Is this normal?

 

If I open the bonnet up and rev my engine (1990 NA Jspec) I get quite a shake at high revs (and not even that high). Quite frankly the old fiesta I drove this weekend was more comfortable because there is no vibration through the seats, steering wheel and gear lever.

 

Am I missing something on the mountings?

Sounds like the engine mounts are on their way out.

are you sure you're firing on all cylinders?

 

Vijay

yea, i was gonna say are you sure its not misfiring??

What's the best way to get this checked? Should I take it to Nissan and ask them to put it on Consult?

first rule of Z club - don't take your Z to Nissan's

second rule of Z club - don't take your Z to Nissan's.

 

Unless you're lucky, most Nissan garages won't have a clue about a Z. Where about's do you live?

 

Vijay

Is it auto? I remember a car with similar vibs and it had something to do with the torque converter going iffy causing out of balance. Is it worst at a particular rpm

Yes - it is an auto (1990 Jspec 2+2 NA), WillieO. It does seem to be worst around 4500 to 5000 revs.

 

Where is the torque convertor? If it is part of the auto box this would make some sense because I also have a horrible kick between 1st and 2nd.

 

I am based in Jersey, Vijay. The guy at Nissan here is not completely clueless, but I agree that since there are only about 3 ZX'x on the island he may not have encountered this problem before.

 

Cheers,

Mooch

The torque converter is where the flywheel and clutch would be on a manual car. The first bit behind the engine. It is a bg finned turbine sloshing in transmission oil to give that nice soft drive - hence the term slushbox. Hope its not that because a box rebuild will cost around £1400 plus removal and fitting. Its just that the person I knew with a similar vibration eventually lost all drive one day shortly after when the box expired. I think his vibe was lower more like 3000rpm. You'd better check for misfires etc first and run the diagnostics to check for engine error codes. Engine diagnostics is dead easy. You short a couple of terminals in a connector under the rhs dashboard but you need to be sure you know which two to do - hence look at the manual. The engine check light flashes a long and short flash sequence that gives you a 2 digit code to look up the problem. Also checks your rhs and lhs O2 sensors.

 

Maybe check autobox diagnostics too - never tried that on mine so dont know how to.

 

The kick between first and second doesnt sound good. Also check the transmission oil level properly and look at the colour and smell it. It wants to be clean and clear reddish not brown or burnt smelling with bits in it. I had a theory it was bits of chewed up clutches that get caught in the torque converter causing out of balance but that could be total BS.

 

Good luck

Unhappily, I checked my vibration again today and it does start around 3000.

 

Oh dear.