Noise coming from dome light
 

Help! I have a 96 300ZX. It has fairly low miles for its age (65K); however, there is a strange screeching noise coming from the dome light area. I asked the mechanic about it, and he just looked at me like I was crazy. It goes away when I turn the engine off, but when I start the car, it makes the noise again. The really weird thing about it is that is does not happen all the time. Of course, when I try to get a mechanic to listen for it, it doesn't make the noise. Has anyone had the same problem???????? Help a sista out please! It's getting on my nerves!

Not sure about the dome light noise, but it may be coming from your engine bay due to a loose fan belt. Pop the hood and check it out while a friend revs the motor a bit. Other than that, I don't know what else to say. Maybe a bad ground somewhere like when speakers make that whining noise?
John 82ZXT

Yeah, I know it sounds crazy. When I propped my ear close to the front dome light area, that's where the noise came from. However, I will get the belts checked out and see if there is a bad electrical connection. Thanks for your reply. Appreciate it. ;)

Mine dose the same thing and I determined it is a fan that controls the automatic climate control if you pop the dome light out you can see the fan.

Is that the reason?
 

Ok, that makes sense, I guess. Is there anything I can do to stop the noise?

Get exaust and turn up the radio.

Believe it or not, I already do that!

I belive it. Thats the best way to get rid of any anoying noise.

I don't own a 300 like you do, but if it's that fan that's making the noise, maybe it needs to be lubed. Check with a Haynes or Chiltons manual on how to access it to see if that's all it needs.
John 82ZXT

Thanks. The only problem is that I haven't been able to find a manual for 1990-1996 3Z models around here. I'll probably get a friend to look at it. I might break something.

I had the very same problem. And it was the fan in the light that calculates the climate of the car. I Poped the light off and i took out the fan. You can try your best to lube it or whatever but it doesent hurt to stick somethin in there so the fan doesent rotate.

Wouldn't it be bad if I took the fan out? Also, where would you prop it open? I was looking at it yesterday, and I didn't see a starting point where I could pry it open. Or are you taking about the light cover instead? I was thinking about getting a flat head to open it, but I didn't what to tear it up. I guess I'm guilty of babying "Big Daddy Z" too much (that's his name) :p

:D Ohh my gad it feels so good to not be the only one with the same trouble..

Gladly I found out what it was soon after I first started hearing that noise.. so I went on the hunt and bought a complete new assembly (dome/map lights and fan) in Ebay.. just hope this other one is not in the same condition (still waitnig for it to arrive)..

Hey
So your saying that it's just a bad assembly then? It sounds as if the problem is fairly common. I'm happy it's just that and nothing serious. Hopefully, it won't hurt my pockets too much. :eek: These cars are expensive for repairs!

Well my best guess was that it was the little fan of the temp. cheking thing.. my map lights are functioning just fine but the ones I saw in Ebay just looked better.. cuz my Z32 is from 1990 so the plastic "thingies" are a bit yellowish.. so I decided on getting the whole thing..

Maybe with some lubricant (WD40..or some grease-like thing) the annoying sound could go away..

http://www.twinturbo.net/ttnetfaq/FAQpages/tempfan.html

http://www.aus300zxclub.com/tech/acfan.htm

:)

You cannot get a Haynes or Chilton manual for the Z32s, they were never made. You can get a manual on CD thought off of ebay or Courtesy-Nissan.

Well, that makes sense because I could never find one. THanks for the heads up