terribleone

Cheers for those mate, I've already looked through the workshop manual almost front to back looking for clues. That section is handy, but is really quite vague as to what they mean by each sound...a 'tap' may be a 'knock' to other people!! Considering there was (somewhere) a TSB about the fuel dampers making a knocking sound, and mine is pulsing...I think I may have found the cause?? I can't remember where I saw the TSB though!! http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Category:TSB Haha, nice one mate...you're doing well tonight!! I can't find a mention of this in those TSBs. Reading this thread linky, he does mention there was a TSB on it. I'll keep searching!!

Cheers for those mate, I've already looked through the workshop manual almost front to back looking for clues. That section is handy, but is really quite vague as to what they mean by each sound...a 'tap' may be a 'knock' to other people!! Considering there was (somewhere) a TSB about the fuel dampers making a knocking sound, and mine is pulsing...I think I may have found the cause?? I can't remember where I saw the TSB though!!

No..just when very warm, and seemingly after a longer drive than just 15 minutes as they didn't seem to be able to get it knock!? Just popped out to the car for another head scratching session...does anyone know what this is? Is this another fuel damper?? I noticed that if I hold it, it's 'pulsing' at around the same frequency as the knocking sound...but with a bit of a delay, as the pulses and knocks don't quite seem to coincide exactly.

Ok, very strange... Mechanic picked up my car, phoned me up once he got it to his garage and said it wasn't making a noise. I told him to go take it for a good 15-20minute spin and to give it a bit of revs. He phones me up a bit later...still no noise!!! I told him to flush the engine then change the oil. He did that plus a basic service/inspection. I picked the car up and it was nice and quiet, and when I got it home (30 minute drive, didn't drive it too conservatively) it was sat there, idling and not making this noise. Then the fan cut in...still no knocking....then the fan stopped and the knocking was back!! Confusing as hell and annoying that it wouldn't make the knocking noise when they had it. Next on the list are the plugs...they're almost 5 years old so need changing anyway. My mechanic said if it was his car he wouldn't be too concerned about driving it, with the noise apparently being intermittent whereas something terminal would be present all the time.

The clutch release bearing is noisy as hell on these cars, everyone I've spoken to with one has the same issue. I've read up on them, people have had them replaced only for the new ones to do the same within a few 1000 miles.

How bizzare defo says on my manual in small print top right to do at 5 years or "exspensive repairs may be nessasary" Shows my lack of knowlege and noob skills! But i do learn something new everyday! So sparks though are a yes? Spark plugs are at 54k miles or 5 years....mine's almost at 5 years but I'm going to do them in the next week or so. I'd say do them if you're anywhere between 4-5 years just for peace of mind.

Mines in for a P1 today, but with my regular mechanic...not Nissan! Nissan in Grantham don't have a great reputation, and if they're anything like Toyota over here (or come to think of it - most businesses here), they have a constant turnaround of staff. Rather than have some inexperienced youth working on my car, I'd rather it be done with someone I trust. I supplied Oil & Oil Filter, then asked him to look through my old service slips to see what's checked in a P1. Simple!

cheers andlid...If my mechanic isn't able to shed any more light on it, I think the spark plugs will be my first route of investigation. Maybe while I'm getting various bits off I'll discover something loose elsewhere. I'll see how it goes tomorrow and keep you posted!

Danny, understatement of the century right there!! "A few stickers" Looks good though mate, I've been tempted to polish my plenum too.

And I was ready to post this pic.... 1 stone of pure blubber...

Cheers Alex, as mentioned in my original post I was only expecting people's thoughts and ideas...hopefully to bring up something I'd not yet thought of myself. Everyone's comments have been very much appreciated and will be mentioned to my mechanic when he picks the car up tomorrow. I'm sure he'll have some head scratching to do too. Also, I just popped to the shops to get some Father's day bits & bobs...there's a cycle ride on so even though it was a 15 minute trip back, most of it was at very low revs and very low speed. Pulled up on my drive and even though the car is nicely warmed up there was no knocking sound. So it only appears to be when very warm, not just warm!! The puzzle continues!!

I've just been looing through youtube for the sounds of various engine problems...it doesn't sound like sticky lifters or bottom end noise from what I've heard on there as the frequency of the noise is too slow. What I have heard which sounds almost spot on for noise and frequency is when a car has a loose spark plug. Now, would this only happen when warm? I would expect it to happen from cold and be there all the time?? I'm very confused now!!

highly likely, will get it all done in one go i think but for the moment she can do her 4x4 impression needs a v subtle body kit too me thinks, at least a lip... Subtle? Nah....

was going to be 22 and 22 but ended up being 22 and 25 the latter being on the front. there is no rubbing so may stay like that.. i have some 3mm spacers if i get scared though Well they look pretty spot on to me...I also love the tread pattern on the Vreds

They look awesome! What offsets are you running??

Loving the petrol & fire idea!! Probably not something that would ever enter my head but hey, some people just like fire!! I'd personally try getting some kind of cable/wire down there...you can't easily grip on the rubber as it's narrow down there for pliers, but some kind of lasso/hook setup might help you 'pull' it back off in the direction it came. Bashing the socket on will only push it on further, and then as mentioned you'll pull the plug out and all the debris from previous attempts is straight into the engine!!

