In general, my car just hasnt driven as well as it should since I bought it. Ive yet to replace all the spark plug wires. I bought them from AutoZone and only replaced the 1,3, and 5 . I plan on doing the rest tomorrow. When I put the first three in, my car ran like a dream for roughly 10 minutes. Then I realized a line I disconnected to get my hand into the number 5 spark plug position wasnt reconnected when I went driving. Ever since then, my car has begun to over heat and idle very rough. I replaced all the coolant and the oil was changed just recently. The spark plugs are new as well. Im just not sure what to do anymore. Getting rid of the car isnt even an option, in spite of what those around me have suggested. They just have no idea of the potential in a Z. I dont want to take it to a shop. but it may be my only option if I dont get it figured out. Today was the first time its overheated since I bought it. Oh, and when I shift, I hear the gears rotating in the transmission. Theyre a little loud, but not too bad. Do I need some fluid in my tranny? Thanks to every one for the help over these last few days. You guys bypass any manual. Thanks again.

 

a good fluid change with a good brand of the proper fluid would be a good idea.

as for the running, you're going to need to get specific about that line that you took off.

 

It was actually 2 lines and they're located directly above the number 5 spark plug. I don't believe there's anymore lines in that general area. There was quite a bit of smoke billowing out from under the hood when I parked the car afterwords.

 

i'm not familiar enough to know exactly what they are and i can't find a picture. i guess the smoke was white? was the engine covered in antifreeze? did you hook the lines back up?

 

you didnt watch the temp and let it overheat?

anyways pictures are worth a 1000 words seriously take some pictures of things and post them for us to see. so we can better steer you in the right direction.

now when working on a z you never do things halfassed. If you replace the sparkplug wires replace them all! While you at it you might as well do the plugs make sure you get oem "the same brand that came with it from the factory to get best results"

next the cooling system do you have water/antifreeze in your car? is it filled up?
what kind of smoke did you encounter color determines alot. if you overheated it you will have more problems now and might need to do some work on it like a head gasket.

those two lines can you describe them/take pictures?
i would sugget you go to autozone and buy like 6ft of vaccume line and start replacing every line you can because they get old and start to "leak" giving you preformance and overall running issues. i would strongly urge you to this one hose at a time so you dont forget where one goes. i would also replace the fuel filter and related hoses as well.
remember you bought a 15+ year old car things will need to be replaced. its a fact of life i had to do it too i know it sucks. if you dont want this hassle get a new car or pay someone big busk to do all you car work for you.

now for the transmision
how many miles?
was the car abused?
either way i would replace the tranny fluid just because.
manual or auto?
if manual are you pushing the clutch in far enough? mabe you are just not disengaging the clutch enough and causing the gears to clip each other between shifts. mabe you should bleed the clutch and adjust it. no forget that its not a mabe just do it to eliminate that possibility.

brakes
every car i buy i bleed the brakes and check/ replace all the pads and rotors i would suggest at a minimum inspect your brakes they are more inportant than anything else!!!!!!!

i hope i am not coming off mean or anything i am at work i truly hope this helps.
if you need anything else just ask.

lastly
where are you located?
mabe one of us could swing buy and have a look it will cost you a couple beers but you might have a good running car afterwards.

 

ohh i know it sounds like a lot of money to do all this but your only looking at 100-150 max!
it is all mostly preventative maintenece that will be done anyways to any used car you get.

 

Youre not sounding mean at all. Im on my way outside to take some pictures now. The car has 125,000 miles on it and Im sure the previous owner didnt do a damn thing as far as preventive maintenance.

 

ok well if you think he didnt do anything to maintain it then you will most definatly want to look over the list i typed up.

i had to do everything on that list plus some when i got my car. and its still not perfect due to age.

remember in the z world
halfass= do over/failure

 

if you need some help someone is almost always on and i check back here a couple times a day out of boredom so let me know how it goes