New 300zx tt questions.

[Roguepriest1287]

I just purchased a 93 300zx tt yesterday and I have a few questions if anyone has answers that would be great. The car has been sitting garaged for a few months before I bought it, and it originally came from Nebraska.

After I bought the car the first thing I did was change the oil and air filters then took it for a drive in town. After a while of driving at slower speeds or sitting in traffic the temperature gauge begins to rise and stops about a pencil width away from the H line. I checked coolant levels and topped that off, burped the coolant, replaced the radiator cap and checked all the fuses for the fans. Everything checked out so I went back out and it did it again. It never goes higher than though it just runs a little hot and once I am on the highway or moving over 30mph it starts to level out again. I am thinking of replacing the thermostat, but I wanted to get some feedback since this is the first performance car I have owned. Any ideas?

The car sounds like a truck engine when I get on it, I have heard it could be a bad or cheap fan clutch has anyone else herd this?

My last question is simple I would like any advice on what maintenance things I should addressed off the bat. The car as 120k miles and has recently had all the fuel injectors replaced.
Thank you in advance for any help, I love this car and want to give it the best life it can have.

[nissanfreak12]

Congrats on the purchase, and welcome to NICO!!! Post some pics..

First thing to do is read over this...

everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-z32-t508377.html

Look at the bottom of the page, talks about the 6 P's, go over all that. Do you know if the timing belt has been changed? 120k service? If unsure, do it. Don't go cheap on this, it normally runs about $500-$600. This is what keeps the engine going and if it breaks, buh bye engine.

The fan clutch could be bad if it has a loud roaring sound or it could be engaging because it actually is hot, and its trying to cool down the engine. My advise, flush the system. Use a good coolant flush to do this. It is possible the thermostat could be malfunctioning and/or the radiator could be clogged. Make sure you have a fan shroud with a stock radiator.

Are you running AC when it gets hot?
Does the electric fan turn on?

From what you described, it sounds like the fan clutch is out. Still a good idea to do the flush. keep us posted.

[Roguepriest1287]

I went over the 6 p’s and when I am flushing the coolant and replacing the thermostat on Tuesday I plan on going through and doing these tests. I am already planning on replacing the plugs here shortly. I do not know if the timing belt has been changed, thanks for the advice I will start getting ready to do that as well .

I compare the noise to my grandparent’s expedition when they are driving and it happens when I am reviving the engine or accelerating. I’ll be sure to check the radiator, my brother and I may end up replacing the radiator as well. What would be a good coolant flush to use?

As far as the AC I have never ran it since I got the car because the AC does not work. I am hopping it just needs a recharge, but I have not checked too much into the AC. I can take the T top off and get by just fine. I do hear the fan turn on from time to time though while I’m driving. What is weird though is I have checked the fan and it was spinning but I did not hear it running, while at others time I can hear it clearly running. I am hoping I can get this issues resolved quickly so I can start focusing on the other areas of the car that needs attention.

I was leaning towards the fan clutch as well, is there a definite way to determine if it out? I

I am going to post pictures tomorrow after I have detailed the car . Thanks for the advice I need plenty of it right now.

[nissanfreak12]

How to check the fan clutch, with the car not running, push it hard enough so it turns. If it stops almost immediately, its bad. If it makes more than two full turns, its bad. It should really only make one full turn, maybe. Should have some resistance. Easy way to find out.

Ac system, if it doesn't cool, no refrigerant. You have a leak somewhere, point blank. You could do a recharge, but you will either be doing it again in a short time or next summer. Besides, you also need to find out if you have r-12 or 134a in it.

Coolant flush, I have had luck with the prestone one at vatozone. Try and find one with a T so you can hook a hose to it and do it correctly. If the radiator is gunked up, its better to replace it, get a nice aluminum one, one of the best investments I did for the cooling system.

If you look into the 120k kit, get silicone hoses for the bypass hoses, upgrade to the Ramey Z idler studs, and the stiffer VTC springs. Will not regret it, especially if you plan on keeping it. This car can and will get expensive, but just don't cheap out on parts, you will be doing that part twice.

[t.mcginley.jr]

How to check the fan clutch, with the car not running, push it hard enough so it turns. If it stops almost immediately, its bad. If it makes more than two full turns, its bad. It should really only make one full turn, maybe. Should have some resistance. Easy way to find out.

Ac system, if it doesn't cool, no refrigerant. You have a leak somewhere, point blank. You could do a recharge, but you will either be doing it again in a short time or next summer. Besides, you also need to find out if you have r-12 or 134a in it.

Coolant flush, I have had luck with the prestone one at vatozone. Try and find one with a T so you can hook a hose to it and do it correctly. If the radiator is gunked up, its better to replace it, get a nice aluminum one, one of the best investments I did for the cooling system.

