It's just one thing after a-f cking-nother with this f cking heap of sh t car, it really is.

 

Went to install the second pair of stainless hard pipes tonight. Take them off, decided to check out the dodgy CAS wiring (not a proper connector). Pull the insulation tape and find that the wires are just TWISTED together.

 

Solder them together, heat shrink them. Tape it all up, make sure all the connections are secure.

 

Now the car just cranks, it's obviously lost the CAS signal.

 

But I just made the joints BETTER than they f cking were before!?

 

I give up.

 

Those of you that have broken Z's, can I ask what you made back money wise? I've thrown like 5k at this car and it is still a pile of sh t. Not having a bottomless bank account, I really dont think Z ownership is for me.

 

Either that or I'm driving the thing to a crusher and taking great delight in watching it be crushed.

 

Az cking unhappy.

 

[This message has been edited by aaronjb (edited 20-09-2001).]

WOW, I think that I am soooo lucky with my Z. It has very high milage 145,000 and still with the original turbos and I have been dreading them going for a while but they still hang in there.

I read problems that people have and I think, sh*t is that gonna happen to mine? I have run all diags and all have come clean. She has started every time. The only think that I can complain about it the paint is blemished in places.

I am sorry to hear about you Z mate. Sometimes you think about how much you have spent on your car, (Mine is only petrol, tyres and MOT and thats cost loads) and I cant imagine how much guys, like you, have spent only to find that it still isnt working right. Makes you wonder if it is worth it at times, for me yes, but for you who have spent money and time on it and it does this to you.

 

Sorry to hear about you car Aaron, hope your time and money doesnt goto waste.

 

Stuart

 

Mate, I know how you feel, if my car isn't right after SE I'm gonna burn it and assemble all the bits I've bought for it! Then ride my 300BlitZeXhaust around in the noddy with underpants on my head!!!

 

What can I say geeZer, know where you are at right now...have been there but passed through!

 

Tim

;-(

 

This'll cheer you up mate! Have had more problems with my Z than I ever had with my 1983 Lancia Beta HPE...that only had 44,000 miles on it but the Z has been the worst car I've owned to date!!! That's including a string of cheap Caprices aswell.

 

Sorry, but that's the truth!

 

Tim

;-)

Dont talk to me about Lancia's. My friend loves them, and even though he has has wheel fall off, suspention brake and tyres rubbing on the arches not to mention that every panel had rust on it, he still loves them.

Yeah, they're pretty dog shit Stu...not wrong there!

 

Ended up leaving mine as a permenant fixture and fitting at my old house. Bloody thing!

 

Tim

;-)

 

While taking every precaution to not sound glib, I have had two fault free import zeds (should I have said that while I still own one )If there is any thing I can say is that they do seem to be a car which is more likely to be abused by its owners after the original owner.Its like a money thing I think.Buy a new zed £35+ grand yep you will look after it after all you can afford it, 5 -6 years later when it`s gone through a couple of used car dealers and bang! the history becomes dodgy the mileage.well we all know about that.Then a zed enthusiast sees it and its fate that problems are just around the corner.I owned a Cosworth for

4 years and loved and cherished it had no major probs despite it having 147k miles on the clock when I sold it, now 19 year olds have em but can`t really afford them and so on. My advise is if buying a zed look at least 10 cars and look at one`s way out of your budget to get an idea of what you get for your money.However aaronjb mate I do feel for you as its a bummer when throwing money at the car only gets you another weeks use before another prob.

 

Life sucks and then you die!

 

Jeff TT

 

 

Aaronjb,

 

I know EXACTLY how you feel. I spent 2 years and 8k trying to get my Z right, and then I had to give up. The philosophy of "just another few 100 quid and it might be alright" never seems to work. I ended up dismantling mine. I've since spoken to 30 or 40 Z owners about their cars. My conclusion is that there only 2 types of Z. Good reliable ones and absolote CRAP ones, and hardly anything in between. My advice to everyone who has problems with their Z is set yourself a limit (say 2k) on how much you want to spend to get your car perfect. Once you hit your limit and its still not perfect, sell it no matter what. Don't keep perservering once you're past this limit if you want to keep your sanity.

