Ok well here goes my first question - This morning I jumped in the car as usual ( zx300 z1 89 non turbo auto ) and the car just felt dead slow on acceleration ...foot down to enter a roundabout and when normally it would take off it just pottered out into the lane ..stuck my foot way down but seemed to take an age on the straight to reach 40 ..from 40 up it started gaining speed quickly . Not sure If im being paranoid or theres a problem but Ive been driving this car daily since I got her and cant recall it being this slow to move off ...any suggestions or ideas would be greatly recoved?
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loss of acceleration
- Thread starter thatgirl
- Start date
zedhead260
Well-Known Forum User
Did you remember to take the handbrake off ? 
Sorry, that was a cheap shot
Sorry, that was a cheap shot
Mr.F
Inactive
Plug leads shorting out is a common problem, particularly on damp morning starts - look for signs of arcing between lead and any close metalwork (ideal to do this at night). Listen for any ticking noise to help pinpoint this. When were the plugs last replaced? Often neglected on the Z31 due to difficult access.
Is the cold start system all fully functional? Problems with cylinder head temperature sensor and throttle by-pass valve all too common.
Did the poor performance correct itself as the car warmed up?
Is the cold start system all fully functional? Problems with cylinder head temperature sensor and throttle by-pass valve all too common.
Did the poor performance correct itself as the car warmed up?
zedhead - ha ha Mr witty ( wouldnt be so funny if I hadnt actually done that a few times
F - thanks for the advice - will double check the leads ...the performance is much better now the cars warmed up.
as an after thought just been to a locla body shop to get a quote for wheel arches and a couple of small rust spots on the drivers door ..£1000 aprox apparently ..the chap says hes going to try and sorce some replacement panels for me instead as this might work out cheaper...does this figure sound ok to you ( being a girl and totally clueless thus far I figure Id be a con mans dream so just being careful )..the wheel arches are a tad bubbly in places nothing tpo horrific and no flaking inside.
T x
F - thanks for the advice - will double check the leads ...the performance is much better now the cars warmed up.
as an after thought just been to a locla body shop to get a quote for wheel arches and a couple of small rust spots on the drivers door ..£1000 aprox apparently ..the chap says hes going to try and sorce some replacement panels for me instead as this might work out cheaper...does this figure sound ok to you ( being a girl and totally clueless thus far I figure Id be a con mans dream so just being careful )..the wheel arches are a tad bubbly in places nothing tpo horrific and no flaking inside.
T x
DJZ 60
Well-Known Forum User
Hi,Thatgirl. I find local car people don't have the knowledge or source's to give a fair price on repair's ,service etc.
I,d compare price with Gary Bellamy or at least shop around to get a decent price. The 300zx forum,& our many 300z member's also will be able to recommend the local people that are anygood& fair to go with it.....................DJZ 60.
I,d compare price with Gary Bellamy or at least shop around to get a decent price. The 300zx forum,& our many 300z member's also will be able to recommend the local people that are anygood& fair to go with it.....................DJZ 60.
Last edited by a moderator:
JEZ 280ZX
Well-Known Forum User
Hi,
£1000 does seem a bit steep...I'd expect a full respray for that!
As far as I'm aware there aren't any wheel arch repair panels for the later facelift 300ZX z31 model, so they would have to be custom made!
Trouble is, a lot of body shops can do a good respray, but aren't so good when it comes to cutting out and replacing rusted sections... without using tons of filler!
Cheerz,
JEZ
£1000 does seem a bit steep...I'd expect a full respray for that!
As far as I'm aware there aren't any wheel arch repair panels for the later facelift 300ZX z31 model, so they would have to be custom made!
Trouble is, a lot of body shops can do a good respray, but aren't so good when it comes to cutting out and replacing rusted sections... without using tons of filler!
Cheerz,
JEZ
grolls
Well-Known Forum User
personaly i think a grand to do two wheel arches is a tad steep i can only assume he is going to make them, then i would say thats the right price, after all there is alot of labour there! as for a grand for a complete respray... bloody hell tell me your painters name and ill be there like a shot,providing the paint doesn;t start to peel off at 80 mph....lol
Arches
JEZ
Hiya
Its actually all 4 arches I want done ..not because they are falling apart ..just a bit of bubbeling ..but Im reluctant to leave them like it thru the winter months ( but then the guy did say it wouldnt matter if they were being replaced anyway ) I also have a couple of rust bubbles on the drivers door which he suspects might have pin holes through to the skin ..other than that the car is sweet ..no rust underneath ...clean as a whistle.
The place Ive gone to is out Thruxton industrial estate ..and they appear to know thier business - he explained that sometimes costs can esculate as they cut away the arches if there is more rust further up ...and invited me to watch the procedure which I felt was quite honest ..none the less Im going to give Gary bellamy a bell see what he says .
Im also planning to have a scooby style vent fitted in the bonnet ..any info on where i can get this done would be great ...eventually I am planning a respray on her ( subrau blue me thinks...lol so with the bonnet and the colour scheam she will look like a badly mishapen 300zx looking scooby.
Did think about trying to scorce a kit for her however after some consideration and theres so little available for this model so it seems Im going to give it a miss ( I also live in sleeping policeman- ville ) and would have to park the car half a mile away to avaoid them ...still shes pretty low anyway so nebber mind
Oh and Neil - was looking back through old posts and saw the request for ideas on extra power..I drive the same model as you ..Im going for the Nitros..seems to be the only option ( and what fun! )
Tracy x
JEZ
Hiya
Its actually all 4 arches I want done ..not because they are falling apart ..just a bit of bubbeling ..but Im reluctant to leave them like it thru the winter months ( but then the guy did say it wouldnt matter if they were being replaced anyway ) I also have a couple of rust bubbles on the drivers door which he suspects might have pin holes through to the skin ..other than that the car is sweet ..no rust underneath ...clean as a whistle.
The place Ive gone to is out Thruxton industrial estate ..and they appear to know thier business - he explained that sometimes costs can esculate as they cut away the arches if there is more rust further up ...and invited me to watch the procedure which I felt was quite honest ..none the less Im going to give Gary bellamy a bell see what he says .
Im also planning to have a scooby style vent fitted in the bonnet ..any info on where i can get this done would be great ...eventually I am planning a respray on her ( subrau blue me thinks
...lol so with the bonnet and the colour scheam she will look like a badly mishapen 300zx looking scooby.Did think about trying to scorce a kit for her however after some consideration and theres so little available for this model so it seems Im going to give it a miss ( I also live in sleeping policeman- ville ) and would have to park the car half a mile away to avaoid them ...still shes pretty low anyway so nebber mind
Oh and Neil - was looking back through old posts and saw the request for ideas on extra power..I drive the same model as you ..Im going for the Nitros..seems to be the only option ( and what fun! )
Tracy x
Mr.F
Inactive
No repair panels available for Z31 facelift rear arches, only full rear quarters.
Front arches might mean full wing replacement. Normally about £170 + VAT. I have one only, RH with the tiniest transit damage (courier, not the F**d van thing) available for £145 + VAT.
The only body kit parts readily available in the U.K. are the Kaminari look-alike parts - front spoiler, skirts and rear valence. The ride height of the car is not affected significantly, but the front spoiler projects forward further.
Front arches might mean full wing replacement. Normally about £170 + VAT. I have one only, RH with the tiniest transit damage (courier, not the F**d van thing) available for £145 + VAT.
The only body kit parts readily available in the U.K. are the Kaminari look-alike parts - front spoiler, skirts and rear valence. The ride height of the car is not affected significantly, but the front spoiler projects forward further.
JEZ 280ZX
Well-Known Forum User
Re: Arches
Have a look at theZ31Club
site
as this Japanese web site has lots of modified Z31's! Some of the Japanese market cars have scooby style bonnet vents , similar to what you're suggesting.
Cheerz,
JEZ
Hi,Originally posted by thatgirl
JEZ
Im also planning to have a scooby style vent fitted in the bonnet ..any info on where i can get this done would be great ...eventually I am planning a respray on her ( subrau blue me thinks
Did think about trying to scorce a kit for her however after some consideration and theres so little available for this model so it seems Im going to give it a miss ( I also live in sleeping policeman- ville ) and would have to park the car half a mile away to avaoid them ...still shes pretty low anyway so nebber mind
Have a look at theZ31Club
site
as this Japanese web site has lots of modified Z31's! Some of the Japanese market cars have scooby style bonnet vents , similar to what you're suggesting.
Cheerz,
JEZ
Carl300ZX
Forum User
Bodywork
Hi "Thatgirl". Welcome to the Z Club.
I have just sent my Z31 off for some tlc to the bodywork, a few rust spots, arches, dents and respray the bonnet. I have been quoted £350 - £400 for the lot. A grand seems a bit steep.
When mine comes back i will let you know how it looks etc. It should be ok as the guy who is doing it is an ex panel beater for Aston Martin (Apparently).
Cheers
P.S. Mike F, if you are reading this, i need to order the front spoiler so the panel beater can fit it. Ta
Hi "Thatgirl". Welcome to the Z Club.
I have just sent my Z31 off for some tlc to the bodywork, a few rust spots, arches, dents and respray the bonnet. I have been quoted £350 - £400 for the lot. A grand seems a bit steep.
When mine comes back i will let you know how it looks etc. It should be ok as the guy who is doing it is an ex panel beater for Aston Martin (Apparently).
Cheers
P.S. Mike F, if you are reading this, i need to order the front spoiler so the panel beater can fit it. Ta
Carl
Thanks will look out for that ...cars being a bit of a pain right now ...started smoking ever so slightly the other day ..and today ( this morning ) it smokes a LOT...so i have this sinking feeling in my stomach something giving up ...theres a slight tapping on start up ..which goes almost instantly ...but a friend of mine has addes a few chemicals to the tank ..and im wondering if they maybe the cause...engine cleaning and performance related bits which i dont really know anything about ..but i do know prior to all of those things were fine.
Thanks will look out for that ...cars being a bit of a pain right now ...started smoking ever so slightly the other day ..and today ( this morning ) it smokes a LOT...so i have this sinking feeling in my stomach something giving up ...theres a slight tapping on start up ..which goes almost instantly ...but a friend of mine has addes a few chemicals to the tank ..and im wondering if they maybe the cause...engine cleaning and performance related bits which i dont really know anything about ..but i do know prior to all of those things were fine.
Jez
Thanks I feel a lot -calmer- now lol...actually after speaking to a friend ...they said ( please keep in mind im a relatively new driver and yes this is my first car belive it or not ) ..that the engines will smoke on start up a fair bit in most cars ..especially on damp mornings like this morning ( duh ) ..guess i will be seeing you all at santa pod afterall
Thanks I feel a lot -calmer- now lol...actually after speaking to a friend ...they said ( please keep in mind im a relatively new driver and yes this is my first car belive it or not ) ..that the engines will smoke on start up a fair bit in most cars ..especially on damp mornings like this morning ( duh ) ..guess i will be seeing you all at santa pod afterall
JEZ 280ZX
Well-Known Forum User
Re: Bodywork
Hi,
That sounds more like it!....£1000 would be a lot to spend on a £1500 car, just for the wheel arches!
Let us know how you get on with the bodywork, Carl.
I must get my 300ZX tarted up a bit in the spring, with perhaps a new front spoiler....Then again I might just sell it and get something different!
Cheerz,
JEZ
Hi,
That sounds more like it!....£1000 would be a lot to spend on a £1500 car, just for the wheel arches!
Let us know how you get on with the bodywork, Carl.
I must get my 300ZX tarted up a bit in the spring, with perhaps a new front spoiler....Then again I might just sell it and get something different!
Cheerz,
JEZ