If you look into the 120k kit, get silicone hoses for the bypass hoses, upgrade to the Ramey Z idler studs, and the stiffer VTC springs. Will not regret it, especially if you plan on keeping it. This car can and will get expensive, but just don't cheap out on parts, you will be doing that part twice.

I concur, do all of this

[nissanfreak12]

How to check the fan clutch, with the car not running, push it hard enough so it turns. If it stops almost immediately, its bad. If it makes more than two full turns, its bad. It should really only make one full turn, maybe. Should have some resistance. Easy way to find out.

Ac system, if it doesn't cool, no refrigerant. You have a leak somewhere, point blank. You could do a recharge, but you will either be doing it again in a short time or next summer. Besides, you also need to find out if you have r-12 or 134a in it.

Coolant flush, I have had luck with the prestone one at vatozone. Try and find one with a T so you can hook a hose to it and do it correctly. If the radiator is gunked up, its better to replace it, get a nice aluminum one, one of the best investments I did for the cooling system.

If you look into the 120k kit, get silicone hoses for the bypass hoses, upgrade to the Ramey Z idler studs, and the stiffer VTC springs. Will not regret it, especially if you plan on keeping it. This car can and will get expensive, but just don't cheap out on parts, you will be doing that part twice.

I concur, do all of this

I concur that you concur!!

[twinturbozxtacy]

make sure its got a tt radiator, i had a tt swap with a na radiator, no go... t stat is a real possibility. id do that before driving it too much. running hot is never good. also your temp sensor could be off... lots o possibilities. what ever you do dont let it over heat.

[nissanfreak12]

make sure its got a tt radiator, i had a tt swap with a na radiator, no go... t stat is a real possibility. id do that before driving it too much. running hot is never good. also your temp sensor could be off... lots o possibilities. what ever you do dont let it over heat.

How the hell did someone get a NA radiator in with all the piping for the intercoolers? I had a b**** of a time with a TT radiator getting all the piping in on my swap.

[t.mcginley.jr]

make sure its got a tt radiator, i had a tt swap with a na radiator, no go... t stat is a real possibility. id do that before driving it too much. running hot is never good. also your temp sensor could be off... lots o possibilities. what ever you do dont let it over heat.

How the hell did someone get a NA radiator in with all the piping for the intercoolers? I had a b**** of a time with a TT radiator getting all the piping in on my swap.

Yeah how the hell?! Please explain!

[Roguepriest1287]

Congrats on the purchase, and welcome to NICO!!! Post some pics..

First thing to do is read over this...

everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-z32-t508377.html

Look at the bottom of the page, talks about the 6 P's, go over all that. Do you know if the timing belt has been changed? 120k service? If unsure, do it. Don't go cheap on this, it normally runs about $500-$600. This is what keeps the engine going and if it breaks, buh bye engine.

The fan clutch could be bad if it has a loud roaring sound or it could be engaging because it actually is hot, and its trying to cool down the engine. My advise, flush the system. Use a good coolant flush to do this. It is possible the thermostat could be malfunctioning and/or the radiator could be clogged. Make sure you have a fan shroud with a stock radiator.

Are you running AC when it gets hot?
Does the electric fan turn on?

From what you described, it sounds like the fan clutch is out. Still a good idea to do the flush. keep us posted.

Here are the pictures of my new buy. Drove a little ways up the mountain behind me today and took the pictures. I replaced the thermostat today and it seems to be running fine now. Cept for that damn sounds when I get on it, it doesnt sound bad it just sounds like a ford expedition getting up to speed or something. Ill take a video of it and upload it here shorty.

Thank you all for the advice. I love this car and I am excited to see what I can come up with for her .

[NolimitZ32]

Very clean, great pickup man.

[Roguepriest1287]

Very clean, great pickup man.

Thanks . It was a great pick up, the guy who I bought it from inherited the car from his brother who passed away last year. He drove it a few times but I guess it reminded him of his brother to much so he let it sit in his garage for months. He really wanted to get rid of it so I talked him down from 6500 to 5500 for the car.

[NolimitZ32]

Holy jeebus, 5500 for that?! That's a steal man!

[Roguepriest1287]

Holy jeebus, 5500 for that?! That's a steal man!

Yep thats what I thought lol thats why I jumped on it

[twinturbozxtacy]

make sure its got a tt radiator, i had a tt swap with a na radiator, no go... t stat is a real possibility. id do that before driving it too much. running hot is never good. also your temp sensor could be off... lots o possibilities. what ever you do dont let it over heat.

How the hell did someone get a NA radiator in with all the piping for the intercoolers? I had a b**** of a time with a TT radiator getting all the piping in on my swap.

without thread jacking lets say he had a rubber mallet and took it to the sides of the rad.....


CONGRATS on the nice buy! looks sweet!