 

Cheerz

Hi Az,

I'm sad you feel so fed up with your Zed mate. I know what you are going through because I have several minor problems with mine too. Let me start....

1. I've changed the oil & filter but the self adjusting tappet is still bloody tapping away until it has warmed up. Have been told by Nissan that the timing belt needs adjusting, cost £80. I'll wait till I can afford that since the car works OK.

2. Changed the fuel filter in hope of fixing the tappet but was unsuccessful in this. However, I have more power now and the petrol consumption has improved.....( Van...fooling himself here)

3. Drivers targa roof leaks and now the passenger targa has decided to join the Leaking Targa Union. Still haven't located source of the first yet. I'll wait for a sunny day, hehehe. It's just as well that I have leather seats-easier to wipe.

4. Tried to repair the stock CD and inadvertently screwed the head unit-just for good measure. £50 to repair the head unit....CD dead-well sort of. It takes the CD and then spits it out. Perhaps it doesn't like my musical taste.

5. Found out a few days ago that all four alloys are on the wrong bloody side-tyres are facing the right way though. The stupid thing is I only had all four new tyres fitted last month. You could have mentioned about your wheels earlier mate. I checked mine because you keep mantioning that yours have been sorted. £500 for the tyres.

6. I knew there was no air con belt and had it replaced along with the other two belts. Still no cold air from air con. It needs re-gassing (probably). It's approaching wainter now so I can wait.

7. There was a weird vibration when the car approached certain speeds. It turns out to be a loose coil. I was only working on five cylinders. Pushed the coil connection back in and that sorted it. I was scared that the transmission was giving up, pheeeeew.

 

One thing I'm proud of is installing a Snooper SLD 920. Hard work but very fulfilling.

 

Of course insurance.....£1700. I'm changing to CIS for £1200. Tesco gave me a quote for a G reg import at £1200 and when I decided to buy a H reg UK Zed after buying their insurance they upped it by £500. I tried to cancel but they would still take the deposit + one months payment. Hence I'm staying with them for two months.

 

After all this most people with sense would have given up and bought a Micra but me???NNNOOOO. That would be too sensible. I've done the sensible thing and have decided that life's too bloody short. The Zed brings a grin to my face everytime I see it because IT'S MINE. I've always loved them since they first came out and now I'm living that dream--and I accept that there is often a price to pay for living one's dream.

Have you ever seen a reflection of yourself in your zed as you drive pass glazed shop fronts. I'm still searching for the most reflective shop fronts in Derby that's not pedestrianised.

 

I know this post is long winded but I hope this shows that you are NOT ALONE(I am here with you even though you're far...............R. Kelly is in my head. I've been doing this stupid thing all day!!!)

 

Just hang on in there if you can Aaron.

 

Take care,

Van

PS I know half as much as you about the Zed mate. and it scares the shit out of me everytime I open the bonnet because I am jinxed when it comes to fixing things (they're often worse after I've finished with them, hehe).

 

Oh m8t dont worry about it, all minor stuff. look at it logically and sensibly, these things are frustrating but worth it in the long run.

i mean after all my waiting i think its great. i was wheel spinning now at 70 mph on the way home aint nothing more exciting, except maby changing my undies.

 

Hang in there.

Van,

If you have a H reg UK Z try Firebond they have a classic car scheme, limits miles(3k,6k,8k) but costs about £400-£500, A while back loads of 90-91 UK owners went for it.

Aaron,

I know how you feel mate, if you are wanting to sell then you may not get back what you've put in. Hence AndyZ dismantling his for parts. Before you take that route it may be an idea to have it looked at by a Zed specialist for an opinion of your Zed's current state. Then you can make up your mind on what to do.

Remember mate, your motor is over 10years old now, 10 years+ of 0-60 in under 6 seconds at least twice a week(or more ) will take its toll.

Good luck,

Trev

...aint nothing more exciting, except maby changing my undies.

 

How is changing your undies exciting Warren!!

Do you find a new toy every time...like you do with Kinder eggs!

T

Trey,

Do you have Firebond's number? Thinks are looking up...I hope.

