grizz Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Last night return from a weekend away was heading down A1 in St. Neots area. Felt a strange juddering for maybe 5 secs or so, and then the engine cut out. No bang or anything other than the juddering. Got towed home feeling depressed to say the least. Whilst coasting toward a safe place to stop I noticed oil pressure gauge was on zero, but this may be just because the engine had cut out hence the gauge read zero. Checked dipstick and definitely have oil. Battery is fine. Serviced 2 months ago all clear. 58 plate, fortunately still under warranty (just), so if I can actually manage to get hold of someone at my local dealership, then hopefully can get it picked up later this week. In the meantime, if any of you who are more mechanically knowledgeable than I (which is effectively all of you), could suggest any thoughts as to what it could be I would be most grateful. Appreciate my description is vague, but it was a bit of a non-event - one moment had power, the next - gone. When I try to start it now it doesnt turn over, just make a short sharp whirr then nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 did the engine management light come on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizz Posted November 14, 2011 Author Share Posted November 14, 2011 Will have to double check when I get back from work, but I think it did yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 try a ECU reset, found in the guides section, see if it throws up any error codes, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docwra Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Id do what he suggests, but the not turning over is interesting ......... are you sure the battery is "OK"? The whirring noise can be indicative of the battery not having enough crank to turn the starter, these cars need a fair old push as well. Is there any clicking? Could be that your alternator or its fuse isnt working properly, Ive had mine where all lights, radio etc work fine but it just wont start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Id do what he suggests, but the not turning over is interesting ......... are you sure the battery is "OK"? The whirring noise can be indicative of the battery not having enough crank to turn the starter, these cars need a fair old push as well. Is there any clicking? +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizz Posted November 14, 2011 Author Share Posted November 14, 2011 I'll search for the ECU reset thing but it sounds a little scary... I am assuming battery is ok as the gauge still reads high, and as it was dark I was waiting for 1 hour plus with headlights and hazards going before pick up arrived. All electrical stuff seems to be working fine. Just seems so odd the way it cut out whilst going along - was damn lucky I could coast to safety without incident Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 When you crank the car over, does it drop off the scale? When my battery finally went, it would show fine on the gauge (just over 12v) but then when you cranked it, it dropped really low. Replaced the battery and all was well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael robinson Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 I had this problem and it was a grounding wire that had snapped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizz Posted November 14, 2011 Author Share Posted November 14, 2011 Would the ECU reset thing bugger my warranty? When i crack it nothing really happens at all, no movement on the battery gauge. Hopeful its just something similar to the grounding wire suggestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 no it wouldnt, you do want to read any error codes that it chucks up so worth videoing the flashing sequence. If your unsure then take it do a dealer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docwra Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 When you crank the car over, does it drop off the scale? When my battery finally went, it would show fine on the gauge (just over 12v) but then when you cranked it, it dropped really low. Replaced the battery and all was well. Yep, I only drive mine every so often, many times Ive got in, thought "Cracking, 13 volts" then cranked it and had rather less than 13 volts showing For a car not to turn over at all its got to be seized or its starter related in my experience Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Felt a strange juddering for maybe 5 secs or so, and then the engine cut out. No bang or anything other than the juddering. Given your battery has been worked pretty hard since the stall, the symptons for the stop has all the hallmarks of running out of petrol, or maybe you have picked up some bad fuel And maybe now the problem is compounded by the battery not having enough guts left to turn the engine over properly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 I had this problem and it was a grounding wire that had snapped Was gonna be my suggestion I seem to remember someone else had a similar issue and it was a grounding strap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marzman Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I had this problem and it was a grounding wire that had snapped Was gonna be my suggestion I seem to remember someone else had a similar issue and it was a grounding strap +2 i'd agree. If it wont crank then it suggests the battery isnt working. And for it to stop suddenly i'd suggest the earth wire has come lose? Take a look at the negative terminal and follow the wire to the chassis to make sure it's connected securely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyZkt Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I no next to nothing on these cars (as with all cars if im honest ) Ive only