Hi Guys,

 

I just recently bought myself a lovely '90 TT (silver, auto, jap-import) and have been flying high ever since. Had been looking around the US based BB's etc until ViJay introduced me to you lovely bunch of people. I'm based in Birmingham but work in London on a regular basis so I get to do a lot of cruising up and down the M40. I absolutely adore this car - always wanted to have one ever since it came out! I do have some questions that I would appreciate some honest answers to:

1. I am not best pleased with the brightness (or rather the lack there of) of the headlights. I have been looking around for replacement bulbs and came across some 30% brighter ones and something called "Laser Blue" lights - all at Halfords. Does anyone have either of these bulbs in their setup? Are they a lot brighter than stock? What the hell is LaserBlue? - is that like what new Vauxhall Omega's and Audi TT's have (bright white with blue flashes depending on the viewing angle)? The bulb spec is 448 - is that correct?

2. Lately, the engine has started to make noise between 2 - 3k RPM under mild accelleration. It sounds as if the valves are clattering about and usually happens when cruising on the motorway (75-85mph). What is it and is it destructive to the engine? My car has 45k miles on the clock with a new auto tranny (less than 10k miles ago). Just had it serviced at Polesworth Garage and they didn't find any problems other than my busted water pump (was duely replaced together with the timingbelt - not an inexpensive operation ...)

3. On some mornings when first starting the car there is a tremendous screetching noice that comes from under the bonnet. This goes away after about 5-8 seconds and then doesn't appear again. This is not exactly catastrophic but dead embarrassing to say the least. Any thoughts?

4. Again, in the mornings, there is a faint petrol smell coming from the vents. This usually goes away after about 10-15 miles but it worries me that there is a fuel leak somewhere. Any thoughts?

5. As my car is an import, the guy who imported it plastered an external rear foglight underneath the rear bumper. I would like to integrate that into one of the reverse lights. Anyone done that? What do I need and is it an easy job?

Right, that's it for the moment. As you can guess I am in the process of fixing this car up to my rather high expectations. Next install will be a full Alpine ICE (have to fabricate custom sub boxes next weekend). I just had a CAT I alarm and a Tracking device installed - peace of mind...

Thanks in advance for your replies and I look forward to contributing to this forum in the near future.

Z-ya 'round!

 

Regards,

 

Danny

Welcome Dan,

 

Firstly, 300ZX headlights are shite! I think that they recognised this and the later models did get much better, redisgned lights. Check out this site, provided to me by my mate AndyP who pointed out to me that Harry Halford's bulbs are ARSE!

http://www.fosmo.com

 

Bulbs are cheaper, better quality and you will SEE the benefits when driving at night! LOL!

 

SE-Nissan are testing a new light cluster at the moment. Not sure how much this is going to be, Pete has shown some of us and it basically looks like an Alfa GTV cluster.

http://www.se-nissan.com

 

Screeching on start-up sounds like a loose belt to me. Fan belt, A/C belt etc. Check them out and make sure that they are tight enough!

 

Engine clattering, not sure about this, maybe someone else can throw some light on this for you as with the smell of fuel coming through your vents.

 

Hope this helps, later.

 

 

 

Tim

;-)

 

Welcome to the Dark Side Danny,

The spell of petrol is common, and from what I have read it is only the fuel line not tight enough. The best way it to start the engine to get the smell, stop the engine, arm your self with a flat hea screwdriver and sick you nose in the engine to find where the smell is coming from.

 

I am a little worried about the transmission. If it has only done 45k miles and the trany is only 10k miles old, that means the original one only lasted 35k miles. (See us students do get taught stuff )

 

Enjoy your car. I know you will

 

Stuart

the "clattering" noise you get, could be detonation, or "pinking" as it's more commonly known in UK.

 

sounds like a metallic pinging rattling noise

 

try holding car in higher gear at low speed, and floor the throttle so it is under load, you will hear it (easier in manual car)

 

if it is this, then get it fixed ASAP.

do you use super unleaded ? if not, do it.

if you do already, then consider getting some octane booster

 

at the very least, get someone to adjust the timing...

 

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

UK 92 TT White

Mongoose K&N AVCR

KYB Eibach

About time there was another Brummie Zedder!!

 

Where abouts in this great city are you???

 

I'm in Coleshill not far from the N.E.C.

 

 

Matty.

Hi Danny welcome to the fold,especially since I live in Tamworth not far from Matty in Coleshill.So strange I just last weekend replaced my timing belt from Polesworth garage.Had the same fan belt screech.. as Tim said just needs tightening (from below car undertray off)12 mm spanner again as Craig said engine noise sound like pinking run super unleaded helps.

The headlights are shite and there is little you can do,the Jap imports us a two prong bulb and on my last zed removed the whole unit removed the glass (not easy) tremoved the bulb shields and converted the bulb assembly to accept H4 3 prong dip and main then fitted 130/90 watt in the dip part and 130 watt bulbs in the main beam part.Rewired the car fitted relays ect and basically rendered all on coming blind but the dip beam spread was still crap so I fit 100 watt bulbs in th spotlights and drive with them on also at night (sorry officer) small of petrol most likely flexable petrol lines under middle plastic cam cover area.

