Girly alert - I know nothing about mechanics, but I have a strange problem with my 1991 Fairlady Twin Turbo - can any of you experts help please?

 

Car was driving normally this morning. Suddenly, power steering, power to brakes and acceleration failed. POWER warning light came on. Pulled over to side of road and switched off engine. Wouldn't start again although starter motor is turning over normally.

 

I do have an alarm and immobiliser but disabled the alarm with the valet switch. The immobiliser is working normally (I don't even get ignition if that is activating when it shouldn't be.)

 

Called AA. (Engine was cold at this point.) He tested battery, said it was fine, put power pack on it anyway. It started after a few attempts, ran until engine was warm (about 3-4 mins) and then cut out. Wouldn't start again, with or without power pack.

 

AA guy said battery is fine, fuel pump is working fine (he could smell the fuel) and he suspected coil sensor (this means nothing to me) but didn't really know. He advised me to get it on a diagnostics machine to find the problem.

 

Anyone had anything similar happen or have any ideas what could be wrong please? Or, failing that, is there anyone in the Harrow (Middlesex) area with a diagnostics machine that could help me please? :confused: :bow:

sounds like a PTU fault - common to earlier Z's. it would fail once it gets warm and cut power to engine until it cools down. explains the good battery, and cutting out when warm. its the little silver box at an angle on the front of the cam end on the driver's-side bank. theyre about £40 for a 2nd-hand series 1 (faulty), or about £120 for a series 2 (no faults)

Yep, agree with PTU.

 

(and that's about the best description I've ever seen from a non-techie!)

" WARNING " intelligent GIRLY ALERT

You guys are just brilliant :bow. I've had very few probs with my Z over the last 7 years, but you've known the answer to all of them :bow. And you don't even patronise me for knowing nothing about how my Z works!! Intelligent maybe (thanks Paul) ;-), but def decidedly pink & fluffy when it comes to knowing what's under my bonnet LOL.

 

I've had a faulty PTU before, but last time it killed everything, not just the engine. I replaced it with one you guys kindly pointed me in the right direction of and supplied :bow

 

And for my next question LOL - where can I get another one from quickly? Would you guys go for the Series 1 or Series 2 (just how often do the series 1 ones go wrong?)

 

Thanks so much again - don't know where I'd be without you :bow. Well I do actually - I'd be chasing around looking for someone who will deign to work on a Jap import and then expect about a year's wages for the priviledge!

Series II everytime. One of the traders on here may have one, or try somewhere like http://www.courtesyparts.com

 

You may be able to borrow a Series I first, just to confirm that is the problem.

Thanks Andy. Is there somewhere separate here I should post to say I need one, or should I start a new thread (in case any of the traders miss it here)? :bow:

 

Phew, I reckon it's :beer: o'clock

send me your addy and i will send you one FOC !

Wow, thanks Paul, what can I say? :hyper: :bow: . The site won't let me PM you, so I'll email you. What a very very nice man :dance:

no probs

send me your addy and i will send you one FOC !

Can you send me the gearbox FOC Lol :D

send me your addy and i will send you one FOC !

 

Careful, he must be after something! :x: :rofl:

not really just im not allowed to sell so i have to give it away !

Yayyyyyy, that's sorted it :-) All seems to be working again now. Had great fun trying to get that hose off that sits in front of it. Thanks muchly Paul :-)

glad i could help !

how did i miss this? i live in harrow weald!

Thank you very much for the chocolates that was very nice indeed.

 

I was glad i could help

 

Paul