SalliC

Thanks Uno/everyone. My partner is home now. We have tried to plug in the battery charger again and it blew the fuse in the charger immediately (for the second time). We took out the air con relay from the fuse box, changed the fuse in the charger and it didn't blow this time - the battery charger worked and the fan (sounds like coming from under the middle of the bulkhead) started up. After 30 seconds or so, smoke started coming from the neutral terminal of the battery charger so we unplugged it. We then took off the yellow temp sender cover and cleaned the terminals inside with sandpaper - you're right Uno, they were furred up, clean now. We know we have an earth leak/short somewhere that is causing the battery to go flat regularly - could this be what the problem is? Is there a way of testing the temperature sensorder before we try and get a new one?

Oh why oh why do I know absolutely nothing about mechanics? Might as well be Chinese for all I know and I'm really frustrating myself! I'll ask my partner to have a look at these suggestions and get back to you. Thanks for your help so far :) Spent the morning looking for cheap vans on Ebay and it's not a welcome prospect ..

Not sure if it gets louder when you accelerate cos I turned it off the instant it made the noise. Can't tell now cos it won't start again :(

Started the car this morning to go to work and it fired up fine but started making a horrendous noise - best way I can describe it is it sounded like a loud vacuum cleaner. I turned it off straight away and took the keys out, but the noise continued for about another 3 minutes before it eventually got gradually quieter and then stopped altogether. Opened the bonnet while it was making the noise but couldn't tell where it was coming from. It did sound like something gradually spinning down while it was stopping. Is this likely to be a turbo failure? Eeeeeek If so, how much does it cost to get a reconditioned one? Am really hoping this isn't going to be the end of my Z for me :angry: Now there is no power whatsoever, no ignition or anything. I have had some alternator charging problems recently so went to put the battery on charge, but my battery charger turned itself off immediately. Should I not attempt to charge it or start it again?

Thanks Jaffa, Yassa and Silverbullet - where would I be without you guys? Probably stuck with some moron that's never even seen a Z before .. I've got the numbers so you can remove them now. Thanks for posting them for me :) Will be in touch Silverbullet :)

Thanks Pablito - lived in Pinner all my life. Hmm, bit too far for me to go I think. Does anyone know of anyone nearer to me? Somewhere in south east ideal. Thanks in advance for your help :)

Thanks StellaZ :) Is there a link to him somewhere?

Hi there - someone has suggested that you may be able to replace my timing belts for me - can you help please? Sorry for posting in forum, but can't see how to contact you personally :)

I have some starting problems at the mo which mean I need to keep charging the battery. I've been told that I need to remove the battery before I charge it, otherwise the loom will get charged as well. Is this right, cos it's a bit of a pain in the neck? Am I going to cause problems if I charge the battery in situ? I've always done that with other cars I've owned.

Thanks Groover. I'll check with my partner as he may be able to do some of them - they probably all need doing, I have 97,000km on the clock. Am I right in thinking I need to subscribe in order to PM another member?

OK, warning taken :). Can anyone put me in touch with someone not too far away who might be able to do this for me?

Thanks very much for that Osty, some very useful information there. Wish you lived next door :lol:

Hiya, Whilst looking at alternator and starter motor location for another problem, I noticed that all timing belts have intermittent cracks on the inside, is this normal? I have not seen this style of belt before, usually it means that the belts need replacing asap. But on the 300 it looks like there may be some uniform pattern in spacing across the entire belt? I know that all belts need replacing on this car due to mileage and age anyway but wondered if it should be an urgent priority due to the appearance of these belts. Please advise me, I have the challenge of keeping this car in good nick, as Salli has no idea about cars, its a bit daunting. Thanks in advance. Dan, salli's partner.

Thanks Alan - will check that out - assuming I can find the starter motor :lol

Hi guys Still having alternator problems. Have checked the fusable link as suggested by Daz and it seems to be fine. Can this be tested with a voltmeter? Would it not cause problems with the other functions this is linked to if the link is damaged? ie, the links adjacent controlling the rad fan, stop lamp, ign, skid contr, ltg, p.wdw, p seat, fuel pump and egi inj? Is it possible to get the brush pack out without removing the alternator? And also if we do need to remove the alternator, my partner has had a look underneath, swore a lot and went "eek" and said and it seems the anti roll bar needs to be removed to remove the alternator? Is this the case? Any further advice please?

Hi guys 300zx Fairlady, 1991, J reg, Jap import, 90,000km I have a problem with my alternator and had to call the AA out the other day because the beast wouldn't start, although it had been fine 20 minutes beforehand. It's a problem I've had in the past several times. The AA guy put a meter onto the battery (sorry, not technical here :)) and told me that it should read somewhere between 12 and 14. It was fine when just the engine was running, dipped when he switched on the headlights and dipped even further to 10.8 when he put on the rear window heater and air con. He told me that the alternator is faulty and that I should avoid using anything other than the engine and not drive it at night until I get it sorted. It started immediately when he jumped it and has been fine since although I haven't used it with lights or anything else. My partner has suggested that the brushes in the alternator may be worn and that replacing them might help. What do you guys think? Do I need a new alternator or is it likely to be worth replacing brushes? Can they be replaced? Next question is likely to be how the heck to change the alternator and where on earth to get one from LOL Thanks in advance for your help as always :)

Hi guys. Just wanted to let you know that Jeff's suggestion of bleeding the ABS has cured my problem and I'm back on the road again :) Thank you all muchly :)

My OH has had a look and reckons air might have got into the system from not having the brake fluid above its minimum marker, so we're going to bleed the system tomorrow, see if that cures the problem :-S. Does anyone happen to know the order of bleeding the brakes? as in front right hub first, then rear left etc. Thanks for your help - would be lost without this forum :)

Thanks very much Andy, will let you know how we get on :)

Hi - I have a problem with a braking system air leak and wondered if anyone knows of a diagram of the master cylinder and associated pipes online anywhere? Symptoms are that the brake pedal is spongy, goes right down to the floor, and I can hear air escaping while pumping the brakes. Are there any known common faults? Thanks in anticipation for your help as always :helpsmilie:

Thanks very much Steve, please give me a shout when you can, definitely interested :)

Hi - wanted to PM Steve but couldn't see where to do that. Is there any news on the lights yet please Steve?

OK Steve, thanks, please let me know when they are off :)

Hi Vijay - yes, it's the fogs in the front of the original Jap bumper - just need the nearside. Do you remember I bought a PTU from you a few years back? My lights aren't on a mounting bar Steve - would it fit? Sorry to sound dim :D

Hi Gary - not much at all I'm glad to say - oil change, oil filter, air filters, new coolant, 2 number plate bulbs and 2 new tyres. Oh and clear the birds' nests and leaves out of the fan and radiator :D. Interior was a bit mouldy in places, but nothing that won't clean up. So far I've only driven it to the MOT place since getting it running again, can't wait to give it a good run. And yes, def still feels great to drive after 10 years of ownership - I just know it's gonna feel really quick after a year of Asian buses :D