Hi All,

 

I'm new to the forum and could use some help.

 

Just got a '90 Fairlady Z SWB jap import (N/A). She seems to be running ok, but I have noticed a few problems:

 

1. Main issue - after i stop driving there is a burning smell (bit like burning rubber?). Checked and wheels/brakes are ok (no smell). Seems to be coming from under the bonnet. Any ideas?

 

2. She pulls a bit to the left but this could be the tyres (they came off a Skyline where they were running 3 degree toe). Tracking has been done and wheels balanced.

 

3. Speedo going nuts after the conversion to MPH. Was fine until today (2 days after fitting) when it decided to jump up to 120Kmh after being sat at 80Mph. Think its confused :(

 

Not very technical (just learning) but any help would be most welcome.

 

By the way, was anybody here at Billing last weekend? Saw some great zeds!

 

Thanks

Hi Jester - welcome to the forum. I'm no expert but I'll start you off until the rest get back from work :) :

 

1. Clutch?

2. N/side brake stuck on slightly?

 

Good luck matey.

Pulling to the left - get a full 4 wheel alignment done - tracking is never enough on these cars and most places just fiddle about without fully understanding......Been there done that.

Speedo going nuts is a bad conversion - probably got a loose connection in the wiring for the unit somewhere - Quite common in these conversions.

Burning rubber - if its not the tyres, then could it be oil? Any smoke on idle?

Hi Jester,

 

Yeh I was at billing matey, did I see you there? chatted to a fair few peeps.

 

The burning smell could well be the clutch, not noticed any slipping or anything have you when under full throtle / boost?

 

It could be something as simple as some oil / engine lub or cleaner burning off, if the last person tried to clean the engine up a bit b4 u seen it (always think positive lol)

 

The other thing is it could be the front brakes, have you been giving it a bit of a thrashing since you bought it to test it out? The standard front Z breaks always seem to stink after very heavy breaking.

 

Pulling to one side if not traking issue could be a slightly seized calliper piston sticking one side of the breaks on more causing it to pull, or it may have had a shunt :S get some one to check under neath and make sure its all straight under there.

 

One thing I have noticed on mine because of the mass of rubber and weight these cars have on the road, my car always pulls pretty badly to the gutter dependent on the camber of the road.

 

Good luck

 

HTH

Hello and welcome. Alot of us were at Billing!

 

Burning smell? I was going to say maybe air con seized but when mine did it was smoke everywhere from the belt, I guess yours is a little more subtle! Everything gets so hot under the bonnet - just have a good look around! Make sure fan is ok and clear of any loose pipes/hoses.

Pulling to the left could be the tyres if the tracking has been done. These cars to seem to follow the camber of the road alot, so just to make sure it isn't that.

Speedo ?? who did the conversion?

Thanks for the info guys.

 

Haven't noticed the clutch slipping, but used to a 1.6 Civic before so not used to the Zed quite yet :o)

 

Air con was just bringing the smell into the car I think. Ran the car with it switched off for a while just in case. Did notice that the coolant expansion tank was dry so just put some water in for the time being (hope that's ok?).

 

Thought it might have been the power steering belt? Steering does seem heavy at low speeds sometimes.

 

There is no smoke that i have noticed, either at idle or while running. I do seem to have a slight oil leak, although my mechanic seems to think it's from the overflow (he thinks he may have put too much in). It's coming from under the gearbox area (someone told me it was the bell housing but not too sure).

 

The engine was degreased (or whatever it was my mechanic did to it) before i go the car. The guys i bought it off is my mechanic. I've only had it for just over a week. He checked everything out before he bought it, no shunts or anything.

 

The wheels seem to move freely when jacked up. Will check the alignment. They do seem to follow the road very well :o)

 

Didn't take the zed to Billing, wish I had tho. There were some great cars. Didn't get a chance to chat to anyone in the 300ZX area tho.

 

Thanks for all the help, keep it coming :o)

 

Even if you think it's too simple, let me know. The Civic was simple compared to the V6 lump!

Forgot to add:

 

James, think it could be the tyres. Gonna let her run for a while and see if it improves. Might be making a run down to Ten Of The Best, should give her a good run out.

 

It's mainly the burning I'm worried about, don't want to wreck anything since buying her has left me a little skint hehe

I purchased my zed about 10 days ago

I had exactly the same problem with smell. Every time I parked up it smelt as though something was burning.

 

The dipstick on my car was not pushed all the way down. And this was causeing a bit of oil to spurt out onto the engine and giving the terrble smell. Check your dipstick is in fully and seated properly

could be either a leaky oil sump plug washer, mine did it after i changed the oil, lesson learned use a new washer everytime.. or if its an auto maybe some auto box fluid leaking. it will all drip/blow onto the exhaust and burn off!! thats the smell,

I had the same problem and it was the dredded rear crank seal.....only did when driven and smelt of oil/rubberish means dropping the box :(

Did notice that the coolant expansion tank was dry so just put some water in for the time being (hope that's ok?)

 

Be prepared for a coolant leak!! LOL.......

 

Nothing to worry about but you filled up the expansion tank, it's an expansion tank for a reason the Z gets hot the expanded coolant needs somewhere to go........with me yet ;) too much and it's got nowhere to go apart from the road!!

 

I did this, paniced and then relaxed after I was told what was what and what did what!! :D

 

Matty.

I had the same problem and it was the dredded rear crank seal.....only did when driven and smelt of oil/rubberish means dropping the box :(

 

 

yep exactly what i thought especially if you have aleak from the bell housing could be oil dripping on to exhaust whilst in traffic the smell should be noticable mine might be the same need to jack up car :eek:

 

greg

Thanks for all the help guys, looks like i have plenty of checks to keep me busy :)

 

When i got the traking done the oil was dripping straight down so don't think it's going on the exhaust, keeping an eye on it tho.

 

Good idea about the dipstick, will check it out. Hope it's that simple :)

 

Think i filled the expansion tank too much since it started overflowing onto the road. Still we live and learn hehe

 

If that doesn't solve it then i will start checking the other options. Praying it's the least expensive one!

if the smoke is coming from the bonnet near drivers side then its probably the clutch or gearbox.Check the fluids and if you want to check condition of the gearbox drop the sump and you'll soon find out if the box is nearly out.

Thanks Bananaman, fluids seem fine and I'm not getting any smoke, just the smell.

 

Gearbox seems fine, although when you start her up from cold there is sometimes a strange sounds when you put her into first. This goes after a couple of clutch presses and doesn't seem to cause any problems ?!