Hi, I am hoping someone can offer me some advice... My Z will usually start right up in the morning. I get about half way out of my driveway and it dies, then it will not start again all day. It cranks, and smells strongly of gasoline, but it won't start. I can usually start it again if I wait 24 hours, but it won't get far. Any suggestions of common things I can look at? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Thanks!

-Melissa

Sounds like the PTU.

 

Very common problem.

 

Located on the front of the engine on the left, there is a black or silver square about 3 inches by 3 inches with a big plug either side of it. Take that box off and clean the contacts with some sand paper and WD40. Clean the contacts on the plugs too. Put it back on and try again.

 

If not the PTU may be broken. Series 1 (pre 1992) ones are more than likey to fail then the seires 2 (1992+).

 

If it has broken, you can buy one from Nissan in the UK (Presuming you are from the UK) but will cost you a hefty amount, or AndyZ is alwasy selling Z parts. He may have a cheap used one going. Or a 3rd option is buy one from the US link here. It will be a series 2 PTU and is a lot cheaper than buying it from the UK but may take a week or so to get here.

 

If you dont know much about cars, the PTU sends a very strong current to the coils which sparks the plugs. If the PTU fails there is no spark and in burned fuel is sent down the exhaust causing it to smell. If you are driving with the engine warm and on a hot day when the PTU fails, the fuel usually gets burned up in the exhaust causing very loud and worrying bangs to come from the back.

 

Stuart

Stuart... Thank you for the advice, I will definitely try that. What does PTU stand for?

Power Transistor Unit.

 

The link to the US site is below with the part in question.

 

http://www.courtesyparts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=22020-00Z32&Category_Code=

 

 

This is a common problem and is 99% of the time the cause.

 

You can run an ECU diagnostic on your car and it will tell you if the PTU has failed.

 

Do you want information on how to do that? Its easy and wont take very long.

 

Stuart

Power Transistor Unit

 

or

 

Power Take-off Unit

usefull info

oops, too late :o :o :o

Melissa,

 

The same thing happend to me about 6 weeks ago, but mine first died on a busy roundabout :( and had to get towed home.

 

 

Same problem as you, if I waited it would start and then die seconds later and not start again.

 

I was perpaied to pay loads of money for a now PTU before some one on the forum suggested giving it a clean first. The connections where blue and green and not a nice metal colour. After cleaning the contacts with the sand paper and WD40 the car started first time and even ran slighty better after.

 

Stuart

Hey there, any advice help that can be offered is much appreciated. I know more than the average girl, but I can always learn more!

 

Would also love to know how to run an ECU diagnostic on my car :) Thanks...

http://www.300zx.org.uk/diagnostics.htm

Stuart, I will definitely try that this morning. I hope I have as good of luck as you!

Here is the link

 

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

 

 

Its really easy to do. Find the ECU (Electrionic Contol Unit) under the passenger carpet and under a small peice of wood (The only peice of wood in the car ;))

 

 

 

There is a small screw at the side of the ECU that is what you need to turn.

 

Turn the ignition on so all the dash lights come on, turn the screw fully clockwise, wait 2 seconds and then turn it fully anit-clockwise.

 

There is a little green light next to the screw which will start to flash, or the "Check" light on the dash will flash. It ill flash long flashes and then smaller ones before pausing for 2 seconds.

 

The long flashes are the tens, and the smaller flashes are the units. So 5 long flashes followed by 5 short ones is code 55, which means all is well.

 

Use the table on the link I have given you to find out what code you have and what it means. I think you should get a code 21, 2 long flashes and 1 short one.

 

 

The link tells you how to perform the diagnostic and there are helpful pictures, but they go into detail about mode 2 and mode 1 which is not really needed.

 

Stuart

Hi Mellisa and welcome,

Well I hope you get your car sorted. How long have you had it and whats your location.

Geoff.

Originally posted by orignaux_9

Hey there, any advice help that can be offered is much appreciated. I know more than the average girl, but I can always learn more!

 

Would also love to know how to run an ECU diagnostic on my car :) Thanks...

You sound like you would get along with my missus like a house on fire (she's also a 300zx owner).

 

Not sure where you are located, but there are lots of people on this forum who are very very helpful. So if you get stuck or need any help don't be affraid to shout and I'm sure someone will be more than happy to pop by and give you a hand.

When my Z started up fine but died almost straight away afterwards and didn't start again it was the temp sensor. So def worth checking that after the PTU, do you revs drop a little before rising at all?

 

I have a spare PTU I could send to you to try (if you are in this country?)

 

HTH. Good luck.

There are a couple of spare PTU's around, so I'm sure someone will be able to help you out. Cleaning contacts is the best first step though. If broken the PTU's can somethimes be fixed as well, but I wouldn't recommend it as a long-tem solution.