1992 240sx : smoking exhaust and clutch issue

[freakyjason]

Just picked up a 92' 240sx 5spd - 153k on it but engine was rebuilt a much more recently.

When I picked up the car it smoked a little and ran rough at low rpm, almost bucking or stalling when shifting in low gears. The owner told me he advanced the timing to squeek out more horsepower. I don't know much mechanically (yet) but a friend of mine tried to retard the timing to specs but even turning distributor fully counter clockwise it was still advanced. Someone has speculated that the timing chain is installed improperly and advanced a tooth or so. I called the owner about this and he said the car sat a few weeks and I should try some dry gas (which I did and nothing). There is also smoke coming out of the exhaust. Yesterday idle was so erratic that it stalled twice when I came out of gear.

The clutch began slipping a week after I got it inspite of previous owner saying he just changed clutch (and has lifetime warranty from Advanced Auto). Adjusted pedal linkage because there was no slack in it. It is better but chirps and doesn't seem consistent. It seems to have changed a lot in just a week of driving. Someone said throw out bearing.

There is also a hose (1/4" diameter ?) hanging down behind the engine - vacuum hose?

I am taking it to my mechanic on Fri for inspection but thought someone might have some immediate ideas about where to start.

[NISTECH]

Read the drivabilty link in the sticky at the top of this forum.

Take a look at the coolant temp sensor and connector. It may be corroded and making your car run pig rich. As far as timing goes it does sound as if your mechanical chain timing is off. You will need to pul the valve cover and put your engine on TDC to see if one of the cams is off a tooth. If your cam time checks out your distributor may be off a tooth. The combination of mechanical timing and the car running rich will definitly cause and issue with timing so check those things out. The hose is hard to say since there are so many vaccum lines at the back of the engine. Could be the fuel pressure regulator vaccum line which would also cause it to run rich at idle.

Good luck and welcome to nico.

[ricebike]

for the clutch: did the previous owner resurfaced the flywheel? or, @ the very least, use some sandpaper to deglaze the surface?

break-in period of the clutch kit was done?

if you have the receipt w/ lifetime warranty; mebbe time to exchange it and check out that flywheel the next time u pull the trans off?

[Nismochick240]

i had the SAME problem with the idle. When you would go to shift from a gear and held the clutch in for more than a couple of seconds, it would stall. Or if i was getting on it and push the clutch in to coast it would cut off... My solution:: distribitor- i had a whole in it the size of the top of a tack. I replaced it and the rotor button. never done it since... maybe you should replace it

as for the clutch- i wouldnt never buy anything like that from advanced. (fluids, car wash, and misc stuff is okay) but clutches, UNLESS you're old and dont run your car hard, are better being bought by an aftermarket brand. I ordered an EXEDY OEM clutch (due to lack of money at the time i had to get oem lol) it was like 160 (msrp) i think from WORLDPAC (dont know if you can get it from there b/c it was through my bf's shop @ wholesale) but its been a really good clutch!

good luck with it! hope you get it fixed