 

Jeff TT

Ps did you see the pics of the Nissan Skyline in Polesworth Garage?

 

Thanks a million for your helpful replies guys. Looks like I need to do some more research before upgrading the lights. As for the smell of petrol, I'm afraid my nose isn't up to scratch at the moment (stupid cold - who ever said it was summer needs his plugs changed ...) But if it isn't going to blow my engine, or engulf it in flames then I'll get to that as soon as my nose will allow.

TopSquads & JeffTT: I'm in the North East part of Brum - Erdington. We should see if we can meet up sometime to compare notes.

I didn't see the pics at Polesworth but I'm going back there for a few things this Sat a.m. so I'll have a look then. BTW: are either of you driving a black TT, reg: TDZ ...? If so then we met at Polesworth last Saturday a.m.

Anyway, thanks again - you've made me feel very welcome.

 

Cheers!

 

Dan

9 times out of 10 the stinky petrol leak will be coming from the pipe leading from the fuel filter just in front of the battery............even when tightened some will still leak i know mine does on cooler days the only proper cure is to change the fuel lines for better quality ones that dont shrink as much and the fact the fuel pressure is high doesnt help

Hi Danny,

I've got exactly the same car as you by the sounds of things and have had most of the same problems.

The Halfords 30% brighter bulbs are definately an improvement but still not up to the standards of most cars headlights around today. Just a dated design from long ago I suppose. I fitted the halfords ones to mine but you will need to modify them with a soldering iron, some wire and spade connectors for your import.

I had a fuel leak from under the fuel damper/regulator at the top right of the engine (from the front of the car). It looks like a black mushroom with 3 fuel lines going to its ends. The pipe had perished underneath and it was difficult to spot.

I know a few people have had this leak so it's worth a go.

 

Regarding headlights and bulbs etc. AutoExpress did a product comparison a while back to split the good from the bad. You can view it online at http://www.autoexpress.co.uk but you have to register which is tedious and usually means more junk email (joy).

Basically, I just picked the best and ordered them from www.fosmo.com because I couldn't find anywhere else that sold 'em. I use H1's modified as described in the Tech Section nover to the left somewhere. Made a fair difference to the Z, but an amazing difference to my wifes Megane. Bottom line is, if the reflector is shite and doesn't point the light in the right direction then it doesn't matter if you stick a lighthouse bulb in there, it'll make naff all difference. Mine are acceptable, but I also have 55w halogens in the spots/fogs (whatever), standard on imports seems to be 35w non-halogen.

 

I remember a discussion where a number of people reported problems with high wattage bulbs blowing frequently. The wiring is not really intended to take double (or more) the current of a 55w and the heat may also cause problems in the light itself. Bear in mind that double the wattage doesn't automatically mean double the light output. Manufacturers can sometimes be 'optimistic' with their ratings.

Hi,

 

Congrats, you got a nice mileage on that car!

 

Fuel smell... have a look at my posting on www.twinturbo.net here...

http://www.twinturbo.net/ttnettech/fuelleaks/fuelleaks.html

 

Detonation, there are many documents explaining how to cure this on twinturbo.net and probably a good few postings on this site too. You should not need to run super on a standard 300 engine, if you do it is only coving up a problem that still needs to be resolved. First stop, check the timing, then I'd run an ecu diag.

http://www.ttzd.com/tech/timingtech.html http://www.ttzd.com/tech/diagnostictech.html

Danny,

 

Me you and Jeff live about 10 mins away from each other!!

 

Small world isn't it.....If any of you guys fancy a chat about the Z's let me know, I'm sure we can meet up and have a chat.

 

I have a UK TT Black but not a TDZ reg.

 

Matty.

Hi Matty defo for a meet, reading Dannys post he is in Polesworth on Saturday AM can meet then if you and Danny have the time.

Jeff TT

http://www.deerpark72.freeserve.co.uk/wizzm.html

 

IF IT WORKS MY ZED PAGE ABOVE AND PIC BELOW

 

 

 

Jeff, Danny,

 

Yeh am up for that Poleworth it is....

 

Sort a time between us and I'll be there.

 

Matty.

Over to Danny

 

Time suggestion 10:30 ish or whatever

 

Jeff TT

 

Mobile 07974 051196

Jeff, Matty:

 

Sounds good to me. I need to confirm the time that my car is booked in for at Polesworth Garage but I believe it is 11 am. Will confirm later today or tomorrow in a new reply. Looking forward to meeting you there!

 

Regards,

 

Danny

 

Mobile: 0704401 6586

e-mail: danny@zaat.com

I'll be there at about 10:45am......

 

see you both then.

 

 

Matty.

Jeff & Matty:

 

Just confirmed: 11.00 am Saturday at Polesworth Garage. Replacements should only take about 20~30 minutes. I'll most likely be at the service desk or see you in their customer parking lot across the street.

 

Call me (070440 16586) if you're not going to make it.

 

Z U There!

 

Danny

That`s a definate from me Danny and from Matty(His post above) What are you having done to your car?

 

Jeff TT

 

 

 

Getting new windscreen washer nozzles installed - completely corroded and therefore inoperable. Also get my fanbelt tightened and look at the fuellines (still stinks after starting the car in the mornings).

 

See you there!

 

D.