Scott TMN

ok mate cheers. Would I need to worry about air getting in the system after removing the coolant hose? Swaying toward removing the cover because of this? Cheers

The VTC cover could be partially removed to facilitate the removal of the solenoid, however I would just disconnect the hose.

cheers for the reply Alex, I take it that would leak out some oil? Whats in the hose?

Trying to swap out my VTC solenoids on my 370. Moved the expansion tank out of the way, access to both is fine and done the left one no problems. However the right one, as I pull it out it hits a pipe below, so i cant quite get it out.

Looking for advice how to do so? Should I be able to, but just being stupid? Would removing the pipe be a ball ache? Fluids everywhere, air in the system etc? Can I remove the cover that the solenoid actually bolts to?

Cheers

So driving up to Trax in the morning, it happened again!! Met some mates for the drive up at a petrol station round the corner, obviously a gentle drive there, and from there onto the A12, only once we just got on there was it up to temperature, in which we cruised at a steady speed for around 10 miles or so. Came up to a lorry, in which I slowed down as other cars past, and then put m foot down slightly to pass. This was the first time that day the car would of gone over 3k RPM and straight away giving me the familiar symptoms. Pulled over, and set off again gently, only to pull into another petrol station again, here we decided best to turn back home before getting on the M25.

A few stops later the CEL came on again, and a very cautious drive home got us back home. Plugged in the code reader, same code. P0524 Low oil pressure.

Took a look at the solenoids and found the LH one to be leaking oil. Given the fact that before when we realized the problem was still there, we took the replacements back out, the solenoids in there now are the only old components related to the error. Pretty confident this was the problem a call to sly to confirm, A friend and I tried swapping them back out. Both perfectly accessible after moving the expansion tank to one side. Replaced the leaking one, no problem.

However there is a pipe in the way on the bottom, RH one, stopping you from pulling it out just enough. Settling for the LH being changed as that was the leaky one anyway, went for another spin, again only 20 mins or so but got a few good pulls in. Problem seemed to of gone away, but drawing from previous experience I couldn't relax, so intended to go out for more, longer drives to be sure. Side note, even my mate picked up on the whineyness. Like me, thought it to be more whiney than usual. Concluded I need to go for more drives and go from there.

So didn't manage to get out until Saturday just. Nice to be back in the car, especially in the seats! Went for a little drive, all seemed good. pulled well through the revs and was genuinely starting to enjoy the car again, 20 minutes or so, I came to a stop at the roundabout. As I stopped, im not sure how I came to this, but something didn't seem quit right. And sure enough as I pulled away it did it again! As I was half expecting it, it was light throttle so wasnt anything major, but enough for me to see it was back. Drove it home again and spoke to Sly again, as really need to change out that other solenoid. I would rather not drive the Hour plus drive there in the state it is in if I can help it, nursing it back home felt bad enough! Any advice as to how I can go about it? Is removing the pipe going to be the ball ache I suspect?

OK so time for an update..

Picked the car up from Sly the Friday just before TRAX (23rd) all was running ok, he had it running on the ramp for a few hours and took it for a road test up to redline etc, Stopped off at bluewater on the way home to grab something to eat and let the que for the bridge settle down a bit. Had been a very gentle drive up untill now but all seemed well, though at low speeds when entering the car park it seemed whinier than usual, though was probably overly paranoid at this point. So stopped off and obviously couldn't resist a picture

When we got back to the cars, I moved out of the space to check for leaks etc, and saw a tiny 'wet' patch, concluded ill keep an eye on it and went home. The next day we did some seat fitting. As nice as they have looked laying about in different rooms of the house for the last year or so, it was nice to finally get them in. With the Planted frames and recaro rails it was pretty straightforward.

Out with the old (and time for a hoover obviously)

Had to pull the old passenger seat base to get the old passenger weight sensor (to be taped underneath the new seat)

And all in!

No lights on the dash or anything! I love them, and they look at home in the Z!

So out for a quick blast to test the seats and get some confidence in the car ready for the drive up to trax in the morning. Was brief with about only 10-15 minutes worth of driving once up to temperature, but a good few pulls in there throughout the rev range. All seemed ok.

(more to follow)

Mine is very Whiney. I have the 7AT. More apparent at lower speeds id say.

 

Going to sound like a noob now but what's a 7AT?

 

 

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7 speed auto transmission

^exactly

And so the manual is referred to as the 6MT

Mine is very Whiney. I have the 7AT. More apparent at lower speeds id say.

Give Adrian @ torqen a message, I just bought the same from him for my 370.

Awesome build mate, watching with interest!

So replacement parts are on their way, all new chains, tensioners, guides and all associated seals and gaskets. Thanks to Adrian for sorting the parts out. Should be with Sly Wednesday or Thursday next week. Hopefully it can be done in time for TRAX next weekend, otherwise that would of been 3 car shows I'd of missed. So fingers crossed there!