owned my 350z for a few days, but just sounds very similar to when I first went to test drive one. I tried to start the car and it wouldnt go. without depressing the clutch when kicking up the car (on my 350 anyway not sure about yours) it does the exact same thing as sounds like your saying here- some sort of imobliser type effect. all electrics work and car just whines, no turn over when trying to start the engine. could be some sort of electronic imobilisor (not sure if this is mispelled) problem. albeit unlikely and I cant think as to why it would cut out the car completely whilst driving? For the lights etc to still work the connections should be sound on the battery. For not even any attemp at tick over something starter related i would think not battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizz Posted November 15, 2011 Author Share Posted November 15, 2011 Felt a strange juddering for maybe 5 secs or so, and then the engine cut out. No bang or anything other than the juddering. Given your battery has been worked pretty hard since the stall, the symptons for the stop has all the hallmarks of running out of petrol, or maybe you have picked up some bad fuel And maybe now the problem is compounded by the battery not having enough guts left to turn the engine over properly? Defnitely had not run out of fuel as I filled up maybe 1 hour before it happened - bad fuel may be a possibility I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizz Posted November 15, 2011 Author Share Posted November 15, 2011 When you crank the car over, does it drop off the scale? When my battery finally went, it would show fine on the gauge (just over 12v) but then when you cranked it, it dropped really low. Replaced the battery and all was well. Yep, I only drive mine every so often, many times Ive got in, thought "Cracking, 13 volts" then cranked it and had rather less than 13 volts showing For a car not to turn over at all its got to be seized or its starter related in my experience given that the first symptom was cutting out as opposed to not starting (although granted it wont start now) doesnt this rule out the starter related option? If so I really hope that doesnt mean its seized - what could possibly cause that to happen (given that I know it has oil)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizz Posted November 15, 2011 Author Share Posted November 15, 2011 I had this problem and it was a grounding wire that had snapped Was gonna be my suggestion I seem to remember someone else had a similar issue and it was a grounding strap +2 i'd agree. If it wont crank then it suggests the battery isnt working. And for it to stop suddenly i'd suggest the earth wire has come lose? Take a look at the negative terminal and follow the wire to the chassis to make sure it's connected securely. But headlights and radio and hazards all work, so doesnt that rule this out? Oh dear its sounding more likely to be seized up rather than something electrical by the minute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizz Posted November 15, 2011 Author Share Posted November 15, 2011 Its being picked up tonight and taken to Nissan - will post on here once I hear anything. Seizure or bad fuel seem to be the front runners, neither sound particularly good to me! Given that its still under warranty, what are peoples opinions on the likelihood of Nissan being wonderfully helpful versus shafting me royally? Many thanks to everyone who has posted on here so far, I know its pretty much impossible to diagnose this via a forum, but your comments are most welcome nonetheless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael robinson Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Nope when mine died with the grounding / earth fault everything else worked but nothing happened when you turned the key like you described , if you take it to Nissan insist on the head tech to work on it as they give mine to a apprentice and to not go in to to much detail they made it worse . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizz Posted November 15, 2011 Author Share Posted November 15, 2011 Nope when mine died with the grounding / earth fault everything else worked but nothing happened when you turned the key like you described , if you take it to Nissan insist on the head tech to work on it as they give mine to a apprentice and to not go in to to much detail they made it worse . cheers mate that sounds like invaluable advice - and also gives me hope that my car isn't utterly fubar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tprice Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 it will be an electrical fault, doenst sound like bad fuel or running out of fuel. im sure they will sort it, especially if its under warranty, because the dealer gets money from nissan for fixing it. all will be fine, youll have it back soon and have forgotten all about it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizz Posted November 18, 2011 Author Share Posted November 18, 2011 Nissan have just called, apparently the engine has seized, but they acknowledge it has oil in it so at present its a complete mystery how this has happened. Have had to authorise them to take the engine apart to find whats caused it, I guess if its a fault I will get an new engine, and if its something that they can claim to be not a manufacturing fault then I am gonna be facing a bill for a new engine plus labour. I'm not a natural optimist, so feeling pretty f*%$ing depressed at the moment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 hope they cover the cost if a new engine then, if not then I would get a second hand one, will be a lot cheaper than from nissan. Speak to ZMANALEX or R35LEE. They can supply Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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