Hello All.

 

Thought I should say hello properly. I've had my Z a couple of weeks now and I'm chuffed to bits with it. It caught fire on day 3, but I've forgiven it that minor indiscretion already. I was very luckily I spotted what was happening and managed to get a CO2 extinguisher right away. I had heard that the Alternators on these cars were weak, but I didn't expect it to self combust!

 

Its a '94 SWB NA car fresh from Japan. In absolutely lovely condition considering its age, by no means concourse but I intend on using it and enjoying it rather than keeping it mothballed.

 

Even the wheels are starting to grow on me a little...

 

Previously as my fun car I've had an S14A 200SX, and more recently a Renault Alpine A610.. now that thing was trouble!

 

hello welcome . its a nice looking car you have there

Welcome Steve, it does look very mint.

 

Is the alternator the only problem with it that you know?

It's where they are, PS fluid get on it from careless fills or leaks, crap like road grime and rain etc etc all flick up and get in it esp if the splash shields missing. Nice car though.

Welcome Steve, it does look very mint.

 

Is the alternator the only problem with it that you know?

 

Some bulbs to replace in the dash, spare wheel needs restraining in the wheel well, other than that cant find anything that needs immediate attention, and I've been over it pretty thoroughly. Wasn't the cheapest car available, but I'm very happy with what I got.

 

As for the Alternator, I reckon the regulator failed and was overcharging significantly. fortunately I parked up only a mile or so after it happened (radio started playing up so I can pinpoint the time of failure, I now realise as it did like operating at 16V+). Very lucky not to damage any other electrics, and very lucky not to lose the car to the fire as would have been a serious possibility if left to its own destiny. Since Euro's weren't keen to take my alternator in exchange, I took it apart for a look...

 

 

I assume this is a more unusual Alternator failure?

It even had its 120,000km service only 2 years and 11000km ago so as much as I want to do it again myself for full peace of mind, I at least dont feel like I can't drive it till ive got time to do it..

 

Anyway, like the rest of you I'm sure I'm a firm believer that there is no fun in normal cars.. Hence some of the entries in my motoring history..

 

Welcome and very nice Z.

Welcome to the Club Steve - nice colour BTW!

Welcome to the club Steve. First alternator that I've heard of catching fire! Very lucky it didn't get any further.

Hello & welcome :)

Welcome to the club

Welcome to the Club Steve, that's a fine looking Z, you have there. Think I'm going to purchase a CO2 extinguisher for my one after seeing that and Anthony D's fried wiring.

Welcome to the club [emoji106]

Welcome to the club Steve :thumbup1:

Welcome to the Club Steve, that's a fine looking Z, you have there. Think I'm going to purchase a CO2 extinguisher for my one after seeing that and Anthony D's fried wiring.

 

I did exactly that myself. I bought a 5kg CO2 extinguisher, in date to 2019, on eBay for £25 from a chap local to me for my garage. Collected it in the car and when I mentioned my motivation, and showed him the car he gave me a tiny Halon extinguisher to keep in the car. Its old (because Halon has been essentially banned since the 90's as its a CFC), but the needle is still well in the green so its going to ride in the car with me now! I'm sure a kilo of Halon in the atmosphere is less harmful to the ozone layer than an out of control vehicle fire!

 

 

Out of interest.. Is it normal for the plastic panel above the rear lights to be red, and the rest of the lights black like mine? Or have I had a partial 'upgrade' at some point? - My '300ZX' lights up blue so I expect I have.. Anyone got a top panel in black available for sale?

I did exactly that myself. I bought a 5kg CO2 extinguisher, in date to 2019, on eBay for £25 from a chap local to me for my garage. Collected it in the car and when I mentioned my motivation, and showed him the car he gave me a tiny Halon extinguisher to keep in the car. Its old (because Halon has been essentially banned since the 90's as its a CFC), but the needle is still well in the green so its going to ride in the car with me now! I'm sure a kilo of Halon in the atmosphere is less harmful to the ozone layer than an out of control vehicle fire!

 

 

Out of interest.. Is it normal for the plastic panel above the rear lights to be red, and the rest of the lights black like mine? Or have I had a partial 'upgrade' at some point? - My '300ZX' lights up blue so I expect I have.. Anyone got a top panel in black available for sale?

 

Yes, the perspex strip usually fades like that over time. Best to buy one new.

There was an optional illuminated center panel but yours looks modified - would need a better look at it to be able to tell.

Welcome!!

Nice looking brum brum!

Hi and welcome Steve....:thumbup:

Lovely looking car and good save! Did you import it yourself?

 

Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

Lovely looking car and good save! Did you import it yourself?

 

Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

 

No I didn't. I'm too impatient! I spent a bit more than I should haver and bought it from an importer/trader in Middlesbrough. 'The Car Warehouse' They have 2 LWB TT's and a Cab on the way over now advertised on eBay. Really good experience buying from them actually.

Here it was at auction: http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?181572-Z32s-at-auction&p=1879473&viewfull=1#post1879473

 

The asking price probably included a hefty profit TBH.

I'm sure it did include some profit for them! But they prepared the car well including some repairs to the leather seat that had a small tear, and full service and the car was professionally undersealed too - and a very good job they did of it. I had been concerned it would be a mess but its certainly not. I also had them service the AC. They sorted the Fog light (properly, taking one of the reverse light spots) and got it MoT'd and registered so all I had to do was sort my insurance and rock up with my debit card in hand. It was frankly worth spending over the odds for the convenience of buying a fresh import without any fuss whatsoever. It also came with 3 months warranty that paid in full for the little incident mentioned above!

 

Id seen the images of it at auction, and the condition sheet. I cant see any evidence its had a new rear right wing, the job has been done perfectly if at all. And the shoddy paint seems limited to a bit of overspray on the rubbers which has come off pretty easily.

 

I took loads of J-Gadgets out of it though! Toll card readers, a big widescreen Panasonic J-Nav, various additional antennas and power supplies for things.. All in the bin now.