 

Cheerz mate,

Van

i'm sure most will hate this advice--- take it to a recommended garage.

i rate middlehurst in st helens- they specialize in zeds & gtrs.

Van,

Firebond: 0870 444 0556

www.firebond.co.uk

Trev

No offence at all Van mate, but your dilemma is so so typical.The whole subject of car reliability is a mine field of unknown past history and mileage.BUT and a big but once in the hands of an "enthusiast" things should change like regular knowledgable maintenance.I am sure you could not of seriously thought changing the fuel filter would quiet down the tappets..could you? I am thinking though when I first started my facination with cars I was real dunce and did some daft things,but it was on run of the mill stuff not a high tech bit of machinery like the zed.I am probably have a fanatical approach to maintenance,like 1000 mile oil changes and brake 3000 mile brake pad changes any service part that can be easily cahnged I do in one third of its reccomended life,hence no shocks.Saying that the fact Nissan said you timming belt needs adjusting ???? how can they know with out dismantling, anyway its self adjusting?

Good houskeeping with you motor pays in reliability over and over.When buying a decent car lots of buyers make the mistake of using all their money on the purchase and not on the upkeep.However I do understand that good advise from "garages" is very rare and must be a scource of frustration to all. I am sorry if I sounded insulting I dont mean it that way, I hope that its taken as an observation not critisim.

 

Jeff TT

We have all been their mate...

 

Convince yourself its a hobby...it takes some doing...but works for me.....

 

Its cheaper than splashing it out on women and at the end of the dau a lot cheaper...

 

Regardz

I'll admit I was a tad.. er.. pissed off? Last night when I posted that.. OK I've calmed down a *bit* and had a think...

 

Things like - maybe I disloged the PTU connection when I was doing the CAS wiring... Or maybe I just need to strip back further on the CAS and do it all again (with different colour wires this time perhaps so I can tell them apart!).. Pretty sure the prob is the CAS tho - tacho shows zero RPM when cranking..

 

It's a good job I have another car (Renault 19 16v) - although that only just started this morning to get me to work.. Grrr!

 

Cars.. they hate me I swear..

 

BTW - Van - you're not alone in the leaking targa dept...

 

Az

Nice one geeZer, we'll have a chat tonight on MSN when I get back!

 

You're in the best position, you have another car like me! I got so sick of hiring cars out while my Z was doing the rounds that I though sod this, I need another motor if this thing is gonna be this twitchy.

 

I see my car as a hobby now, weekend blast...when I look at how much money I paid out on my Supra just in servicing, tyres, brakes a.k.a. routine maintenance it was alot! Nearly 50K miles in about 18 months it was in and out of Toyota on average every few months. So I think that if you can live without it as a daily driver then that is the best way to go.

 

My Kirk cost me nearly 3K to buy, but if I'd been hiring a car since last December that would have been astronomical in cost.

 

Stick with it mate, they maybe complicated cars but at the end of the day there is still only so much that can go belly up big time. Once they are sorted then it should be alot easier as time goes on.

 

Later matey

 

Tim

;-)

 

 

I think that the history on a car is the most important thing. When I looked at my Z it had history from day 1. It was a company car and had services every 6,000 miles or less at Nissan garages, and all repairs where done at either Nissan or a specialist. He person who I bought it off didnt know a thing about the car it seems or about cars in gerneral which I feel was better, because the slightest thing wrong with the car and it went to the garage.

Both you, Aaron and Tim, know that it will be worth it in the end. We have fantastic classic cars. Just sometimes the downs out number ups.

 

 

VAN, you have to keep me posted about the Firebond classic insurance on the 91 UK TT. I have one.

 

Stuart

my Z is my weekend and date car

 

and I love it weeeeeeeee i don't think i could live with one or the other, i can't drive a slow car everyday ugh....... but i can't drive the sports car everyday....... well i could but i would'nt want to do that to my Z =)

 

I drive about 700 miles a week, and i would'nt look foward to putting close to 35k miles on my daily driver, it'd cost a fortune to run and maintain the Z, plus my daily driver gets me around 30miles a gallon, vs. the Z with around 17, and when i have 2 cars the insurance is lowered

Originally posted by Trey:

How is changing your undies exciting Warren!!

