leo-r32gts

Well, foooked if I know. The reason I got onto the air-con topic was because of one of the above replies. Personally i'm ignorant to the inner workings of the Zed, although I am trying to learn.. Definitely not short on coolant since I topped it up on the weekend. The erratic temp readings were presumably caused by the, as then, lack of coolant and the sensor was measuring the air temp of the air circulating the engine, then occaisionally getting wet - hence the up, down, up, down. Been and checked the coolant again today after last night's run and would you believe it, the water was right up underneath the rad cap. It has actually gone up since I checked it yesterday.. I can only assume this is because of ambient temperature and/or a change it atmospheric pressure? Looking at the positives - it doesn't seem to be using water - yet. Still can't believe I didnt cook something at the weekend though:mellow:

Judging by the amount of water it threw out when I turned it over with the rad cap off (the only way I could think to check the pump) it seems to be in rude health. Had my doubts about the thermostat, but it gets the benefit of the doubt for the time being.. Seems it was just the fact it had no water and therefor nothing mechanical. Thanks though

As you may have guessed its well worth stating the obvious here! My air con does work, but has the later analogue controls, so no econ mode. All I have is a dial for the temp and a button for air con on/off. Does work though! but i am getting warm air on demand, which didnt happen for a bit.. The car is due its MOT early Sep so taking it to Zed World for some TLC at the end of Aug. Is my intention to replace most of, if not all, the fluids then (diff, 'box, engine oil and rad flush). But thanks for the reminder Just been for another run tonight, everything seems ok, will check levels again tomorrow. I hope it is gonna be OK, cos now the suspension is healthy the car feels awesome, I'm very impressed with the Zed - great car and seemingly, tough as old boots.

Hi there, Having had quite a scare at the weekend (see previous threads) I'm still trying to piece together how things came to be. Not in the 'why are we here, do we really exist sense', but more to do with the water level in my cooling system. As i mentioned befor, when i bought the car - early may - there was nothing to suggest any issues. The car didn't run hot, the heater worked and everything seemed fine. Now I must point out I was foolishly checking the level in the expansion bottle and had not checked the rad level (:clown: I know, I know). So its possible the fluid level could have been a little low to start with. I guess this because now, with rad full, the average operating temp is 5 degrees lower than befor (75-80 degrees) - despite the warmer weather at the mo.. That said, I've only just got the suspension gremlins sorted so I hadn't driven the car hard other than a quick blat up through the gears every now and then. I've probably done less than a 1000 miles to date. At the weekend though I was giving it some stick and things quickly got hot under the collar. One minute everything appeared normal - the next temps were getting very erratic. My theory is that as there was insufficient water in the system from the off; the air in the rad got super heated and therefor released the pressure valve in the rad cap, slowly pushing out what little water there was until the level became critical. Since I filled the system I've noted the cooler water temp but also that there does not seem to be any leaks. I've driven about 200 miles since doing so, 30 of which I was really giving it some. I checked the level in the rad again tonight and its almost full to the brim. I think some fluid must have been pushed out, but then I did over-fill it. The level now is just at the bottom of the rad cap neck.. So I think I know how the water got out, but I'm still tryin to figure out why it was low in the first place. When you fill the cooling system and the engine is cold, does the thermostat prevent you getting a substantial amount of fluid in? I.E: did the last person who did this unwittingly think they had filled it, but infact had just filled the rad and not the entire sytem? If this isn't the case then I'm stumped - and in trouble, largely because it is using water and I've no idea where its going (unless it is the rad cap at fault).. I will continue to check the level now, but its a little early to be 100% sure about anything (I'm still waiting for the reprecussions from seeing the wrong side of 150 degrees). Your thoughts would be appreciated - Cheers

Actually thought someone had pinched my car for a moment. Series 3 onwards, couldn't see reg or wheels. But what I could see looked damn fine!:yes:

Its a shame really.. James May is 24ct Gold, but Jezza and 'Ive sold my soul to Morrisons' Hammond are painful to watch. That motorhome could have easily caused a fatal pile up.. I just dont know how, in a modern age of health and safety, they can get away with it. I'm not one to cheer the health and safety corner, but christ, if it was any more top-heavy it would have botox injections and a son called Harvey.. I'm in agreement - 5th Gear is far superior, manages to get in some laughs but actually has something to say about cars.. Still end up watchin top gear tho, every now and then there is a moment of brilliance, but today was too similar to the original caravanning episode which was far superior and more original.. Shame

