terribleone

im in West Midlands. Do i actually need a spark plug change my car has done 44k and is three years old? 54k or 5 years is the recommended plug change time...I'm doing mine at around 40k and 4.5 years.

20/25 on stock ride height: Not as good 'stance' wise as the zed above...as said, you need lowering as well as spacing. How much is yours lowered by Buster??

I'm after plugs now...I've found ones for what looks like a good price at Camskill, anyone know of anywhere cheaper?? http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php? ... 1273p50395

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!!