New Z owner, and NEED HELP!!!

[WideOut86]

OK, I have been putting writing this for as long as possible, but my head is tired from beating it against the garage wall.

I bought a 1990 Z32 2+2 with a TT swap. (I know, I know) This car was a mess when I bought it and still is not up to my standards. I pulled 3 pounds (no exaggeration) of wire out of the passenger compartment that was used for gauges and stereo. The factory stereo harness was clipped off and random wires were spliced into numerous times. The interior is now free of all those wires and I have rewired the gauges.

The car has a JWT ECU with an E-manage piggy back and the E-01. Cannot pull codes for some reason. I have tried everything but the Consult.

This swap was done alright (not to my standards), and I believe has been through a few different hands since then. When I bought the car it didn't run, wouldn't even start. I have it running now. Well, kind of. It starts and will kind of idle. Here is what the issue is...

Engine will start, idles around 1500. Car is very shaky and the idle will hunt and is erratic.
I replaced the AAC system and tried to set the idle with the screw. No change in the idle with either AAC units.
I replaced the TPS as the old one was out of spec.
I replaced the MAF.
Number one cylinder may be dead, when I unplug the coil pack it makes no difference in the idle. Spark plug looks clean.
I feel like I am chasing everything and nothing at the same time. I seem to have made no progress, minus the car starting now.


I still need to do a boost leak test and order a new coil pack. Will any other coil packs work? (J30, NA, etc?)

I am sorry for rambling, but I am so frustrated that if anyone lived by me and wanted a case of beer and a BBQ to come help me yell at my car I would be more than happy to oblige. I AM STUCK!!!!

Thank You.

[t.mcginley.jr]

Completely understandable how you're feeling, most if not all Z owners have been there.

Answer these questions and I can help you more:

1. How did you determine you need a new coil pack?

2. Does the engine have old style or new style injectors? Old style have square connectors with metal clips holding them in, new style have oval connectors.

3. Is this a stock TT swap aside from the ECU? or are there other mods done?

[WideOut86]

1. Coil pack ohmed out incorrectly. It isn't too far out of spec. It is at .9 instead of the .7 it should be at. I am beginning to think it is not the coil. However, I am using a cheapy multimeter, my MAC multimeter is being borrowed conveniently.

2. Square connectors, I believe those will need to be changed. (Maybe someone could tell me where and which kind of injectors to buy)

3. I believe it is a stock swap. I am unsure. Here is what I can see....

Stillen throttle body intake hoses, FMIC, Larger radiator, different fans (yes plural, one on inside one on outside), Stillen dual exhaust, E-manage, Profec E-01, and JWT ecu.

This car has had connections cut for what seems to be Schittzengigglez.

Sorry for the late reply, decided to try and have a ZEN moment with her. Didn't work. Idle got worse. TPS could be bad, isn't specing out right either.

[t.mcginley.jr]

Ok based on those answers, for sure get a new TPS if it isn't working right your idle will never be good. Also, those square old-style injectors are probably going bad, especially the one that didn't change the idle when you pulled the coil connector. You can do a simple ohm check between the 2 pins on the injector, should be between 10-14 ohms.

Besides those mechanical issues, it could be a problem with the tune too.

[nissanfreak12]

Wideout86, your best friend with a TT is a boost leak tester. They are not that expensive and it will find leaks you never knew you had. this should also solve, hopefully, your erratic idle.

What are your plans for the car? If you are looking to up the boost, bigger turbos, etc... I would suggest 740cc instead of the 370cc. Most guys will say just get the larger injectors, and I will agree, but you do find out what size you already have. There may be a chance it doesn't have stock injectors.

When was the basic maintenance done? Timing, water pump, seals, etc... Pointless to spend all this money on new stuff, if the timing belt breaks. Put some pics up!!

[WideOut86]

I will post pictures soon.

I am to the point of taking the engine out, and cleaning up all the sensors, putting all new belts and pulleys on, and putting the engine into a shell I found. Eliminate the wiring crap this guy did.
The body and interior on this car aren't horrible, and I have an extra TT engine without the turbos or an NA engine I can put in. Just figured I would do that and sell this car for 2500-3k and start with a clean and freshly refurbished TT engine in the shell. Good idea or bad?

My plan for the car is 500 whp, and a full suspension build over the winter.

[WideOut86]

Small update. I unplugged the e-manage, just to get a base ecu tune involved.

As soon as I unplugged the e-manage I was able to retrieve codes.
13
21
34

I have already replaced the knock sensor (relocated)
Already replaced the coolant sensor
and have no clue what the IGN circuit would involve.

Car idles better now. TPS is still out of spec, but the rough shaky idle is gone. It idles at 1100-1200 now.

But I need advice from the Z family. Who wants to answer a pretty tough dilemma?

Sell this Z, get a bike for summer and buy a shell with a seized engine for 1k and put my other turbo engine in the shell? Or keep this Z and just keep tinkering and spending money to get her back to my anal-retentive idea of perfect?

[Ace2cool]

That's really your call, man. No one on here is gonna tell you to get rid of the Z though, lol. I love bikes as much as I do my Z, but I don't think I'd trade one for the other.