Just bought my first 300zx.

All I know about cars is the research and reading I've done the last 2 months while searching for a good Z, and the Haynes the old owner passed on to me. Here's the most recent history that I know of, do yall see any obvious maintanance needs?

She's an Aztec red 1988 n/a auto. T-Top with 95k miles.

Previous owner has all the records still, but i took notes in a sit down with him. (He's either an honest, lovable old man or a crafty sonovagun. The cars condition speaks for itself though.)


Fuel system replaced at 40k miles.
Timing belt replaced at 35k miles.
Monroe struts and shocks put in at 30k miles. (lifetime warrenty, no paperrwork though)
Transmission flushed and differential fluid replaced. (not sure when)
New brake pads at 80k miles.
Windshield wiper pump replaced at 58k miles.
Radiator replaced at 60k miles.
All vaccuum hoses replaced. (not sure when, hot air blast on acceleration issue led to this.)

Most recent tuneup done at 86k miles.
-Wires, plugs, hoses, battery replaced.

All rubber seals/dash board cover vasolined every year.

Alternator replaced last month.
10k miles on tires.

Catalytic converter is busted.

On its 3rd set of mufflers.

Interior is all stock and near perfect aside from a missing ceiling liner in the back, non stock stick on rear view mirror.

I replaced the blown out speakers but left the old radio/tapedeck.

Aftermarket CD changer is in there, feeding through a radio station, stock parts left in tact.

Engine runs smooth but idles at 500 rpm and has been stalling in park.

Hope I'm in the right thread. Oh, I'm in the Z registry too.

 

Again if this is the wrong place to post sorry.

 

Yes you are in the wrong thread. j/k. Anyway, nice Z man, looks like you got a great start. Good luck on getting it better. Oh, and welcome to Zdriver man.

 

don't know what you mean by wrong thread? you are in the z31 forum which is where you belong. the z32 was from 90-96.

seems like a lot of maintenance done for a car with only 95,000 on the clock. I'm assuming you understand that 95K equates to 95,000. Or is that supposed to be 195,000. pretty sure the 88's had a 6 digit odometer. if they had to do all that I would say that poor car been rode hard and put up wet more than once. If all that stuff HAD to be done I think the car would have more like 250,000 miles on it. anyway good luck on it. you probably want to download the fsm from xenon website. Do a google search you will find it. The two z31 I owned were pretty durable. 85t and 86t. buddy got a 88T with like 150K on it and he hasn't had any problems to speak of. You might want to try doing a carfax on it and see if the mileage is true. not hard to set back the odometer if you know a little mechanics. to go from 195K to 95K you only have to change the first digit. In my opinion a Z31 with only 95,000 on it and at least minimal care should have had nothing done to it but a new timing belt and tires.

 

Thanks. I carfaxed it before I bought it; there's an Exceeds Mechanical limits tag from 1989, clocking it in at 10k miles.

Just based on maintanaince though you bring up a good point..

And downloaded the manual, also have the original fsm but a searchable pdf is always great.

Fixed the idle last night.

Sanding down the 3000 engine plate to repaint it.

Replaced the headlight bulbs because the driverside high-beam isn't activating. That didn't fix it, and all the fuses are in tact. Workin from this now http://www.xenonz31.com/Headlamps.html

If i'm reading this right.. I have to take out the steering column to get to that combo switch box.. getting way over my head but I guess that's the only way to learn..

 

no just the steering wheel. loosen the nut but leave it on so when you pull on it doesn't bust you in the teeth. get a buddy to pull up on it and rap the nut smartly with a hammer it will usually jar loose. have the top of the nut flush with the top of the shaft so you don't bugger the threads. then some plastic pieces to get out of the way. the carfax thing is way wrong that car has a lot of miles. that jolly old elf was really an evil imp taking advantage of young grasshopper. before you pull everything apart check to see if you are getting voltage at the headlamp could just be a bad ground there. (and test the bulb just cause she be new don't mean good - learned the hard way with a set of points on my 49 Ford when I was 17)

 

Thanks man.

Need to go get a voltemeter then.

 

if you are looking for advice check Harbor Freight for tools. they have a decent vom for like $25. stay away from a digital they can lead you astray if you aren't experienced. some other things you want to do. put in new inner tie rod ends and ball joints. a set of poly bushings. get the car aligned and the tires balanced after that. you will now have a stable platform that won't wander the road like a drunken pig. New shocks are a good investment. Monroes arent' the best look at kyb or tokico. dont' worry about springs until you do the above. after that you can make an intelligent assesement of spring need. I would emphasize again that I don't believe you have a car with 95,000 miles on it. 195K or better is more like it. timing belt is a gamble. if she goes you got a junk motor. on the other hand we have a number of z31 in the club and no one lost a timing belt.

 

Hey Scruffy! I'm a mechanical newb also and just bought my AE last week. and guess what? i can't get it into reverse. just saw the mechanic and he quoted me $560 for a new clutch. replacing the clutch is way above my mechanical know how. i knew the clutch was stiff but i didn't realize it was so close to going out.

anyways, we should be friends because we're both brand new to mechanics and love our Z's to death!

 

don't pay $560 for a clutch job. 4 jackstands, $30. tranny jack (rent cheap or new $70) hand tools you will need anyway if you own a z31. clutch throwout bearing etc probably under $200 and you will learn a lot about your car. Actualy not much of a job just tedious. get the fsm from xenon website (doa google). Get a good set of sockets from Harbor Freight and you can do a lot of stuff for yourself Probably $100 bucks for sockets, open ends, combo and box wrenches. good tools and inexpensive. Get some exra extensions you will need them.

 

scruffy i dumb thumbed my first post. you need outer tie rod ends not inner. Well- you might need inner but highly unlikely.

 

How were u able to fix the 500rpm idle? I've been having the same problem but I haven't been able to find a solution to it.

 

I followed the troubleshooting section in my Haynes book on 'Inconsistant Idling.' Guide is in Chapter 1 section 14.

Heres the link to the downloadable 84-89 Haynes.

http://www.xenonz31.com/files/z31_haynes.zip



Thanks for the advice guys. I finished the engine plate. Sanded/stripped and repainted it, really looks slick in there

Once I get money I'll start making those little replacments yall mentioned and get that timing belt.