Jack

Stu ...the only thing to add to the good advice you've already got is that the oil smell could be from blocked (and I can't remember their name - pcv?) valves. It causes oil to blow out of the main seal between the engine and gearbox - which gets onto your exhaust and causes the oil smell. Mine does it. The vales are a bugger to get at but can be removed and cleaned. I did mine about 6 months ago. Give me a shout and I'll show you where they are. cheers Jack

Tim ...if you know what a hub puller is and how to use it, then you can most likly do it. Removal of the exhause (cat back) is easy. Removal of the prop is easy. Only real pain is getting the car up in the air. good luck Jack ps - replace your rear gear box mount first as it's most likly this which is causing the problem - it's cheaper than the centre bearing...

I agree with captain horsepower. My 12 year old Jap na gets used every day, I've had it 2 and a half years, it does about 15 to 18k miles each year, and it sailed through it's MOT last weekend and the guy said it had a million years left in it. My wifes Saab - same age is rotting through. I'd buy Jap in preference to UK, but my current car is the only experience I have of Jap imports. good luck Jack

Nelson ...you need to sell your 200 and buy a 300 normally aspirated. Jack

...it beats me too - all I've done recently is new disks and pads. Thanks anyway for your ideas. chers Jack

...thanks for the info - at least I now know that the problem has a name (ground loop). You say you've not had the pleasure of working on Zs, in that case, where should I look assumind my car was a more common vehicle...

...the earth (ground) comes straight out of the back of the radio/CD player and is connected to the bodywork by a 10mm self tapper. Is this what you mean by 'directly to frame'. thanks Jack

...my prop vibration saga started when they resurfaced the road outside my house - all of a sudden it felt like I'd got a flat spot on one of my tyres. Had this checked out, no joy. Then it got worse over time untill above 60mph it was really noisy. I then tried rotating the flanges at the rear cv to check if it was a problem with balance, no joy, I then replaced the centre bearing, this time there was a slight improvement, but it was only after replacing the rear gear box mount that the vibes went away. As your vibrations are above 80, I'd check for wheel balance first, front tie rods second then gear box mount third. good luck Jack

...so recently, the radio and CD player have developed that wirring, groaning noise in the background related to engine speed. I've removed the unit and checked all of the connections and the earth. All look ok, and the noise is still there. Anyone got any ideas where to look next and what I should be looking for (ie could it be a poor earth on the ariel?) ...any suggestions gratefully received. thanks Jack

Barry first place to start (from my experience - auto normally aspirated) is the rear gearbox mount. About £50/£60 to buy and easy to fit. Second is the centre support bearing - about £140, more difficult to fit (remove exhaust, then prop, the hub puller to remove old centre bearing etc). After these two common problems, it looks like it's recon the cv joints. ...good luck.

...thanks John. Sounds like I've a reasonable ammount of time before I need to worry about it as there's no noticeable effects. cheerz Jack

John ...when the MOT guy showed me the play in the joints, it was hardly noticeable - I'm surprised he even spotted it. I know little about propshafts, so I'd be interested to know why you had yours reconditioned. Then I'll know if it's a joy I can look forward to. thanks Jack

Ammar ...I presume you know all about the sagging gearbox mount and the centre bearing that can be replaced to sort vibration problems. After that I'm told that the propshafts can be reconditioned. I'd an MOT on my NA last weekend and the tester pointed out a very small amount of play in the rear cv joints, and recommended reconditioning. I'm sure transmission garages would be able to help. ...good luck Jack

info re warped disks - or not as the case maybe - On my third set of front pads, and when they get about two thirds worn, the car behaves like the disks are warped. Change the pads for new ones and the vibrations dissapear completely. It's happened on 2 sets so far, nissan oem and green stuff - so if you think you've got warped disks, try changing the pads first. You might save some money. And before anyone tells me to upgrade etc, the car's an na. cheerz Jack