Anyway whilst I wait, I jumped on Tarmacs moving sale and got myself some carbon mirror covers. Something I had been meaning to do for a long time!

These are joining the seats in the 'to fit' pile

Definitely interested in this!

1) Humpy

2) kbad

3) Zeus(in 350z)

4) AaronC350z

5) wez370

6) Wendy

7) stevod

8) Wasso

9) CJRamze

10) cov350z (350z)

11) 350Russ

12) ollydykins

13)Valy

14) modo

15) shad0wca7

16) Irn Bru +1 350z

17) Andymac183

18) Hodaka +1

19)nissanman312+1

20) Amyzed

21) ZeppoJeff

22) Ekona +1

23) Dicaprio +1

24) Davedutch + 1

25) SHEZZA + 1 (350Z)

26) -G- +1 (380RS) - Date Dependant

27) Harryjax +1

28) Andy_Muxlow +1

29) Scott_f91 (370Z)

pm'd about the 370z carbon mirror covers

^^^ That is stunning!!!

Thanks man!

So today's update, upon opening up the covers to access the chain, Sly found a stretched chain, as suspected. But more importantly a confirmation of the problem.. A siezed tensioner.

Update from Sly today. Up untill now we have tried an oil change and engine flush, hoping any debris that could be restricting oil flow will be removed. This didn't work, next step was to physically remove the VTC solenoids and inspect for debris which has been known to gather on the gauze of the solenoid. They were clean, though could still be faulty in their operation, tried some new units, and the problem remains. Sly checked the oil pressure today and it read bang on to what it should.

Attention now has been turned to the timing chain now that we can confirm there isn't a physical pressure issue. I have a slight rattle which can be sometimes heard at low speeds/low rpms. Up untill now have always thought this to be a loose heat shield down by the engine, but this is now suspected to be the chain, backing up th theory also. So next step is remove the timing cover and take a look. Sly explained things that could cause the timing chain to be an issue so early on (think my mileage is around 27k) is incorrect oil being used. Although not common, he has seen it on 350. 370 and the GTR before. A slight bit of movement in the chain, over the course of its 2 metre length or so can equate to a fair bit, enough to make the computer think the timing is off and give mis readings etc. Fingers crossed this finally solves it, though my wallet really isnt looking forward to it!! Just built the new seats up onto their rails too!

It's not due to that thankfully as the gaskets have already been changed to the metal ones

So backtracking a few weeks now, gave the car a good clean prior to Niss Show, had a good day out and some very nice cars there!

The following week was Japanese Performance Show, a show I was really looking forward to, especially as I was supposed to be of been in the main Hanger. Driving up in the morning to the show, and I just couldn't get upto speed, power kept cutting in and out. After pulling over a few times it eventually went into limp mode. Onto the recovery truck and off to slys :/

Produced an error code of P0524 (low oil pressure). Checked oil level and it was spot on, Sly suggested sometimes the gauze on the solenoids can sometimes get a bit blocked, we had hoped an oil changed and an engine flush would sort it, unfortnatly not. Next step was to remove the solenoids to physically check, they were clean, so its looking like they a=could be faulty in their operation. End of last week Adrian sent out some replacements so just waiting to hear with crossed fingers that that sorts it.

Itching to have the car back as it feels like its been a while since I have had a good drive out in it, and also I finally got my seat rails! So first project when the car is back is treat it to the Recaros

Thanks mate.

It is great very clever and very practical.

I didn't, the compressor had small rubber bits fitted to it. Or can you buy proper feet for it?

I was trying to think of a way to quite it down a bit, it's pretty loud haha

This is the kit

http://caraudiosecurity.com/airlift-performance-airride-kit-50714-compressor-isolator-kit

Looks expensive for what it is, but a good bit of kit imo! I have my compressor under a false floor in the boot on them feet, and I have no complaints about the sound whatsoever. I can hear it obviously but in no way intrusive. Someone that had his compressor in the boot similar to yours, without the feet heard mine and said mine is massively quieter..

Nice work mate, great piece of kit isnt it. Did you buy the compressor isolator (rubber feet)? I recommend that also if not

Hello and welcome mate!

I sold my old 350 to my best mate who came from an EP3 too. I am only in chelmsford. We are both usually in braintree most saturdays in our Z's!

Looks good Elliot, love the attention to detial here!

Never had any issues, my 350Z nismo V2 went through 2 MOT's no problems, and I just had the washer jets smoothed over on my 370Z nismo bumper

Hi guys, after your thoughts. I was cleaning my car the other day and noticed little rust spots also, in my boot shut. Just wondering what you guys thoughts are on it? External specs that rusted or in need of a rub down and a respray? The car has been resprayed over previous colours, can see the grey (original colour) underneath so didn't go to bare metal.

I am wondering if there has been sparks land on it and they have rusted? The paint doesn't seem to of bubbled...

Cheers

Its mk1 Nismo front and Amuse sides and rear