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Help please very sick Z!!!!


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Hi,

 

Z newbie here, I've read the many useful topics on this forum for a few years so decided to join up, I've a 54 plate 350Z, and have had 3 years of absolute great fun with it, best car I've owned by far :D Once I've worked out about posting photos I'll put one on!!!

 

However, the Z is very sick, it's currently in the Nissan garage in Leeds, I work in Leeds but live in Beverley, apparently the short motor (I think that's what they said) is worn and needs replacing :scare:

 

The story is this: about a week ago the engine management light came on, initially it flashed for a short period then went off, and stayed on, so I booked into Nissan in Leeds they ran a diagnostic (£65) but then phoned me to say they needed to run a more in depth diagnostic (£197) from which the diagnosis was multi cylinder misfire. Anyway, they then phoned back saying piston rings need changing, as oil was leaking into cylinders - £960 labour only!!!

 

A couple of days passed and then I receive another phone call late Friday afternoon saying the short motor has worn and needs replacing, basically a new engine, and these are £12k brand new ouch, ouch, ouch!!!! BUT, they are phoning round for a refurb one that should cost a lot less...

 

Anyway, apologies for this being my first post and with a sorry tale to tell, I would appreciate if any one could help, give me some pratical advise as if this is correct diagnostic by Nissan and maybe point me in the right direction for a second opinion.

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any other issues before had, did you check the oil often? any funny noises or clunks before had?

 

what ever the situation there are lots of solutions, if it does need a new engine shop around as there is plenty of choice and find whats the best deal for you.

 

if your leeds way and can mange it i would try and get my car into falcon performance its a bit up the road, but they know the zed very well and should also be able to help source parts etc.

 

very few places i would trust any of my cars to, but these guys are one of them.

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Hi Ekona, Service history is good, last oil change in November, checked the oil as soon as the car felt sluggish, a little low but above the minimum level, and no odd noises in fact ticked over at idle speed as normal.

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You need to go somewhere else for a diagnosis IMHO. A multi-cylinder misfire (flashing CEL) would show up from the initial codes and wouldn't need a £197 diagnosis (whatever that is!), so something's not right there. That's not to say that the piston rings haven't gone, but before splashing out a few £K on a different engine it would be worth spending another couple of hundred on a decent independent survey.

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12k for a short block?!! You can get a Cosworth short block for £6k! I'd be very wary of their diagnosis if they're not used to that model. It generally seems (from reading posts on here) that most Nissan main dealers aren't familiar with Zs. I expect the extra diagnostics was a leak down test but these tests are only as good as the person running them and interpreting the results.

Good luck with it.

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Hi,

 

Seems they charged you 1st to plug the Consult in?

 

Then they charged you to maybe do a compression check/ cylinder leakage and just maybe inspection of the cylinder bores with a Endescope?

 

You say the car has been feeling sluggish? has it be more un-economical than normal and using more oil than normal?

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H All,

 

I little bit more back ground info for you, the Z has done 99k miles, mainly motorway mileage, and the economy hasn't changed I can get approx 400 miles from a tank full, the oil was a little low but above the minimum level, it didn't appear to be using more oil than normal.

 

Abbey m/s

The 2nd diagnosis was a compression check/cylinder leak test.

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And dealerships wonder why we have no faith in them.

 

£70 just to spend 5 mins reading codes! Thats a bloody rip off!

 

I would get it out of that dealership, and to an independant who knows what they are doing.

Falcon Performance in Middlesborough have already been mentioned, and would be my reccomendation if you can get it on a flat bed.

 

£200 for a compression test :scare:

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Thanks guys for all of your input, has re-assurred me a little bit more, and yeah I think it'll be best to get a 2nd opinion, apart from Falcon Performance who would appear a great option, does anybody know of a decent Z specialist in Hull/Leeds/East Yorks area?

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Thanks guys for all of your input, has re-assurred me a little bit more, and yeah I think it'll be best to get a 2nd opinion, apart from Falcon Performance who would appear a great option, does anybody know of a decent Z specialist in Hull/Leeds/East Yorks area?

 

 

RS Tuning in Leeds would be my recomendation.

 

They will look after you and you won't get ripped off.

 

Tell them I sent you :thumbs:

 

Alex. :)

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Thanks guys for all of your input, has re-assurred me a little bit more, and yeah I think it'll be best to get a 2nd opinion, apart from Falcon Performance who would appear a great option, does anybody know of a decent Z specialist in Hull/Leeds/East Yorks area?

 

 

RS Tuning in Leeds would be my recomendation.

 

They will look after you and you won't get ripped off.

 

Tell them I sent you :thumbs:

 

Alex. :)

 

 

+1 speak to Paul and mention the club

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Cheers Alex, I've made contact with RS Tuning, they are busy at the mo, earliest they can look at the Z is next Tuesday.

 

Anyway, I've attached a copy of the compression report they carried out on the Z for info, and it's saying cylinder #5 is down to 115psi, I gather the standard for all the cylinders is 185psi? also cylinder #5 showing signs of oil by passing piston rings.....

 

A bit of good news, the bill is currenlty at £960 so they've binned the diagnostic costs at the mo, and the Z engine is in pieces in their workshop

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