ChrisP

Hi Stu ... There is a good buying guide in the FAQ section of this forum. HTH Chris

Hi to all ... I haven't had my Z very long and have learned so much about the car already however I have a TBAC III boost controller fitted. I have disconnected the controller as I don't understand how it works. I have looked on the web thoroughly for any kinda instructions but with no joy. It isn't like the new digital controllers which are dead esy to work out so if anyone out there knows how to use one of these bad boys it would be great to have some feedback. I could of course get another controller (new one) however why go to all that expense when I have one that works already. Any Ideas? .. recommendations? Cheers Chris

After a long wait for a diagnosis on my car (due to the mechanic being on holiday), it is back on the road. I can't praise the mechanic enough, he gave her a full checkover at no extra charge and fixed the problem quickly. Thankfully it wasn't the turbos, just a simple split intercooler hose. Thanks to all who tried to help with the problem.

Thanks to shaunmac ... This seems to be easy enough... I seem to remember using a similar method to the above to check whether both turbos were working on my brothers car. I think what I did was pull the pipe off one throttle body at time, that way the AFM was still registering air flow & therefore the engine didn't stall. Then I got my brother to put the car in drive (auto) with his foot planted on the brake and at the same time got him to give it some throttle to get the turbos to kick in, something like that anyway. I wouldn't recommend standing in front of the car though whilst doing this, stand at the side!

Can anyone tell me how to diagnose a seized or blown turbo? What procedures are there? Thanks in advance ..

Hi Paul ... The main expert at the garage is away on his hols ... Just my luck mate ;-) Al they have done is check the main hoses and have done a compression test ... He hasn't done a boost leak test .. which would show up the problem if there was a split hose etc ... the main prob with the car is as follows; Just changing up to third ... to fourth ... then there was a shhhhhhhhh sound and the car acted like chitty bang bang .. No smoke .. no bang but running really bad ... no accelleration then accelleration .. no boost at all .. guage hardly moved. They did do a compression test and all looked fine ... have a quick read of the thread in question ... Help please .... I think I have killed my Z If you can help then I would be really grateful .. I need someone who knows what they are talking about to take a look ... Spent four days just waiting for the compression test .. surely should have been a boost leak test first ....

If anyone can help me that knows their Z's then I would be most grateful. My Z is real sick and I need someone to diagnose the problem if possible. Willing to pay for fuel + time ... I am in Crowborough in East Sussex and the car at the mo is in Fordcombe in Kent. For a full Picture of the problem ... please read 'Help me please .. I think I have killed my Z' Hope someone can help Thanks in advance .. Chris

thanks Andy .... Well I will try to find someone who can help ... and I will pay for any fuel and the time spent .... Can't really get to billng .... Not with the car in this state ... Better to be safe than sorry ... Can anyone help?

LOL ... The way she is at the mo Andy ... not much chance ... Really wish she was in good enough nic to drive there but dare not risk it. She has a few mods ... I know she has a TBAC III Boost controller fitted and a Apexi Air Flow Controller? Don't know if the turbos had been upgraded or if the chip has been upgraded but then again when I bought the car I didn't know as much as I do now .... Still ... You live and learn ... If it is the turbos ... what am I looking at? .. 2k? Can anyone who lives near me help? ... They can't look at the car until Monday next week so if anyone lives near me can help ... I would be so grateful .. Waiting is driving me mad .. The guy is on holiday at the mo ... so I am in the lurch .. Any ideas? I am in East Sussex and the car is at Fordcombe in Kent.

One of the major symptoms as well is when driving her when I put down on the throttle she responded slowly then would hold back like someone had put the brakes on, hesitate and then off we go again. I didn't go very fast as she really didn't want to go at all. I probably don't describe things that well but that is the nearest I can get .. not being an expert etc .... Mind you I have learn't a lot about the car thanks to this forum. Must have read through every post. Bored at work ... ;-)

forgot to say ... there is no smoking from the exhausts and I didn't see any smoke when it happened or when I pulled over to check out the car.

Hi Andy .. thanks for the post ... I don't get any hissing noise when on idle but the revs hunt around quite a bit. The engine itself doesn't sound right .. it is a lot deeper sounding. I do get a slight shhhhh noise when changing gear. Is this noise the BOV's? There is no boost although the guage does move a bit but hardly at all. Could it still be a split or thrown hose? .. or do you still think it may be a turbo ... If so ..... how much am I looking at for a new turbo + refit etc .... ?

the car does seem to be running quite rich and there revs are hunting around quite a bit

Well ... after waiting for what seems a lifetime to hear from the mechanic the problem is still undiagnosed. A comression test has been carried out on the engine and gave the following results 1. 150 psi 2. 150 psi 3. 150 psi 4. 136 psi 5. 150 psi 6. 138 psi He has checked the main hoses but all look ok however he hasn't checked all of them yet. Does this compression read ok ?... I am reasonably sure that it is fine so shouldn't be an engine rebuild at all any other ideas?

Thanks Andy ... I have replaced the pipe myself but still running bad ... Managed to get her to a good mechanic later on today ... Hopefully will know what has happened tomorrow... when he runs a diagnostic test on her ... Crossed fingers .. all will be ok .... Hope it doesn't come down to a engine rebuild ...

don't blame you mate ... thanks again!!

robtor.. thanks everso much for posting ... you have been a great help .. and very patient !!! ... thanks Going to ring the z expert in the morn and probably limp over there so he can have a look .. wish me luck mate .... very woried monkey!!! Thanks again .... Will let you know what the verdict is.

it stops right at the top of the engine .... doesn't go down at all ... Stops right there ..... There are about three or four pipes ... that link together in a quadruple couplet .. maybe three ... can't remember at the mo ... I wish I could have a good look .. but no chance .... What do you think .... ?

Wish it could be that simple mate ... the unit is just below the fuel filter (cylindrical object) .. just positioned by the fuse box .. one cable runs to the back top of the engine ...right in the middle .. just by the red line in the pic .... the other runs to one of the air intakes .. (That is the one that has had it) ... I have a really old apexi boost controller but it wasn't on when this happened ... Wouldn't turn it on because I didn't understand the controller .... I thought it would be better to be safe than sorry ... (reallly !!) .. doh ....

The thing in question is just below the cylindrical cyninder on near side .. the only cylindrical thing .. LOL .... The pipe from it goes to one of the air intakes ..... It goes to an area at the back of the engine at the top looking straight at it .. right in the middle .... God you must think I am a right Twat ..... Sorry mate .. best I can do ...

wish I had a camera so I could take a pic for you .... will try to describe ...

It is a really small unit has a couple of pipes from it .. one goes to the air intake ... this one is split .... I am guessing that it has something to do with air flow .... All I can say is it is Autolook Motor Sorts ... surely must be something to do with air flow?

I am guessing that this is an air flow intake unit .... ?

MS Autolook motor sports ... goes to the near side left intake .... This is the pipe that has split.

sorry for being so vague .. but I have no light ..... just a lighter ...