Why did I buy a Zed?

Bought what I thought was my dream car 8 months ago. A 92' 300ZXTT which supposedly had a complete engine rebuild only 20K prior.

Since then?

New wheels and tyres = $2000
New clutch and dump pipe heat wrap = $2200
Body vibration so new center bearing = $500
Still vibrating so engine mounts replaced and belts = $760

I dont mind paying money if the job is done but as the Zed is so "specialised" I only have limited mechanic workshop choices and they charge $196 per hour for test drives!!

So now I have a car that still over heats in the gearbox well (pipe wrapping didnt help). It still shakes like shit even though I bough new tyres again as recommended after the $196/ hour test drives from professionals.... it still fricken shakes!! Ontop of that it has random smoke blowing from burning oil, a leaking turbo, oil fumes in the over heated cabin, a oil pressure guage that drops to 0 for no reason then back up, to half way. The engine just started pinging and petrol prices set me at $70 per tank which lasts 300kms max.

Should have bought that IS200!

Sorry, had to vent as Im running out of options!

 

Wow thats way expensive what the hell do they do for $196hr

 

oooooh, discussion on labour rates for working on a Z...

this should be interesting.

 

who the hell is charging $196/hr ?

 

re: what the hell they do for $196hr

MR. WHITE
I don't tip because society says I
gotta. I tip when somebody
deserves a tip. When somebody
really puts forth an effort, they
deserve a little something extra.
But this tipping automatically,
that shit's for the birds. As far
as I'm concerned, they're just
doin their job.

MR. BLUE
Our girl was nice.

MR. WHITE
Our girl was okay. She didn't do
anything special.

MR. BLONDE
What's something special...

 

So lets look at what you have done....>>

New wheels and tyres = $2000
Wasted money when you had better things to spend it on

New clutch and dump pipe heat wrap = $2200
New clutch plus install should only have cost up to $1200. You got robbed $1000 for heat wrap that was totally useless.

Body vibration so new center bearing = $500
Could have done this yourself for about $100

Still vibrating so engine mounts replaced and belts = $760
Would have been better off replacing the transmission mount while you were doing the center bearing, under $150


$196 dollars an hour???? You are being raped. Even if you don't know anything about cars you should at least know that is far too much money to pay for labour. Excessive heat from the gearbox region and oil smell/smoke in the cabin are a classic sign that the rubber shifter boot isn't fitted correctly or has a hole. Pretty easy to check that on your own, and then replace if needed.

 

It better not get interesting.

 

Agree with WYKKED 100% ... plus...

Are the 'heat-shields' still in place around the cats?

 

I'm not sure about Zed boxes, but the smoke from the tranny fluid ....

may be the breather hose leaking over the exhaust. It happens with some GTR boxes. Like I said, I'm not sure about Zed boxes in general so don't take this as gospel.

$196 is a bit steep Muz - try someone else.

CheerZ
Vincent

 

had a vibration in mine after removing the gearbox, took it back and had

the tail shaft undone at the flange on the diff, (4 bolts) then the flange or the tailshaft were 180 degrees, then bolted up again. no more vibration.
:thumbsup::zlove:

 

To make it clear... the $196/ hour was because they put two mechanics in the car whenever they test drive a car. times that by 1/2-1 hour and you get the idea. Oh, and the $2000 on wheels and tyres was before any of these mech problems arose.

Its easy to say "do it yourself" but I no longer have the tools or work area to do jobs on my cars.

Needless to say I need to find a different mechanic as, like I said, I dont mind the money if the job is completed as asked[/u!

I figured the gearboot would have a hole but it doesnt change the fact that the car blows smoke randomly.

I guess Im simply frustrated?

 

Re; WHY?

Hey mate dont despair.

Learn from your mistakes and dont go there again.

If you are in Sydney i have two Z contacts.

One used to be a head Nissan Mech at a dealer and now has own business.(this one is a little dearer).

The other used to work under him (head mech) and now has his own business. (This is my mechanic, honest and charges standard rates, not Z specific rates). He will give options and source nongenuine parts if they are cheaper and do the same job.

regards

 

Muz, replace the g/box mount, but if the vibration is on the steering

while you are driving, you may want to check the wheel alignment.
If wheel alignment is OK or adjusted and still have the vibration afterwards on steering try on-car balancing. This will definately remove any steering vibration.

Otherwise, all I can think of is universal joints may be gone on the tailshaft.

I too had this problem for a while and it turned out to be: one front tyre out of round, worn centre bearing & sagged g/box mount + shagged engine mounts.

Suprising enough, I left the g/box mount last and the vibration was still excessive even after doing new tyres & wheel alignment, centre bearing and passenger engine mount changed.

Once the g/box mount was replaced = 90% improvement. :thumbsup:
Still have some slight vibration with a constant winding noise comming from g/box area & v audible at 10Km/h or less though but the cause could be either driver's engine mount (not replaced yet) or uni. joints. :unsure:

Peter

 

they charge $196 per hour for test drives!!

What a load off crap!You should not have had to pay these people that amount, to test drive your car.
If your car still has vibrations, not caused buy
alignment problems, ask the 196 boys if they put matching marks on both diff and T/shaft, so they could put it back together,like it came apart.
Oil preasure gage, is like that, with nearly
all Zeds, its not a problem, drill out the sender
it works!Get to know your ZED! or you will beforking
out plenty!

 

you got ripped off and shafted for everything you had done EOS.

 

Any reason why you don't make these contacts available to everyone???

 

He just did!!!!!!

Public forum, etc, etc!

 

Re: Re; WHY?

ZEDIKNIGHT,
If you could supply the contact details of the mechs your refering to here or via PM that would be awsome.


geron,
They replaced the drivers side engine mount and the gearbox mount. I bought new wheels and tyres 6 months ago and though Bob Jane Tmart told me my current tyres were absolutely ok and balanced I took the word or the mechanic and bought new tyres again. Same problem exists.


Method,
Maybe....


Chilli,
Sorry mate but are you refering to me or another post?

 

Re WHY; ZED MECH contact details.

MECH 1.
(ex Nissan Sevice Cheif)
Evan Cox Automotive Technology
Kirrawee Auto Plaza.

MECH 2.
(the mech i use, used to work under mech 1.)
Port Hacking Automotive
3A Kiama St
Miranda NSW
9544 9477

I better tell him to expect some business.

Happy Zedd'n

Regards

 

Re: MECH details

Guys

understand i wasnt holding out on you, its just that being a newbie i didnt want to impose my mech onto your site.

I assumed (incorrectly) that other Z owners were happy with their mech.

Anyway the info is now up, (excuse the delay no home computer, use works) for your use.

I have some business cards for mech 2 and if im there on July 9, i will hand some out to those who want.

regards