'm starting to get really down about it. I can't even drive it back down to Lees now as I would have to stop about 40 times in its current state and then leave it 2 hours before I can do another 2 miles:headvswal

 

will do, I do still believe its a good Zed. I don't think its anything too serious.... just difficult to figure out.

 

I'll keep updates on this thread anyway and hopefully the new ptu or the maf will resolve this issue.

Got the replacement PTU today so, I started the car up and then let it cut itself out. Then switched it for the new one... car wouldn't start. Guess its not the PTU:(

 

So frustrating... it idled so nicely when I first started it up. Lead me into a false sense of security, so I backed the car out of the drive and drove to the end of my street.... then it decided to cut out. Had the neighbours helping me to push it back.

 

Any other ideas?

 

Still not tried a MAF and another idea I had was the temp sensor? The engine fan comes on as soon as I start the car.... should it?

It's best to do a full diagnostic test rather than hoping by swapping out parts.

 

Saying that, I have currently got a car at mine that has MAF and/or loom issues, and that either runs very lean or very rich depending on if the original MAF or my spare MAF is connected. No codes, but slightly different voltage outputs which completely alters the AFR. Quite concerning really, given that the car performed faultlessly on the dyno a year ago, and a MAF swap a few weeks ago at another place didn't change anything. It's when sensors go out of spec but don't fail altogether that can have you chasing your tail.

Got the replacement PTU today so, I started the car up and then let it cut itself out. Then switched it for the new one... car wouldn't start. Guess its not the PTU:(

 

So frustrating... it idled so nicely when I first started it up. Lead me into a false sense of security, so I backed the car out of the drive and drove to the end of my street.... then it decided to cut out. Had the neighbours helping me to push it back.

 

Any other ideas?

 

Still not tried a MAF and another idea I had was the temp sensor? The engine fan comes on as soon as I start the car.... should it?

 

I'm off all next week so I'm sure I can find time to pop over with this mad. I might have a spare temp sensor too we can test with.

That sounds ace Ian. I think I'm still gonna try and get to 3 sisters this Sunday as well so maybe catch up more on it then? What time you heading down?

Sensor/electrical faults are so annoying.... U feel like most of its guess work!

 

Like I said, I don't think its a major problem, its just figuring it out:confused1:

When it's not starting just pull the maf plug mate and see it that changes anything

Tried that, still won't start?

Now that you've dried out all the electrics have you repeated an ECU fault code check, more over have you done this when the car cuts out and refuses to start again? What code does it give?

Checked it today.... did it twice actually to make sure.

 

1st time - code 12 - air flow meter circuit

 

2nd time - code 55 - No malfunctions in the above...... however it still wouldn't start?

 

I'm kind of think temp coolant sensor?

Also, when started it up.... I unplugged the MAF, it cut out straight away (is that what its supposed to do?)

Like I keep mentioning.... is it right that the fan is on when I start it up from cold?

 

Not had the car for long and just doesn't seem normal?

Let's talk tomorrow mate

Like I keep mentioning.... is it right that the fan is on when I start it up from cold?

 

Not had the car for long and just doesn't seem normal?

 

When you say engine fan, do you mean the big viscous fan just in front of the engine or an electric fan?

 

I think my viscous fan often spins up when I first start my car and then quickly disengages until operating temperatures require otherwise.

The electric fan should not spin up, unless you have your climate control set to auto maybe? In which case it will bring the air con fan on straight away when you start up. If this is the case try turning you climate control to off or economy before you turn the engine on next time and see what happens. If your electric fan still spins up then no this isn't normal. I can't recall my electric fan coming on at all, the viscous is well up to the job of cooling.

A faulty coolant sensor will cause the electric fan to spin up, but normally with a code 13 thrown up. This wouldn't stop the engine starting though or cause it to cut out.

How are you getting on with this?

Sorry, only just seen your previous response re the fan. Its the main engine fan that comes on, it doesn't disengage though. Think I'm probably looking into everything too much and that's unlikely to be the issue.

 

I've not had chance to do anything more on it so far this week but got the day off work tomorrow. Ian's kindly popping round with a couple of spare sensors to try out so hopefully we'll get some kind of result.

Main engine fan never disengages it runs constantly and the viscous coupling controls the airflow it puts out. But either way it runs all the time

So, Ian and Andy kindly popped round today to lend a helping hand and the great news is that we have managed to solve it!! :clap:

 

After cleaning many connectors, changed the MAF (twice) and the thermostat.... its turns out it was the CAS all along... Running sweet now:)

 

Can't thank you both enough for your time today, just happy your time wasn't wasted in the end!

 

A big thanks to Lee Dent again for offering to send me a new one in the post:thumbup1:

Nice one guys. & glad you got it sorted. Did Andy sneak any LED's onto your zed while he was there?

Now worries Dave always happy to help a fellow zed head in distress

Haha, not yet at least.... I do want to get my rear centre panel "300ZX" lit up in red at some point though!

Glad you got it sorted Dave :),it's good to know these guys no there way round Zeds:),so you should be making it to some shows then Dave?

Me too Graham, it was really starting to get me down. I'm hoping to get a ticket for Trentham next weekend, are you going?

it's good to know these guys no there way round Zeds:)

 

We don't like to talk about it Graham but we've picked up bits along the way, our knowledge stems mainly from watching Callum and Dan in action :tongue:.

 

Team iandy is going to be our a new venture btw, yes you hear it here first, the North West's first mobile Z32 specialist at incredible rates, in fact a 500g pack of bacon gets us there within the hour :wacko:.

Great work guys :bow: