When It rains it f'ing pours:(

Torque converter

From your initial post of completely losing drive, metalic sounds, getting some drive back after resting the car. These symptoms are exactly the same as I had with my old car. To cut a long story short it turned out to be the torque converter. I had been through all the same things, service kit, flushing the oil, oil levels etc, dosn't make any difference if the TC is stuffed.
This may be a separate issue from your shifting problems.

 

i think its very likely to be the torque converter which i hope means it wont be an expensive fix. the sound i heard was coming directly where the torque converter would be and when my old trans blow up on me it was the torque converter that broke off inside the box and smashed the internals of the box to bits.

thanks for the reply gives me hope this might not be all doom and gloom to repair but ill wait and see what the guys say at the specialist shop

 

Update 30.05.17

Well guys I decided to pop into the auto specialist shop on the way home from work today and after speaking with the guys there they informed me that my transmission is dead.

They told me that after taking the pan off they found metal particles and debris inside the pan which means something has obliviously broken inside the internals of the box and its blocking fluid flowing inside the box. So I need to replace the box.

They also quoted me $990 for the total cost for the removal of the old dead transmission and the re installation of the replacement transmission. They didn't offer me a replacement transmission but that's OK as I have already organised with CARZ to buy his one from the 96 wreck which I have already pm'd him to get his bank details and pay him for the parts.

I am also going to try and install an OEM oil cooler and use it as a trans cooler for the transmission which the guys at transfix stated is a better safer setup then using the inbuilt cooler in the radiator. So I'm organising with kr4usy to acquire one from him and add that to the parts to be installed along with the transmission.

One last thing, while I awes there I told them about my rear main seal leak which they said they would be happy to install for me during the installation of the transmission as well as install the Z1 one piece taleshaft which they at no extra charge so I feel like this whole saga might work out better off for me in the long run.

My total costs to repair this is just under $2000 which is what I was expecting and willing to pay to fix the transmission.

thank you all for your advice, support and input into helping me overcome this massive pain the arse problem with my Z.:zlove:

 

You may want to consider putting in a new Det. Sensor in while the transmission is out.
These can only be done while the transmission is out of the car, because it is located at the back of the engine.

Best of luck with it all.

Stu

 

That is a great tip that I wish someone had given me when my transmission was out. Another tip which Adam is aware of is to consider a Speedi sleeve when replacing the rear main seal.

 

Carz is your best option. Take it up.

Service the box as well.

This is the most cost effective.

Also I'm not sure if the 97 and your 89 is the same the wiring plugs etc etc. This is something you would need to find out. Atm thats all I can think of. If all is good. Then this is your best option.

 

thanks mate the wheels are already turning tho i hopefully should bave the z back by the end of next week.

 

Some call it a "Knock Sensor".

Costs between $25 and $60 depending on who you buy it from.

Same sensor also fits Maxima and Pathfinder, price may depend on what car you ask for.

Some feel the need to slug you bigtime for a 300ZX!

Probably best to also include a new lead to plug it in with.

Easy to change over, there is only one bolt holding it in, then plug the wire into it.

Stu

 

Nissan also call it a 'Knock Sensor' Part No. 22060-30P00.

 

thank you guys for the suggestions but considering this auto specialist shop isnt exactly a z32 specialist shop asking fhem to install little things like tbis might be more problematic then im willing to take right now.

yes im sure it could be done but im more worried about being charged extra for something i do myself next plenum pull for example. i dunno i just want my z back in my hands im dieing here without it so the sooner i can get it back the better.

also time is another factor with this repair as well. i have to shoot down to my dads place to retreive the z1 tailshaft and rear main seal which i hope is in the last place i put it but until i get down there i dunno if ill be able to find it and then on monday i want to drop everything off to transfix so as soon as the transmission arrives they can get the removal of the old box started.

 

That vandal must be wondering if they finally got rid of you. See who parks in that spot now?

 

Update 06.06.17

So I have confirmation my transmission is on its way from Queensland down to Victoria which I suspect will take about 3 days to reach transfix.

I have dropped off my z1 one piece driveshaft, rear main seal and OEM oil cooler which should be installed along with the transmission I hope by the end of the week.

The only issue I think I will have is the coolers mounting bracket on the lower rad support might not fit into place due to the power tube line that runs on top of the support rail inside of flush with the rail on the TT models which I only found out on Sunday when I was with Andrew and noticed the difference when comparing the 2 support rails. I hope the tube line can be maneuvered out of the way to allow the bracket to be mounted properly but I will have to wait till transfix contact me if they have issues.

Ill keep everyone posted.

 

Update 10.06.17

Well guys I spoke to Transfix on Friday afternoon After I had discovered that the transmission arrived to them on Wednesday the 7th at midday according to the tracking information from ego.

When I spoke to Adam the guy in charge of my transmission repair/swap he stated and I quote "We are going to get cracking on it soon mate" so it looks like I would expect hopefully by the end of next week if I'm lucky but that's OK as I have my sister in-laws car for another 2 weeks if I need it.

Thats pretty much it guys I'll post more news when I get some.:zlove:

 

Update 13.06.17

Well I've got some good news everyone, I finally got my Z back yesterday and its finally driveable again and after my first day dailying the Z I really did miss the drive but unfortunately its not all happy days for me and the Z, as new problems have emerged from the transmission swap which I now need to fix/address at some point in time and which has killed the overall happiness of getting my pride and joy back in my hands again.

So I've been told the cause of my problems with the old transmission was a failed Torque Converter which they stated to me is a common fault in the RE4RO1A 4-speed Automatic the None turbo Z32 uses.

The total repair costs for this was just a little under $2000 with the transmission coming in at $800 and the labour coming in a $1060 even though they told me it would cost me $990 no more to pay.

First least start with the good news items from this expensive repair.

The new transmission was fitted without any real issues found from what I was told and there were no issues found with the wiring loom from the JDM loom to the ADM loom on the transmission which was all plug and play. I was worried the power hold function might be an issue for the ADM box which the ADM models never had from the factory.

They also installed for me a new rear main seal which was on my to do list for i reckon 5 years now

They also installed my brand new Z1 platinum one piece driveshaft which I've had in storage for I think 8 years now.

Now onto the bad news items,

I was informed by Transfix that my Power & Hold switch on the center console is faulty and is at this moment causing shifting issues with the new transmission. So far during my drive to work and back I noticed the same old issue of my car when taking off from a stand still start to rev out to almost 5k rpm and still not change gear from first to second.

So I've found that if I take my foot off the accelerator as I climb the rev range and once the revs drop slightly I accelerate the car and it will rev up again and then shift from first to second but it will be a hard shift with a slight joint. I've been told by transfix that if I replace the switch with a new one that is not faulty the problem should disappear. So now I need to source a new power/hold switch and pray the shifting issue goes away.

Second issue I have now is as they had to drop the exhaust system during the swap the massive hole I had in my rear LH side muffler pipe has gotten bigger and so the dreaded drone noise I had tried to temp fix has now become even worse and not only that transfix actually tried to install the replacement mufflers I got from CARZ only to find out my exhaust system has been modified from the cars to the mufflers in a single pipe each side which means I now need to get the rest of the exhaust system from CARZ to fit the new mufflers:bash:.

Third issue, they didn't even attempt to fit the oil cooler as they said they would need to move the aux fan to the rear of the radiator or some shit? to allow the cooler bracket and cooler to fit:bash::banned:

Like I expected no ****ing clue about 300ZX's. Thats ok I can do that myself anyways so no harm down.

And that's it I am going to try and patch up the exhaust holes this weekend to try and quieten the exhaust drone down using exhaust repair tape I got from work.

The I need to get the rest of the exhaust system and then I want to prep the system and paint it to try and protect it from at least exterior corrosion which I think might take a few weeks to complete.

 

so pissed to hear this... the AuSpec's didn't have the hold / power button, wouldn't it be easy to just bypass / disconnect this switch on your Z?
The previous owner gave me over $5k worth of receipts for work done to get that car driving beautifully after it'd been in storage for 5yrs in NSW prior to him buying it. I drove it several times myself, the last time was to specifically test that the cruise control worked fine before removing it to install into my 10/97. There was no hint of any issues whatsoever with the auto transmission.
As well as checking on the switch issue, I'd be checking the transmission fluid level is correct now the car has done some driving. You can take a side guard off and check the color of the torque converter matches the one in the pics I sent you (in case they went and fitted the 'old' torque converter). There were also markings on the '96 transmission so you can make sure the '96 transmission actually got fitted and not your old one with just the later model pan (with drain hole) fitted...
As for the rest of the exhaust, today was Brisbane's 3rd straight day of f'ing rain... will send you a pic tomorrow - still got the all of the rest of the exhaust (all completely original).

 

I was thinking about disconnecting it for the time being until I get a replacement switch but as it is mid week I don't have the time to pull the center console apart to get the plug and pull it.

Don't worry Toby I think the transmission is fine realistically and I do think this switch is the problem but I find it hard to believe it would affect the shifting when its not even engaged into in either mode. Still I want to buy a brand new switch and install it and see what happens and I pray, I mean pray the new transmission will work flawlessly when its done.

They obliviously filled the trans with fluid because I got charged $75 for trans fluid on my receipt from transfix. I haven't checked anything right now but I realised I should along with checking the fluid colour and level I should also do a Conzult check on the transmission and see what error codes it may or may not throw up on me with the new transmission. I plan to try and do that this weekend during the exhaust system patch repair.

I asked them about servicing intervals and they told me to change the fluid ever 20,000 kms but when it came the filter replacement they said as its a mesh filter it doesn't really need changing and due to some bullshit about having to remove the whole valve body to change the filter I think I will stick to my 40,000 service interval and change the fluid and filter.

No stress Toby I know you will do what you can when you can. I know this will take time which I hate to admit it but that's just how the cards played out and I have to accept that and be strong and think positively about my situation. I have my Z back and I can fix things how I want to fix them and do what I know I can do on my Z.

I can't believe they actually think they would need to move the aux fan to install the oil cooler. Just pissed me off inside, I sent them photos and everything showing them what and where they needed to mount the cooler and they just didn't even try.

They they did a bit of work for me I wasn't overly impressed with the work done for my Z. They never once tried to call me when my car and or the transmission arrived to their shop. They didn't notify me of the cooler mounting and exhaust issues until my car was ready to be picked up.

Still the fact they didn't do those things meant I got my car back way before I was expecting to get it, I was thinking I wouldn't have it back until Friday so I guess that's something.

 

Adam, after you check ATF level, check your TPS. You want it at 0.42v on an Auto (I find higher means clunkier or harder to shift from 1st to second) you could try lower.

That switch, does it enable higher/lower resistor value? Check resistors?

 

Do the job "properly" and do it ONCE!(as opposed to "chasing your tail" continually).:zlove::br:

 

Last update 20.06.17

Well guys just thought I share the last update I think we need for this saga I have been through.

So after driving the Z for a week now all I can say is wow what a difference this new transmission and Z1 one piece tailshaft has made to the driving experience in my Z. I actually feel like I have a brand new car the way it drives now. After my first day of driving the Z with the bad shifting every day since then has been nothing but smoove sailing for the new auto and I am very happy with my choice to purchase this transmission from CARZ in the end it has paid off for me in a good way.

I also temp patched my extensive exhaust hole problem using tailpipe banage and a series of tin metal plates with radiator clamps to now give me a very quite ride which has made a huge difference and now I can drive with my Z and enjoy my music without the constant and deathening drone I would hear before the patch fix was done.

I'm in talks with CARZ to purchase the rest of the exhaust system from him to permanently fix the exhaust hole problem and I intend to bulletproof the outside part of the exhaust with extractor paint and what not to try and make this exhaust last as long as possible.

I will eventually buy a new Power/Hold switch when I get around to it just to make sure I have eliminated the possibility of that causing a problem with the transmission in the future as well.

thank you everyone for your support and advice for me throughtout this whole ordeal I know that I can always turn to you all for guideance and help which is why I love this forums and I hope it remains alive for many more years to come.

:zlove: