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PostPosted: Sat Sep 07, 2019 5:34 am 
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Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 4:52 pm
Posts: 22
Hi all!

It's been a long while. Wife's 300 not doing well. Seems like it's misfiring. Barely running at idle. No power. Need to get above 3k rpm to get anything out of it. Tried to drive around. Came back, engine compartment had smoke in it! I took a couple of vids that I;ll post. Tried to capture how it sounds. It's got 22k miles on it. This started small. A small skip. Was like that for a while. Mind you we don't drive it that much. SO it sat for the winter. When I stated it this spring, I got what's described. I filled the tank thinking there might have been condensation.

At a loss. Looked in engine compartment for anything obvious i.e. cracked hose, bad connection. Didn't see anything.

Any help will be appreciated. Trying to get it in shape for the Fall outing.

Thanks,
Karl :)


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PostPosted: Sat Sep 07, 2019 7:54 pm 
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Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:53 pm
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Location: CT
Does it smell like burning mice?

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1970 240Z


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PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 10:13 am 
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I'm not sure I know what they smell like. After driving around it smelled like maybe gas or alcohol. It's been in my main garage dmso there's been not rotent intrusion.


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PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 10:16 am 
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Rodent. Probably not a good idea to try to do this on my phone :(


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PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 11:55 am 
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Joined: Sat Feb 01, 2014 9:21 am
Posts: 973
Location: Somers CT
Has the check engine light come on ?

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W.Karl Walton
Somers CT



75' - 280Z - HLS30203249 - #304 Gold Metallic (stockish)
96' - 300zx TT - JN1CZ24d3TX960293 - Black on Black (enhanced)


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PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 12:38 pm 
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No it hasn't


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PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 12:40 pm 
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Having trouble posing the vids from phone. Will trying todo it from pc


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 1:51 am 
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Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:53 pm
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Location: CT
How close is your nearest Nissan dealership?
Your ZX was blessed with the ability to use the outstanding on-board computer analysis for such problems. Can you drive it there and have them plug it in?

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PostPosted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 8:14 am 
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Frank, I bought the data connector and the free version of the Conzult software. I just got through trying it out. Unfortunately, I get a comm port error. Can't figure that out. I saw other software for sale that I might try.

I did find that when I shut off the A/C, it is somewhat better. I couldn't upload the vids from my phone. Need to xfer to my laptop :( Will try that.


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PostPosted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 8:44 am 
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Ok, lets try pics/vids again! Well it seems that each of the pics and vids I took are over the 2M limit. It appears I can't send them.


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PostPosted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 2:25 pm 
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Location: CT
Well, the air conditioner simply makes an extra drag on an engine which is already having trouble running at low speed. Engines don't make much power at low RPM so even the extra load of accessories (lights, A/C, power steering, bad alternator bearing or water pump, etc) can make it harder to keep running. Turning off the A/C would certainly lessen the drag on an engine which is already having trouble running right.

You have something (probably something simple) which is preventing your engine from running smoothly at idle speed or low speed. As you get the engine up above 3,000 rpm it is finally making enough power to overcome whatever issue is bothering it at low speed.

The "comm port error" is (I think) just telling you your own diagnostic plug-in isn't connecting to the onboard computer for some reason (maybe just the plug itself), so you will not get any answers from that program. A Nissan dealership is still your best bet for a quick determination of the problem.

Any number of things might cause a low-speed power loss, including a single faulty igniter, a clogged fuel injector, or a lack of oil. Even if your gauges show OK, please check all the fluids anyway.

The single skip you described suggests some issue with a single cylinder, but the smokey engine bay could be leaky exhaust, a slipping belt or burning oil.

You have a month to figure this out before the Fall Outing a Ross' house! :)

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PostPosted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 8:15 am 
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Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 1:14 pm
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Location: Southington, CT
You more than likely have a bad fuel injector (or two...). This is an extremely common issue with the Z32 era cars. One will go bad, then the rest in succession (ask me how I know!). I would get a proper diagnosis from a shop, then have them change all six while they're at it (they WILL all fail eventually). I believe when this happened to me, I was able to buy a complete fuel injector kit with all the injectors, clips, and hoses associated with the job. I believe the kit was from thezstore.com, but I'd have to check my paperwork to be sure.


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PostPosted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 3:25 pm 
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Location: Somers CT
That should show up on a fairly simple test, my 96 300 TT had a bad injector, we were able to isolate which one by disabling the coil tops one by one first to eliminate that as a possibility. The code read showed a misfire in #5 cylinder so we checked if it ran differently with the injector unplugged. I changed them all because it seemed like the smarter thing to do. The job is no harder for all then one as you need to take the plenum off either way. Sort of like the timing belt, if your in there you might as well change all you can or risk tearing it down again later.

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W.Karl Walton
Somers CT



75' - 280Z - HLS30203249 - #304 Gold Metallic (stockish)
96' - 300zx TT - JN1CZ24d3TX960293 - Black on Black (enhanced)


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 6:15 am 
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Joined: Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:38 pm
Posts: 3411
Location: rhode island
If your smelling gas, and you have a misfire, 1+1= leaky injector. AND Nissan had a problem with leaky injectors in the early 90's, and not just the Z's. Maximas and Pathfinders as well.


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PostPosted: Sat Oct 19, 2019 5:58 pm 
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Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:53 pm
Posts: 14779
Location: CT
What progress has been made on this issue?

At the Annual Fall Outing today I got the contact information for one of the last guys who works exclusively on the Z32. He has had 90 of them and rebuilt 5 to show an performance specs. :shock:
Call Ben at 516-662-940-two.

Frank T

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