hesitation, stutter, loss of power, and backfiring problem

[Wolfgang]

This is my first car over 4 cylinders, RWD and turbo, so I dont really know where to start with my diagnosing it, i have a 91 300ZX TT and itll pull hard like it should when youre accelerating but around 3500-5000 RPM it will stutter and hesitate and backfire a little bit and then after that (5000 RPM to shift) it doesnt really accelerate like it did before it started doing this, I think it runs rich sometimes because you can smell it but i dont know if this is part of the problem, any help is HUGELY appreciated!

[mark1212]

check the ECU for fault codes! this can be very helpful. i would also consider doing a air/fuel mixture test if you think its running rich. both of these processes can be done yourself with a lil paperwork. checkout this link for some info on running codes and what they mean.

http://zhome.com/ZCMnL/PICS/ecu/ecu.html

let us know what else we can do to help

[evildky]

Welcome to Nico!has the car been modified at all? I'd suspect a fuel issue or the PTU

[Wolfgang]

no, its stock, nothing has been done to it yet, im a little scared to do anything because ive never had a car like this and i dont trust other people working on my car, how do i do an air/fuel mixture test?

[freakonaleash1187]

Have you checked your spark plugs? Yes, it sounds so simple, but a foul spark plug can cause a lot to go wrong. I remember I went through a couple months of trying to diagnos my Z and in the end, it was just bad spark plugs.

[Wolfgang]

yea, i changed the spark plugs right after i got it, and i want to do the coil packs but im not sure how easy it will be, a couple of the plugs that plug into the top of them the plastic is all smashed and broken and a couple of the bolts that thread into the manifolds are all stripped out so if anyone has advice on how easy it is to replace the wires and all that i would really appreciate it, i looked and i dont know if they just disconnect or if i would have to cut wires and hard wire new ones in

[DrifTT]

Make sure you are using the correct plugs. I had a similar problem. It turned out that the car had NA hot plugs in it. the correct # for the Twin Turbo cold plugs is PFR-6B 11B. They are made by NGK. You can't get them at an auto parts store, you are better off ordering them direct from Nissan.

[phanatikz32]

check your air fuel ratio, and make sure you arent running too rich. also check your spark plugs i had a similar situation in my ford taurus, in which it would start to shake and the car would completly shut off, which turned out to be due to bad spark plus. also check your fuel injectors they could be bad if you are experiencing sudden lag like that. do you know if your exhausts spews white smoke?

[phanatikz32]

hey driftt nice pixle car!

[evildky]

if the pigtails for you're coil packs are buggered up taht could be your problem, they used to sell a replacement harness form the dealer but it was pretty pricey, might have to bug a harness off a donor or worst case cue the pigs from a maxima harness and swap the pins over

[Wetmyson]

you can smell gas on mine after it's been running. i've been meaning to check for gas leaks - it's been too cold and snowy. the point of this comment though is to tell you what my friend said - he said that turbo cars run super rich when they are under boost. makes perfect sense, but i had never thought about it and found it interesting. he said that sometimes what might seem like a gas leak is actually an exhaust leak because of this.

good luck getting your z running right.

[DunnJH4]

Hey

This is my first car over 4 cylinders, RWD and turbo,..........

Wolfgang? Are you a Navy Nuke? I was in Goose Creek, what a dump. SC is nice, but not that area. Then again, neither is Norfolk! Stay away if you can

[Wolfgang]

-update- i was messing around with it the other day and got this crazy idea to just check those spark plug pins and the middle one on the driver side wasnt on, so i was wondering because i didnt really understand that post about the pigtails and maxima and everything, it seems i just need the plastic clip that goes into the coil packs, anybody have any idea where i can get just the clip part? and ive got a new problem with it, if im just sitting still i can move the steering wheel 60-90 degrees easily without it having any effect on the front wheels and while im driving if im turning one way i have to move the wheel about 120 degrees the other way before it starts to respond, makes for a scary driving experience sometimes, anybody have any ideas?

[ZL8NING]

I'm new to these cars myself (but been working on my 95 Acura Legend for 7 years), and that sounds like your power steering fluid has leaked out!

Get that fixed ASAP! Before you end up in a wreck!

[ThisIsSparTTa]

... You just necro'd a 7 year old post ...

[ZL8NING]

... You just necro'd a 7 year old post ...

Hahahaha!

Newbie reading up on the technicals!
But that's the thing with starting a thread requesting help, and not coming back to share the solution once found! Now someone searching for a similar problem makes a hit on the thread, but no solution!

Well...... I'll pay more attention to the dates!
Lol!