Obviously my zed wasnt going to be as reliable as i hoped. typical.

 

First Problem: Clutch failure.

 

During the time i managed to sneak onto the Le Mans curcuit and complete an entire lap of the Cirque De Sarthe, i noticed the clutch would slip if i dropped down from 5th to 4th and planted the throttle, but other than that, it drove spot on. Until i got on the toll road on the way home. I gave it some berrys coming off the toll booths, into second and it wouldnt go it. tried 3rd 4th and 5th, noting but syncros trying to mash. I manage to guide it into each gear by matching the engine speed with the gear box and took it easy to the end of the toll road. When i came to a stop and into 1st again matching engine and gearbox speeds, when i lifted the clutch pedal i could feel metal on metal and then pop. No drive. At a stand still with the engine running, I could put it into gear no problems but disengaging the clutch gave nothing. I could have left it in gear and walked away and it wouldnt have flinched. and it STUNK of clutch with lots of clutch smoke. My gut instincts are that for some reason the friction pads on the clutch have worn away to bare metal and ive got a bare meatil clutch trying to grip on the flywheel, but because there is nothing to grip on with, the flywheel is spining freely on the clutch and giving no drive to the gearbox.

 

Now its been a while since ive had to have a clutch changed on a car, and to be honest my budget couldnt be any worse. Is there anyone out there who would be willing to give me a hand changing the clutch over or give any advice on changing the clutch??? (the last time i did it was when the engine was out in my previous zed, so this time im sure it wont be as simple). Is there anything else that could have been damaged as a result of what i think i clutch failure, eg thrust bearing or flywheel.

 

I dont think the gearbox is at fault, its always been sweet as a nut and never given any problems going into gear etc. Gut feeling says its clutch.

 

Problem 2: Hicas Fault

 

First of all, i have the fully electronic HICAS system.

 

When i drive a slow speeds, the steering will go very heavy and then the Hicas light will come on. When i turn off the engine and restart it goes back to normal for about 10 minutes or so. It seems to be normal at anything other than crawling speeds, the whole trip to Le Mans down the motor way it was fine, as soon as i got into heavy traffic, it started playing up. Im going to take a guess at its probably relating to what ever sensors connect to the speed related steering system. Could any one point me into the direction of where i should start looking for such connectors/sensors.

 

Thanks all in advance

 

Nick

When my clutch went, it only started slipping for a few miles before completely giving up - when I stripped it down, it was right down to the rivets... that's more than likely the metal on metal noise you've had rather than the plates completely disintegrating. It's fairly straight forward to swap, just takes a bit of time - no different to any other car really, although the gearbox is pretty heavy/ awkward.

 

Be a good time to get a new flywheel (rather than skim) as by the sound of it it's been abused pretty hard when the clutch went - and will have got very hot, and could be quite badly scored.

 

Rich

I have a second hand clutch you can have if you are really desperate. But you should be aware that it used to slip a tiny bit at max torque when I was running 15psi, and that's on an auto-converted to manual.

I have a second hand clutch you can have if you are really desperate. But you should be aware that it used to slip a tiny bit at max torque when I was running 15psi, and that's on an auto-converted to manual.

 

Cheers for the offer mate, and ill certainly bare it in mind as a worst case scenario, im going to try and price everything up and see whats possible. Its a bit of a false economy to fit a second hand clutch. Top bloke for offering tho!

 

When my clutch went, it only started slipping for a few miles before completely giving up - when I stripped it down, it was right down to the rivets... that's more than likely the metal on metal noise you've had rather than the plates completely disintegrating. It's fairly straight forward to swap, just takes a bit of time - no different to any other car really, although the gearbox is pretty heavy/ awkward.

 

Be a good time to get a new flywheel (rather than skim) as by the sound of it it's been abused pretty hard when the clutch went - and will have got very hot, and could be quite badly scored.

 

Rich

 

Thats interesting to know that yours died as quickly as mine has. I think your probably right about the flywheel, and i would like to stick a lightened one in there, ill have to see what the bank manager says :hurl:. Cheers for the reassurance tho!:cool:

Hi Nick,

 

Sorry to hear about your clutch problems. In anticipation of your bank manager's response - here is what I can offer you:

 

RPS Max Street Clutch (TT): £425.00 (in stock)

RPS Lightened Flywheel: £425.00 (approx. 7 days)

Delivery (UPS): £20.00

 

I hope the above info gives you enough to think about.

