I brought my 300zx this past year and it is the first car I have ever had. Since I don't have anyone to help me with questions I have in regards to repairs I need to do, I'll ask here.
Pwr Wnd: When I bought it both door's power windows worked fine. Recently I've had problems with the passenger side one. It would work one moment then not the next. I would work for weeks, and then not work for days. I don't think anything is wrong inside the door panel, because either both the driver and passenger buttons that operate the window work or they don't. I have heard that it might be the power window motor that is messed up, but I don't know where it is located.
Thermostat?: Whenever I go, say, 15 miles to visit family I take the highway. By the time I get there the electronic temperature gauge registers near the top next to the 'H'. I check the hood and it isn't warm or anything. Could a change be done inside the hood to fix this. Maybe add coolant instead of water? I don't know. Newbie=me.
Loss of Power: I don't know if it's just me, but it seems that my 300zx just doesn't accelerate like it did when I first bought it. Now when I floor it I kind of hear it stuggling before hiting 2nd gear. Was it something I did? Can it be fixed?
Tight Steering: I think my steering wheel is fine, but in other cars (like the '91 Maxima), the steering wheel is looser and easier to turn. Is there a way to do this to do this for my car.
Headliner: The headliner is starting to fall down in the back and adhesive spray doesn't seem to work. What do I have to do to replace it or fix it?
Brakes: When I apply the brakes when in reverse, the make a loud, long sreeching sound. When in drive it make a shorter, not as loud screeching sound. After a few minutes on the road the sounds disappear. The only seem to appear after having the car parked for a couple hours. Does this mean I'll have to change the brake pads? Even though the ones on now are appx. a year old?
Oh, and do you guys prefer/use steering wheel covers?
Any help with one or all of these problem's is appreciated. Thanks.
Various questions about my 1988 300zx
Quote »Pwr Wnd: When I bought it both door's power windows worked fine. Recently I've had problems with the passenger side one. It would work one moment then not the next. I would work for weeks, and then not work for days. I don't think anything is wrong inside the door panel, because either both the driver and passenger buttons that operate the window work or they don't. I have heard that it might be the power window motor that is messed up, but I don't know where it is located.[/quote]
When the window stops working and will not move. Hold the switch in the up or down position [ which ever way it will need to go from where its at] while holding it there take the palm of your hand and slap the inside of the door HARD. If the window now moves you have bad contacts in your pwr window motor. It is insdie the door. You will need to remove the door panel to gain access. You will have to pull the glass out and the whole regulator assembly to get the motor out. replace the motor and reassemble the car.
Quote »Thermostat?: Whenever I go, say, 15 miles to visit family I take the highway. By the time I get there the electronic temperature gauge registers near the top next to the 'H'. I check the hood and it isn't warm or anything. Could a change be done inside the hood to fix this. Maybe add coolant instead of water? I don't know. Newbie=me. [/quote]
You may have an air pocket in your cooling system. You should run a mix of 50% coolant and 50 % water in your system. Go to the local parts store and pick up a bleeder funnel to properly blled the system of air. This may be more then simply a blled problem but start there and post results if it doesnt work.
Quote »Loss of Power: I don't know if it's just me, but it seems that my 300zx just doesn't accelerate like it did when I first bought it. Now when I floor it I kind of hear it stuggling before hiting 2nd gear. Was it something I did? Can it be fixed?[/quote]
This is a tuff one as the symptoms could be as a result of a number of possible causes. It may even be related to your last concern. Wait on this till you get your overheating thing taken care of.
Quote »Tight Steering: I think my steering wheel is fine, but in other cars (like the '91 Maxima), the steering wheel is looser and easier to turn. Is there a way to do this to do this for my car.[/quote]
Check your P/S fluid level make sure its where its suppose to be. If its low look for leaks around your rack boots. Also you might want to think about having an alignment done. That way you can find out if you might have some suspension issues.