Thanks for the comments.. No obvious leaks. Certainly no drips from any pipes, havent got the means to drop the belly plate off but its not in the best nick and would leak like a sieve if any water was collecting there... Not sure if my 'top hose' is pressurising correctly.. When engine is idling at normal operating temp it is possible to squeeze the hose with your hand (although it is hot, obviously) so don't know if that's right or not... It is possible there is a slow leak somewhere which has gone unnoticed for a while, but still can't fathom how it went from fine to major malfunction in a short space of time with no obvious leak.. will drive her home and check rad level once colled down. But I did brim the rad while the engine was still warm this morn. Guessing it doesn't want to be absolutely full when cold anyway, otherwise it will just blow excess pressure out? Cheers

So, the intitial emergency seems to be over.. But i'm confused now. I definitely had warm air from the heater when I got the car, so there was enough water in it to function to some degree. Certainly nothing to arouse suspicion anyway. This morning however, there was clearly no water in it.:confused1: Where did the water go? There's no indication that the head is letting water through, there's definitely no white smoke in the exhaust. Fact. Nor is there any water in the oil. So if the water isn't going through the head and isn't leaking out through a hose, where the fook did it go? Somewhere down the line, whatever water was in the system has vanished - the coolant that was apparent last night near the rad cap, must have been vapour forced out through high pressure which then condensed... Any idea where my water went (and possibly still going)? thanks

Sound advice indeed...

So basically what you're saying is I'm a muppet:thumbup1: Just been for another run to see if I could provoke a catastrophic engine failure, no white smoke, no leaks - no anything. Can only keep my fingers crossed, but I seem to have gotten away with this one. I hope... What temp can the engine oil withstand? Anything else a total amatuer should check that should clearly have been checked?

Right, Just put about 6ltrs of fluid in the top of the rad, so clealry there was foook all water in there... Great. Cant see any water leaking underneath, no burst hose or anything.. Left it idling for 5 mins - temp at 73-75 now it has water in. Cant believe this. I checked the coolant level a few times and even last night it was showing me just above top level on the stick. Now I cant believe this engine has had no water in it since I bought it... Yesterday on the run over to my mates, on the motorway the temp was 80-85. Now I'm no expert but I'm guessing an air cooled zed wouldn't take too much of this punishment? Never had an issue with temp previously, surely it must have had water in it? So, presuming its gonna keep hold of the water its now got, what have I cooked on the engine? 150+ engine temp must have knackered something. What should i look for? Apart from flames? :mad2:

Right, Took it for a run this morning to see if the issue was still present.. Temp went up to about 110, so pulled over and checked engine temp with my hand, radiator was cool and top of engine was warm, but not excessively so. This made me think the issue was with the sensor, however... couldn't get any warm air from the heater, so no hot water in the matrix... Temp reading went upto 150+ so took the car back and popped the bonnet again. No pressure in radiator!!!! took the cap off and nothing... poored a kettle of water in and a lot of gurgling and then steam etc, started the engine without the rad cap and coolant pissed out everywhere, so water pump is working. Something was very very hot though, think i've just cooked my engine. temp was still reading 130+ after 5 mins turned off... Any suggestions please?

just got back from another run.. seems the coolant leak earlier was just a red herring. When i started the car up the temp went from 60 down to 35 then climbed quickly to 95 and above. Pulled over and the engine was barely warm and the radiator was luke-warm. On the basis of that I'm inclined to agree the thermostat or sensor is at fault.. Is this pretty simple to fix then? cheers

thanks Richard, have just been out and checked the fluids.. plenty of coolant in the rad, if anything slightly too much, but temp was still around 60 degrees so it may drop as the fluid cools back down? Parked the car pointing slightly uphill and popped the rad cap with the engine still running, no gurgles as such, all very dull really. No more fluid underneath the car either, so doesn't look like anything serious.. Hopefully..