 

All the best,

 

Dan

Hi Nick,

 

Sorry to hear about your clutch problems. In anticipation of your bank manager's response - here is what I can offer you:

 

RPS Max Street Clutch (TT): £425.00 (in stock)

RPS Lightened Flywheel: £425.00 (approx. 7 days)

Delivery (UPS): £20.00

 

I hope the above info gives you enough to think about.

 

All the best,

 

Dan

 

for what its worth nick... i have the rps combo in mine and its just perfect imo. doesnt make the clutch pedal stupidly stiff like other clutches which was a must for me. nothing worse than being stuck in traffic having to do a left leg work out!

 

sorry i couldnt help out when you phoned buddy :( must have put a sour end to a good trip for you... how did you manage to get home in the end? you were a member of a recovery service i take it? must have taken ages to sort you out?

 

for the hicas fault... the first thing i would do is top up the reservoir, cures 90% of hicas light/heavy steering faults in my experience.

I also have the RPS Street clutch and would recommend it for the 'normal' road cars with the usual modifications.

get shot of the Hicas

I like the HICAS :D

for what its worth nick... i have the rps combo in mine and its just perfect imo. doesnt make the clutch pedal stupidly stiff like other clutches which was a must for me. nothing worse than being stuck in traffic having to do a left leg work out!

 

sorry i couldnt help out when you phoned buddy :( must have put a sour end to a good trip for you... how did you manage to get home in the end? you were a member of a recovery service i take it? must have taken ages to sort you out?

 

for the hicas fault... the first thing i would do is top up the reservoir, cures 90% of hicas light/heavy steering faults in my experience.

 

 

Have a read http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=113078

 

I dont have a resevoir, ive got the fully electronic HICAS :cool:

I dont have a resevoir, ive got the fully electronic HICAS :cool:

 

:headvswal ... must read... thoroughly! :headvswal

Can anyone give any idea on the Hicas fault?

Can anyone give any idea on the Hicas fault?

 

I don't have any diagnostic info for that version of HICAS, my manuals only cover Series I, II & III. Presume you also have the later ECU, which also stops the ConZult working ? Could be tricky unless you install an earlier ECU.

Could the HICAS problem be related to the clutch.

 

Does it not get the speed off the gearbox?

 

Just a thought.

 

Darrell

I think your right cooper, the speed sensor is on the gear box, but my speedo is working fine/showing no faults. I dont think its the speedo conversion either, cant think why this would cause the HICAS light to come on the dash.

 

Andy, if i cant use conzult, what diagnostics program is used for series 4 and onward cars??

Hey if you still need a hand changing the clutch, give us a shout :) more then happy to help.

Top bloke!

 

Ill let you know when i get a clutch and flywheel sorted.

 

Cheers mate

Hey if you still need a hand changing the clutch, give us a shout :) more then happy to help.

 

Now that`s what I love to see .

Good man ! :bow:

Not a problem, :) as i said always happy to help :) already helped a few members off here :)

Not a problem, :) as i said always happy to help :) already helped a few members off here :)

 

Respect ! Good attitude and not untypical in this fab club :D

Bump for the HICAS fault

My clutch gave up like yours nick, it was slipping a bit under hard accelaration then went pop and no drive at all...stinking....have ordered RPS max from Dan at DTA( arrived yesterday thanks Dan for fast delivery;)) will let you know how it feels once fitted next week..Am hoping to use the lightened fly-wheel thats in my z if its not damaged, (bloody hope not)

 

 

Free bump for your hicas issue

Thats what im going to order as well, just waiting for some money to clear. Craving my car badly :(

Thats what im going to order as well, just waiting for some money to clear. Craving my car badly :(

 

Ye me too, I'd be waiting forever if I had to pay for mine, luckily Dave is paying:D

Oi dave, come on mate, share the wealth :D

 

Got some shiney bits coming as well..... mmmm intercoolers :D

Oi dave, come on mate, share the wealth :D

 

Got some shiney bits coming as well..... mmmm intercoolers :D

 

He drives it hard thats why he is paying:slap: it would have lasted me forever, just hoping the max will:smash: