300ZX (Z32) Forums Dedicated to 90-96 ZCars otherwize known as the Z32's

Getting used to the car

Old Jan 5, 2008 | 10:22 PM
  #1  
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Getting used to the car

This car (96TT) is really awesome. I finally took her out yesterday and what a rush. It's kind of weired looking at the driver's side mirror and seeing the rear spoiler at a level above my head!!!! First mod: I started to install mud flaps this afternoon. Will finish tomorrow.

A few things I need to know,however:

1 - ambient temperature display doesn'texist, right?
2 - tilt steering wheel doesn't exist either,right?
3 - steering wheel controls don't exist, right?
4 - There's a buzzing sound (I believe it's a motorof some kind) that sems to be coming from the rear end underside. It's brief and only happens when I'm backing up first time with the front wheels turned near their limit. Is this the S-HICAS doing its thing?
5 - The seats have a manual forward recline tab (to allow access to the "trunk" area) located about 3/4 ways upthe outer sides. My driver's side is missing the thumb tab and I would like to get one. I can't find any description in either the FSM or the driver's manual. Any clues would be appreciated. Thanks - I wish I had a pic to show what I mean.
6 - I really have to get rid of the horn - too darn wimpy for a car like this.
Old Jan 5, 2008 | 10:31 PM
  #2  
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Originally Posted by Darkmann

A few things I need to know,however:

1 - ambient temperature display doesn'texist, right?
right

2 - tilt steering wheel doesn't exist either,right?
yep. no tilt. which sucks for those of us who are 6'4"

3 - steering wheel controls don't exist, right?
other than the horn, no.

4 - There's a buzzing sound (I believe it's a motorof some kind) that sems to be coming from the rear end underside. It's brief and only happens when I'm backing up first time with the front wheels turned near their limit. Is this the S-HICAS doing its thing?
might be. hicas on the later cars used electric motors rather than hydraulics.

5 - The seats have a manual forward recline tab (to allow access to the "trunk" area) located about 3/4 ways upthe outer sides. My driver's side is missing the thumb tab and I would like to get one. I can't find any description in either the FSM or the driver's manual. Any clues would be appreciated. Thanks - I wish I had a pic to show what I mean.
i know what you are talking about, and so will any other z32 owner. post up wanted ads in z forums. someone parting their car out will likely have one.

6 - I really have to get rid of the horn - too darn wimpy for a car like this.
meh, personal preference. find one you like.
Old Jan 5, 2008 | 11:22 PM
  #3  
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agreed ^^^^


and as for the reverse thing, not saying im judging your judgement, but you sure it sounds like a motor? and not a direct cut gear, like reverse is? lol. but then, it also wouldnt be coming from the rear. and im pretty sure HICAS only works over a certain MPH. you hearing the fuel pump? you sure it is just quick and momentary and only in reverse? that sounds like something, perhaps, in your mind..... lol. unless there is something to the HICAS i just dont know about which is possibly since i never researched it much. but i doubt that it would do anything under those conditions.
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 06:21 AM
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It's a little buss that lasts for a few seconds - the sound is like that of the antenna motor or windshield washer motor, but it's neither of these. It's not the constant humming of the fuel pump. It, however, doesn't sound like there's anything bad going on. I get the feeling something is activating smething else to reposition another something!!!! For now, I have only felt it after shifting to reverse and am just about to move, so I don't think it's the reverse gear. I don't believe I've hears it without the wheels turned sharply. As I read it, HICAS doesn't kick in at crawl speeds, but I don't know how it works, and I'm sure S-HICAS is even more complex.

Tommorrow I'll have the car through Maryland inspection, new Sumitomo HTR-Z on all corners, 4-wheel alignment and just have the shop do a "thorough" general inspection of the car. I know I'm missing two screws - one that holds the coolant overflow tank onto the body of the car (I think this one is a plastic clip) and one that holds the washer bottle to the frame - I wonder what whoever was fiddling with these screws!!! Both are on order and will arrive tomorrow. The glass components also have the VIN etched in - I guess the owner had Nissan do this for security reasons. I kind of like it!!

On other note, how in the world does anyone do anything under the hood? Everything is so packed tight - I can't even see the alternator or the A/C compressor. I don't even recall seeing the drive belts!!!

One last question - for now: They key code. The manual says Nissan doesn't keep it. How do I get another key cut (local dealer, Nissan or WalMart??) and if I get a new keyfob, who programs it or does it come pre-programmed based on VIN?

Last edited by Darkmann; Jan 6, 2008 at 06:42 AM.
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 07:36 AM
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dont know about the keyfob, but you can get keys from a vendor or ebay. i took mine to the dealer and had them cut
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 12:08 PM
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you learn your way around the engine bay. lots of stuff you have to come from the bottom or pull the plenum. its still always tight though. as for the belts they are there, look closer. lol. they are tucked up front pretty good though. since you have low miles you prolly wont have this problem, but when i went to get my wheels aligned it was pointless, the camber was so out of spec my wheels wor on the inside to bald and the outside still had about 1/4 inch tread left. goo to always get the, i think SLP makes it, adjustable camber kit.
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 12:50 PM
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oh, duh. i know what the buzz is. ABS. as for the etching, i think that became standard in '94 or '95. as for the key fob, you can get an aftermarket one from KeylessRide.com much cheaper than even a used OEM one. you program it yourself through a complicated series of steps, but the instructions are straightforward enough.