Hi folks, Just got the zed back today - after some suspension work So, have been for some 'spirited driving'.. Unfortunately there seems to be an issue with the cooling system. I have a tech tom fitted so i am able to see a digital read out for the engine temp. On a motorway cruise to my mate's the temp was steady at 80-85 degrees c while at motorway speeds. However, I've just got back from a quick blast consisting of mainly backroads and then some fun on an industrail estate (roundabouts) and the temp has started being erratic. The temp quickly went up to about 95, then all of a sudden jumped to 105, then fell quickly to 90 and then rose quickly again. This was while I was trying to gently cool the car on a steady run back to the house... I thought it might just be the gauge playing up, but having stopped the engine and popped the bonnet I saw a trace of coolant from the pipe next to the radiator cap. Closer inspection revealed more had leaked onto the belly plate and there was a small pool collecting on the floor. I checked the coolant level and there was still plenty in, but I could hear the water in the engine (engine not running) boiling or at least bubbling away. Any ideas? Is it the fact I may have been cornering for a sustained period to the right (ie around the roundabouts..) and forced fluid out of the overflow pipe? or could it be that the system has got airlocked somehow, which would explain the erratic readings as the sensor measured water, air, water, air etc Car parked up now, will give it a bit of time to cool then pop the radiator cap for an inspection. Anyone suffered a similar episode? Cheers - Leo

Prefer the 'Bomex' one also advertised. Call me weird, but I think 99 spec stuff looks worse than the old stuff. Then again, I must be biased.. 14k though, wouldn't spend that much on a car like that - 8k max

yeah, particularly for red cars I imagine - looks like you're sorted then!

If I was gonna put some vents in my bonnet, I'd be more interested in whats underneath and putting them where they would work most effectively.. and also thinkin where the water would run into... Look a bit like a Cossie spin-off whatever you do. 400r vent, been done. Veilside fibreglass toss, been done.. So, i'm with Si - try something unique. Be the pioneer, not the horse he rode in on!

Outside lane and motoring:wink: Looked like it could have been heading Tamworth direction? Zed World maybe?

Sorry to lower the tone, but why hasn't anyone seized the opportunity to mention any PUSSY or NICELY TRIMMED BUSHES gags. Or is it just my 5yr sense of humour? Opportunity wasted I say!

Well, I seem to be in a negative mood today - so I'm gonna say it looks pants. It just doesnt hang together right... The silhouette is very similar to the 370z but the front end doesnt work. It gets better towards the back, but I'm sure I recognise those C pillars... Fortunately, it will - probably - never make it into production, just to be clear on that. Glad to see that Toyota still cant come up with a decent headlamp design for the supra tho.. Some things never change

Was glad to see top gear back on after half a millenia of repeats and best bits.. Am I alone in thinking that Top Gear would be much, much, much better without Richard 'I'll push a trolley anywhere' Hammond? I didnt mind him at first but recently I've noticed that I hate him with a passion, in fact, I wish he'd take up dragster racing and do us all a favour... James May - Top Blok. Jezza - well, he aint perfect either, but you cant have a circus without the ringmaster. Hammond - complete tool. I know it was the 'vertically challenged one' who chose the Zed in one of those infamous £1000 challenges, but despite this one redeeming feature I still want push him off a cliff. Is it just me? Am I being a little harsh..... again?

Hi, Went out in the zed this morn and turned the fans to demist the front screen and heard a click click noise. Now when i try putting the blowers on the feet or face, nothing happens.. Basically its stuck on the screen Either something snapped or whatever mechanism operates the blower direction has failed. Is there an easy way to get to it? Like take the centre panel off? Cheers

I'll stand up for the R32, great lookin car The thing that made it great though was the fact it looked quite ordinary. Proper original Q car. And there isn't any other Nissan with such racing pedigree. The R32 kicked ass on several continents. Big Time. I doubt the rear spoiler would fit though. The Zed is much wider across the arse, so it would need extending and, to be honest, it would probably look terrible. A bit like those she-ite non-nissan items some people have. A la Mitsi GTO rear wing, looks tosh. The Zed is definitely a prettier car than the R32, but the R32 was never meant to be a posers car...

Absolutely... You could buy a very decent ferrari for that kinda money and it wouldn't have poxy V6 in the wrong place either.. A classic case of someone with no idea what a car is worth. Maybe he put the decimal point in the wrong place..? 5800 Euro's would be about right. But why stick ferrari badges on it? I mean, anybody knows thats not a ferrari, hell my girlfriend would know thats not a ferrari. Wear your badge with pride, if you don't like it, get a better job and buy one you do. Doughnut. With a little bit of taste it could be made to look ok. But those wings are just a little bit 80's really, could do with smoothing off some of the lines. And paint it black or some dark colour to get as far away from the ferrari connection as possible...