Oh well, here goes my story: Was admiring the zed when she came out of the shop after a front bumper + bonnet facelift. Driving along a 60kph zone when I saw the red light from 50 meters away. I decelerated and the engine SUDDENLY turned off! Dash lights remained on including the turbo timer and boost controller. Brake pedal became heavy (which was expected, of course) but I managed to have a full stop at the lights. Luckily, it wasn't a busy street! So I turned the ignition off and the turbo timer started counting. I just turned it off as the engine wasn't running anyhow, hence, everything turned off (except the headlights). Alas! Doesn't wanna start! No power, no dash lights, no fuel pump priming, no anything! Total blackout! Engine doesn't wanna turn over. Good thing I was almost near my cousin's mansion hence I was able to call for reinforcement. We were able to tow the car to their house and checked from there. Battery terminals were fine. Swapped with a known working battery, didn't help! Didn't have the time to check all connections but ruled out the fuses. They were all okay. Wasn't able to check the PTU connections thoroughly. Searched on the forum for the same symptoms as what happened and this is probably the closest that I can get: http://www.aus300zx.com/forum/showthread.php?t=267595&highlight=Power+start+dash+lights I do have some sort of power steering fluid leak and I'm wondering if Chili's diagnosis could work the same with mine. Hey Lloyd, how could it get resolved anyhow if that's the case? Any other suggestions, people? This is the first time such thing happened to her. Ironically, there weren't any symptoms at all like flickering dash lights, loss of power, etc. She was actually running soooo smoothly before it happened. Anything else I should have checked first? Arvin
I don't know a great deal about the voltage reg, but PS fluid is a known destroyer of alternators. I would think however that with a known powered battery that you'd get dash lights and starter motor. Reading this and your sms, my mind goes towards the accessories/ignition key circuit. The fact that it died and your turbo timer stayed on, and then once manually turned off you could get nothing makes me think that there's an issue with that first stage of the accessories/ignition key circuit and check your wiring around the turbo timer. Someone will be able to enlighten the alt issue and how far it extends into the electrical system.
Will check on that. Forgot to mention, I'm using an auto TT ECU at the moment whilst my origina mlanual one gets repaired and my newly purchased second hand one from Chilledpain gets chipped with Nistune by Brytech. Would this auto one cause any issues at all? Will thoroughly check all wirings when I get the chance... Thanks Andy...
First thing put a 27mm socket on drive pulley find out if engine still turns by hand ruling out engine seizure.. Then look at Battery 12v and what it goes down too while cranking. then thingas likes CAS, PTU, and water temp sensor but all these would stil let you crank engine. Auto ecu in manual zed is not a problem but make sure the ecu plug is all the way home.
Had a quick through with the wires last night and the CAS plug seem fine. If it wasn't connected, would it cause the exact symptoms though of total blackout with nothing happening with the ignition? BIGGEST QUESTION PROBABLY: What are the chances that the engine has seized?! Would it cause total blackout and/or not even turn the dash lights on and/or not even prime the fuel pump? AAA
No chance if everything was running fine prior to the issue. Its definitely electrical. Could be immobilizer, could be ignition wiring as mentioned. Hard up against the firewall drivers side there are 2 plugs. Make sure they are firmly plugged in. Check positive lead going to battery and also earth lead to back of engine, chassis and block. Check all fuses...
Have seen one zed completely seize car was running fine then just wound down to nothing.. Found guy had changed his oil a week before and forgot to put a sump washer on the sump plug. The oil just slowly dribbled out leaving engine try bearings seized up motor....
Yeah, but he would have had to have heard the engine getting louder no? No oil in a zed = noisy! Also, it wouldnt cause the electrics to go dead... So based on there being no dash lights, i'd be 99% certain its electrical
Not the case this time Bryan, Arvin was coasting in gear in a manual, siezed engine would have locked the rear wheels or made such a racket that I doubt it would be left out of the symptoms list. Not to mention that a siezed engine would not stop the accessories from gaining power for the dash lights, etc. Lets read the thread before scaring the fk out of him.
Well, let's put it this way: I didn't have to leave my patients here at work for a coffee break. That was a big dose of caffeine already...
Thanks Sav! Was able to drive my baby back home straight to her warm garage. Big, big thanks to AndyMac for driving all the way from Drummoyne to Baulkham Hills to lend a helping hand. And thanks for that lengthy "over-the-phone" consultation. He managed to jump start the car through the starter motor. Bypassed the circuit straight to the battery's positive terminal. Was the scariest ride of my life not to stall the car!!! :rofl: Thanks again, Andy... although you refused my offer of a pair of surgical gloves. I'll look forward to pay you back next time in whatver small ways I can... Arvin :zlove:
So, it turned out to be that the starter motor isn't receiving any electric flow once the key is turned to ignition (hence, the jumpstarting to the positive terminal of the battery). Has anyone experience such problem before? And how was it addressed, or how could it be addressed? Arvin
Mains to the starter is A-OK. It's the starter signal to the solonoid which is gone. A couple of things, Many of the kick-panel fuses where over-rated. Car died entirely while coasting in gear (no dash, nothing except a ticking turbo timer). Now, the screen in the AC POD stays on permenately, key in or out. My theory is that something has shorted somewhere with many of the circuits not being fused properly, and in turn the starter relay, or the wiring to starter relay, has shorted. I also theorise the turbo timer to be guilty. Electrics isn't my strong point, but there is some additional information above for you electric buffs.