Do you find a new toy every time...like you do with Kinder eggs!

T

 

Well he does find egg shaped things in there, same colour too!

 

 

having only the z 5 months, its cost me about £500 to get it up to scratch maintenance wise so I must be lucky!!!but then again the labour was free as I'm a mechanic. The point being that from my experience with cars is that you only ever here the bad thing about cars the most, when was the last time someone said to you" I've ran my car for 12 months and haven't spent a penny on it" having said that it doesn't exclude monday morning cars!!!

Az, I've spoken to yer tonight on MSN but I wanna share this with you mate.

 

When me and my lovely Mrs. went to see the Z I ended up buying for the test drive I had already got 235 bhp under my right foot in the guise of my ever faithful Supra(MK III) which was rapid.

 

We took the Z out and it was Christmas worldwide! It may have had a dodgey tickover but fuck me did that car blow the Soup Dragon outta the water....cheesey grins erupted!!! My Pixie was going beserk, "can I have a go, can I have a go???" So had to have that car!

 

Now some are arse, and some are good! Not all end in never-never-land! But I'm sticking with it matey if I have to rebuild that car from the ground up! For a few reasons:-

 

1 It doesn't look old! Nissan designed this car to look good and last!

 

2 It's blisteringly quick and powerful, when you take into account that the F1 Mclaren is only a 3.2 twin tub also!

 

3 It's got Targar...always a mega bonus, my Supra was only sold like that to the States!

 

4 Where else can you get a car that will out do a TVR, Ferrari, Lambo(at a push) etc. for about 5K???

 

When common sense overtakes the frustration and the pain, it all seems well worth it!

 

JeffTT's Z is my most classic example of that, if you know what you're looking at these cars are the steal of the century!

 

IMHO

 

Tim

;-)

 

Originally posted by Timmy_Turbo:

Az, I've spoken to yer tonight on MSN but I wanna share this with you mate.

 

When me and my lovely Mrs. went to see the Z I ended up buying for the test drive I had already got 235 bhp under my right foot in the guise of my ever faithful Supra(MK III) which was rapid.

 

We took the Z out and it was Christmas worldwide! It may have had a dodgey tickover but fuck me did that car blow the Soup Dragon outta the water....cheesey grins erupted!!! My Pixie was going beserk, "can I have a go, can I have a go???" So had to have that car!

 

Now some are arse, and some are good! Not all end in never-never-land! But I'm sticking with it matey if I have to rebuild that car from the ground up! For a few reasons:-

 

1 It doesn't look old! Nissan designed this car to look good and last!

 

2 It's blisteringly quick and powerful, when you take into account that the F1 Mclaren is only a 3.2 twin tub also!

 

3 It's got Targar...always a mega bonus, my Supra was only sold like that to the States!

 

4 Where else can you get a car that will out do a TVR, Ferrari, Lambo(at a push) etc. for about 5K???

 

When common sense overtakes the frustration and the pain, it all seems well worth it!

 

JeffTT's Z is my most classic example of that, if you know what you're looking at these cars are the steal of the century!

 

IMHO

 

Tim

;-)

 

 

i agree completely, I mean for a 1990 design, or late 1989 design nissan REALLY outdone themselves, i mean.......it was a design ahead of it'd time.

 

it's fast as hell you can get it 300hp from the factory, new japanese sports cars are what? acura rsx comes with 200hp max, and civics start at 120hp which is pretty depressing......

 

and oh don't forget the Toyota Celica "looks fast" yea all show no go, only pulling low 200hp.........

 

and with a jwt ecu for under a grand, exhaust, and air intake all for under 2grand will be pulling close to 400hp.

 

 

A Friendly correction.

I think you will find that the McLaren F1 is actually a BMW v12 engine, that is normally aspirated. 6064cc to be exact, 627 or 668 bhp versions and hasnt seen a turbo.

edit: Or did I misunderstand the statement?

[This message has been edited by Ay3388 (edited 22-09-2001).]

 

[This message has been edited by Ay3388 (edited 22-09-2001).]