Quote »Headliner: The headliner is starting to fall down in the back and adhesive spray doesn't seem to work. What do I have to do to replace it or fix it? [/quote]
Unless you can get every bit of the old adhesive off the cardboard backing and the liner material to the headliner you will never get it to stick back up there. You best bet is to replace the headliner. To get it out you need to remove all the trim from your A and B pillars on both sides of the car so you can lower the liner and pull it out through the hatch area.
Quote »Brakes: When I apply the brakes when in reverse, the make a loud, long sreeching sound. When in drive it make a shorter, not as loud screeching sound. After a few minutes on the road the sounds disappear. The only seem to appear after having the car parked for a couple hours. Does this mean I'll have to change the brake pads? Even though the ones on now are appx. a year old? [/quote]
It sounds to me like you have glazed brakes. The only real way to solve that is have your rotors machined replace the pads and make sure you have the factory brake shims on the pads these are for preventing brake squeek. As well as applying a brake lube to the back of the pads between the shims.
Quote »Oh, and do you guys prefer/use steering wheel covers?[/quote]
I personnaly dont think thier safe unless they are laced the complete circumfrence of the wheel otherwise they slip and could cause loss of control of the car in a emergency manuver to avoid an accident.
When the window stops working and will not move. Hold the switch in the up or down position [ which ever way it will need to go from where its at] while holding it there take the palm of your hand and slap the inside of the door HARD. If the window now moves you have bad contacts in your pwr window motor. It is insdie the door. You will need to remove the door panel to gain access. You will have to pull the glass out and the whole regulator assembly to get the motor out. replace the motor and reassemble the car.
Quote »Thermostat?: Whenever I go, say, 15 miles to visit family I take the highway. By the time I get there the electronic temperature gauge registers near the top next to the 'H'. I check the hood and it isn't warm or anything. Could a change be done inside the hood to fix this. Maybe add coolant instead of water? I don't know. Newbie=me. [/quote]
You may have an air pocket in your cooling system. You should run a mix of 50% coolant and 50 % water in your system. Go to the local parts store and pick up a bleeder funnel to properly blled the system of air. This may be more then simply a blled problem but start there and post results if it doesnt work.
Quote »Loss of Power: I don't know if it's just me, but it seems that my 300zx just doesn't accelerate like it did when I first bought it. Now when I floor it I kind of hear it stuggling before hiting 2nd gear. Was it something I did? Can it be fixed?[/quote]
This is a tuff one as the symptoms could be as a result of a number of possible causes. It may even be related to your last concern. Wait on this till you get your overheating thing taken care of.
Quote »Tight Steering: I think my steering wheel is fine, but in other cars (like the '91 Maxima), the steering wheel is looser and easier to turn. Is there a way to do this to do this for my car.[/quote]
Check your P/S fluid level make sure its where its suppose to be. If its low look for leaks around your rack boots. Also you might want to think about having an alignment done. That way you can find out if you might have some suspension issues.
Quote »Headliner: The headliner is starting to fall down in the back and adhesive spray doesn't seem to work. What do I have to do to replace it or fix it? [/quote]
Unless you can get every bit of the old adhesive off the cardboard backing and the liner material to the headliner you will never get it to stick back up there. You best bet is to replace the headliner. To get it out you need to remove all the trim from your A and B pillars on both sides of the car so you can lower the liner and pull it out through the hatch area.
Quote »Brakes: When I apply the brakes when in reverse, the make a loud, long sreeching sound. When in drive it make a shorter, not as loud screeching sound. After a few minutes on the road the sounds disappear. The only seem to appear after having the car parked for a couple hours. Does this mean I'll have to change the brake pads? Even though the ones on now are appx. a year old? [/quote]
It sounds to me like you have glazed brakes. The only real way to solve that is have your rotors machined replace the pads and make sure you have the factory brake shims on the pads these are for preventing brake squeek. As well as applying a brake lube to the back of the pads between the shims.
Quote »Oh, and do you guys prefer/use steering wheel covers?[/quote]
I personnaly dont think thier safe unless they are laced the complete circumfrence of the wheel otherwise they slip and could cause loss of control of the car in a emergency manuver to avoid an accident.