Not sure if they'd make this sound...unlike the tensioning pulleys you get on cambelts, they're not items which rotate.

Sounds nasty!! I'm hoping it's nothing that serious, although quite unnerved that nobody seems to have any ideas over the noise. Although I should look on the brightside...nobody's said anything bad either!! I'm sure all will become clear next week...either a simple fix or my next purchase will be a daily runabout and and engine hoist!!

The exhaust does seem to be doing a little splutter every now and again, it does sound a little burbly now. I don't think a gasket would make a knocking sound like this though. Unfortunately I've been having to drive it this week as I don't live near my work. As the noise isn't noticeable during driving and doesn't seem to make any difference to performance I've just been keeping the revs down low and taking it steady. It's also helped me pinpoint when it's making the noise. The guy looking at it on Monday is someone who's worked on all my cars, he also picks them up which is good as I'm always too busy at work to get to any garages during working hours. If his verdict isn't good, then it's staying with him and I'll be finding alternative transport into work!

Hi mate, Dipping the clutch makes no difference, other than quietening down the release bearing enough to let me hear the knocking. Then when a gear is engaged and the clutch released I think the sound is still slightly audible, but again seems to disappear once the revs pick up. I've had an MR2 where the bottom end went before, and that made a rattle higher up in the rev range...and it was a very loud rattle. This however, has me stumped! I live just east of Nottingham...I'm not sure where there is nearby who are 350z specialists, and I'm really dubious of Nissan garages as I think they'd jump on a problem like this and try to get as much money out of me as possible!!

Cheers for the quick reply...can it really make a sound like this?? I've read that if you hold the damper you can feel it knocking, unless I was grabbing the wrong thing I couldn't feel any knocking from it. Engine oil is spot on the MAX line...I'm pedantic about stuff like that!! Guess that I will now go and have a listen to your video.

Cheers for the quick reply...can it really make a sound like this?? I've read that if you hold the damper you can feel it knocking, unless I was grabbing the wrong thing I couldn't feel any knocking from it. Engine oil is spot on the MAX line...I'm pedantic about stuff like that!!

My Zed has started making a strange knocking/tapping sound coming from the engine...I'm getting it looked at on Monday, but thought I'd post up on here to see what ideas people might come back with for discussion with my mechanic. I've got a video of the sound here which might help: I'll run through when the noise happens; Start engine up cold, no tapping at all...revving at idle sounds smooth and releasing the clutch just gives the usual thrust bearing grumble which we all have! Driving the car is absolutely fine, no odd noises from the engine and still drives fine and pulls well too (although I have not been pushing it hard since hearing this noise). Stopping the car while still fairly cool doesn't seem to make any sounds either. Giving the car a good 25 minute drive and then parking up you then notice a slight knocking sound, getting out of the car and popping the hood the sound becomes more apparent. Revving the car, the knocking raises with the revs...but only to about 2.5krpm where it becomes quite unnoticeable. Also, while idle the exhaust occasionaly make small pops and splutters although nothing dramatic. So the noise only occurs when the engine is nice and warm, and when at idle or very low revs. It also appears to be coming from the top of the engine to the rear of the intake manifold more than anywhere else. The car has always been well serviced, never thrashed in my ownership and is due an oil change in a couple of months or about another 4000 miles. I'd appreciate any opinions, advice or suggested further tests to pinpoint the source of this sound. I don't want to be paying big bucks to get the whole engine stripped down only to find it was something like a sticky lifter!! I'm quite a bit upset at the thought of my car having something drastically wrong with it after 6 months!! As always, any help would be greatly appreciated!!

I've driven MR2s for the last 5 years in all weather...with the engine over the driven wheels, snow wasn't just easy to drive on it was bloody good fun!! I got the Zed in December, and immediately was faced with a couple of week's snow. The car was awful on the snow, but I put it down to the tyres...RE040s!! Trying to turn out of my road onto a slight hill, I found the front tyres would dig in and the backs spin sending the rear slowly towards the kerb. There were a couple of days I worked from home, but on the days I got to work I found hooning around the carpark really fun and easy to control. Reading up on the RE040s, people suggest that in anything under 0°C they effectively turn to plastic! Not helpful in the snow!! I've run Toyos and Falkens before in the snow, and my rears are almost on the wear markers now so it's time to change tyres! I think I'll try the Falkens out for the next year, and if I struggle this coming winter maybe move onto something slightly softer still.

I'm glad other people have found a similar thing with the engine in the Zed, I also think it's because the car is so comfy, relatively quiet (on a stock exhaust) and stable that you don't quite realise how fast the car is until you're almost in triple figures. My MR2 used to feel faster as it was lower, stiffer and louder...but it didn't pick up the pace like the Zed does. I also tend to find, you pull out from a junction...1st and 2nd feel a bit empty....as does 3rd until you're above 4krpm. It's once you're in 4th doing 50-60 and decide to overtake that you realise the full potential of the engine, it pulls from low revs all the way to silly figures without any fuss. I've read that the throttle is limited in 1st, 2nd and 3rd...and that this can be changed when getting an Uprev remap?? I'd be quite interested in getting one of these done, even on a stock Zed just to pick up throttle response throughout all the gears & revs.