Last edited by entropy31; Jan 6, 2008 at 12:56 PM.
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 02:54 PM
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Thanks a lot everyone. Entropy how did you come to the ABS? One more clue as I tracked it today: the buzz is from the rear passenger fender well area, and it happens in both forward and reverse directions, it lasts about 2-seconds and only happens once on every drive - meaning, as long as engine is running, I can reverse, go forward, wheels turned any angle, it will not buzz. However, if I shut the engine, restart and go through the maneuvers, it will buzz again for about 2-secs. Is that where the ABS pump resides? Once again, thanks. Dang, this car can move!!!!

Last edited by Darkmann; Jan 6, 2008 at 02:57 PM.
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 02:59 PM
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it has bad wheel hop but what good (stock) Z32 doesnt! lol. did you get stupid slideways? lol i know i did, yeah, that dealership guy was cool, but talked way to much and said only one thing that was a lie, or at least not true. damn sales men.
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 03:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Darkmann
Thanks a lot everyone. Entropy how did you come to the ABS?
the ABS actuator is in the area under that shelf behind your seats, on the passenger side. it primes when you start the car. mine does the same thing. you can pop out those trim pieces on either side of that shelf, and you will see it on the pass side. 10 points if you can figure out what the suction cup thing you find is for (NO HINTS!!!)

Last edited by entropy31; Jan 6, 2008 at 03:08 PM.
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 04:33 PM
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Originally Posted by entropy31
the ABS actuator is in the area under that shelf behind your seats, on the passenger side. it primes when you start the car. mine does the same thing. you can pop out those trim pieces on either side of that shelf, and you will see it on the pass side. 10 points if you can figure out what the suction cup thing you find is for (NO HINTS!!!)
No bad wheel hop Snw. It's the ABS control unit like Entropy pointrd out. I just checked my FSM and that's what it is. It does a self check everytime the car is started and under 4mph. Now, what suction cup thing are you talking about?
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 04:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Darkmann
No bad wheel hop Snw. It's the ABS control unit like Entropy pointrd out. I just checked my FSM and that's what it is. It does a self check everytime the car is started and under 4mph. Now, what suction cup thing are you talking about?
do a hard launch, and you will know about the wheel hop. it's a z32 thing. and did you take off those panels next to the shelf yet?
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 05:04 PM
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I haven't taken off the panels yet. I guess that's where the suction cup thing is located!! As for the hard launch, I'm still trying to wipe this stupid SHIFT_grin off my face just from driving the car. I will do the hard launch after the MD inspection tomorrow.
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 07:36 PM
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even at teh top of 1st under WOT you get Z32 wheel hop, you can do it on cold dry winter days in the N/A's but teh TT's do it all the time.
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 08:00 PM
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Well, it'll hop unless, by chance, he has subframe spacers on the car already. When I was at Ultimate Z, there were a lot of customers who had stocks Z's but got the spacers just to counter that, so it is possible that he has them and nothing else.
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 08:12 PM
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Originally Posted by ZLover4Life
Well, it'll hop unless, by chance, he has subframe spacers on the car already. When I was at Ultimate Z, there were a lot of customers who had stocks Z's but got the spacers just to counter that, so it is possible that he has them and nothing else.
I already checked and I don't have subframe spacers. I will hop if I try. However, I just haven't tried yet, and like I said earlier, I want to go through this painful Maryland state inspection first before I start braking things!!!!
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 09:10 PM
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i still got some hop with my subframe spacers. i did notice a small difference whenever i swung the rear end out tho.
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 09:38 PM
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Originally Posted by b300z
i still got some hop with my subframe spacers..
Then it might be time for new bushings. When I installed the spacers on my red TT (which had a healthy subframe) there was no hop at all. With 431rwhp, it spun the sh*t out of the tires though.
Old Jan 7, 2008 | 02:13 PM
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I had wheel hop as well after installing ones fro Z1. It is probably due to 40,000 miles on the replaced suspension though.
However it makes the car oversteer more, which I prefer after nose sliding that beast for a couple years, even taking a good line
But Zlover, are they solid bushings or the ones with collers?
Old Jan 7, 2008 | 02:17 PM
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On my car? I have Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings (wanted the comfort - some people stand by solid though) with Specialty Z Subframe Spacers.
Old Jan 8, 2008 | 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Darkmann
This car (96TT) is really awesome. I finally took her out yesterday and what a rush. It's kind of weired looking at the driver's side mirror and seeing the rear spoiler at a level above my head!!!! First mod: I started to install mud flaps this afternoon. Will finish tomorrow.

A few things I need to know,however:

1 - ambient temperature display doesn'texist, right?
2 - tilt steering wheel doesn't exist either,right?
3 - steering wheel controls don't exist, right?
4 - There's a buzzing sound (I believe it's a motorof some kind) that sems to be coming from the rear end underside. It's brief and only happens when I'm backing up first time with the front wheels turned near their limit. Is this the S-HICAS doing its thing?
5 - The seats have a manual forward recline tab (to allow access to the "trunk" area) located about 3/4 ways upthe outer sides. My driver's side is missing the thumb tab and I would like to get one. I can't find any description in either the FSM or the driver's manual. Any clues would be appreciated. Thanks - I wish I had a pic to show what I mean.
6 - I really have to get rid of the horn - too darn wimpy for a car like this.
The cruisecontoll is ofcourse on the steeringwheel
Old Jan 8, 2008 | 05:50 PM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by mons
The cruisecontoll is ofcourse on the steeringwheel
actually, no. it is not on the steering wheel. it is on the column. only the early pre-airbag z32s had it on the wheel.


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