Almost a year later...I get an S13!

[vigilante]

Hey guys! I signed up to the forum in April last year and have just bought my first S13. I have loved them for ages but it's only recently that I've been able to afford one!

Well...lets just say it isn't going so smoothly...and that's after one day!

I bought this one (http://www.sxoc.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=263307) from sparky 200sx yesterday. Well I got home and found out he'd lied about a couple of things (I'll leave my true feelings - ie. expletives - off the board). Namely, the Profec B controller doesn't work for shit (and so I am running lower than stock boost and have no way of changing it!) and there is an oil leak coming from what appears to be the driveshaft oil seal.

After telling him that I'm on the very edge of my budget and that reliability is a MUST, I am very disappointed by his bull**** "hand on heart" speech. Anyway...I now have to work out a few things:

1. Whether the controller IS busted or if something else is prohibiting it working (we tested using bleed valve and got boost through it)
2. Why the engine is seeming very laggy and hesitant
3. Where the oil leak is coming from

If anyone has any prior knowledge of this car from the last owner or before, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know anything that might be helpful.

I'll be making related threads in the tech section so feel free to provide advice! On the plus side, she looks nice and I'm guna make her my own. Can't wait! :thumbs:

[jacks300zx]

oil leak is either gonna be the crankshaft oil seal, or more likely the gasket under the cam covers. only 8 bolts that hold it on, whip it off and have a look. only about £12 for a new one

[docwra]

Hi Vigilante :wave:

My advice would be to take it to a local meet or see if a local member could have a look over it for you :nod:

That should at least give you some peace of mind :thumbs:

[vigilante]

Nice one guys. Wish I'd asked yesterday now, since I had it up on the ramp...doh! :wack:

Will ask my mate where that gasket under the cam covers is...I'm useless (but I'm getting better!)

[Aitch]

reliability is a MUST

So you bought a 13 year old turbocharged Nissan? :eek: :wack: :wack:

Hope you get it sorted :thumbs:

[Yakko]

Hi Fella.

A boost controller can't give you lower than standard boost, they can only up it over actuator pressure, so it suggests there's something else up.

Where abouts are you from?

[dow]

Welcome to ownership :wave:

If you are on the edge of your budget, why did you buy an S13? Or an sx at all? These cars can take a lot of upkeep, and a large bill every now and again shouldn't be ruled out. The oil seal could have caused a big problem if you hadn't noticed it.

Not everybody has ramps, or even gets under their car very often so are you sure he lied about it? And minor oil leaks are not always a problem if you keep an eye on the fluid levels and it isn't leaving puddles of oil around. Sure they should be fixed but not the end of the world. I'm sure many people have a bit of oil somewhere where it shouldn't be.

The Profec, I don't know much about, but you can't get less than standard boost even if it isn't working, as the actuator still needs boost to open. Either your actuator is faulty, your wastegate stuck, or even a boost leak.

Be very sure someone deliberately lied to you before making such accusations, as the fault may have developed on your way home, or not have been known to him. Its still up to you to make sure a car you are buying is up to standard you are wanting, and used cars from private sales are always sold as seen.

Good luck with your car. If its any consolation I probably spend more time working on my car than driving it, and thats a part of owning it I happen to enjoy :)

[jacks300zx]

If Its Just A Gasket Gone On The Cam Covers I Really Wouldnt Worry Its A Ten Minute Job

[lumoxs]

welcome aboard mate. great choice in car - thats a stunner

[vigilante]

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accidental triple post, mental internet connection. sorry!
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[vigilante]

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accidental triple post, mental internet connection. sorry!
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[vigilante]

dow -

I do have some money to play with but no-one expects to have to fork out on a car immediately. I am aware the cars need upkeep and I have friends that are willing to help me out on the journey to ultimate-cardom :)

The boost controller doesn't appear to be working and yet I was told he regularly takes it out (3 times a week was suggested) on trips as far as Brighton. I am not trying to soil his name or reputation, but he said outright the boost controller worked and never was there any mention or any other possibility. Sold as seen is fine, but you do expect some decency and level of truth from the seller, do you not?

And to think I had presumed he was running low boost because it was wet and dark...! :wack:

My suspicion is only amplified by his seemingly instantaneous inability to answer his mobile phone as soon as money had been handed over, as well as a bhp output reading that was before the engine was overhauled and must be miles off at the moment.

The oil leak isn't extensive but definitely something to be monitored. I'm having it fixed on Saturday because I WILL have this car how I want it! :thumbs:

My wastegate isn't stuck so it may be the actuator (I will be replacing this with an uprated type) or a boost leak (which isn't encouraging!).

Anyway, I've now fixed a few things that indicate that this car wasn't used as often (or as well looked after) as I was told:

1. Spring in Plug 4 coil pack had totally eroded...so was only firing on 3 cylinders!
2. Cleaned oil from within spark plug area (filling spillage? Gasket looks OK)
3. Rust-to-metalled under bonnet
4. Cleaned all manner of crud from inside glovebox, under seats, etc
5. Replaced passenger seat belt plug as was the incorrect type (?!!)

More to come including connecting oil pressure gauge and carpeting the back of the car :)

jacks300zx - cheers mate, we'll be replacing sump gasket and rocker cover gasket (and possibly crankshaft seal) on saturday. will let you know how it goes. did you used to own the blue Z32 on 300zx.co.uk? loved that car, and then you bought one of my favourite S13s!!

[Adz-s12]

Next port of call mate is we will check the timing as i reckon its out, its not boosting smoothly and is creeping from 7 psi to 10 psi when it reaches about 5k. So im thinking its retarded?

The wastegate isnt stuck open as i ruled that out earlier but a possibiltie is that the wastegate could be cracked.

I think the oil leak is more likely to be sump gasket as opposed to crank oil seal, Spoke to sideways danny ealier and apparently the sumps need a bit of straightening if removed so chances are the gasket isnt sealing properly if the previous owner wasnt aware that this is a common leaking point.

Why do they use such shite actuators on T28`s? I run a GT28R on my s12 and the actuator is a 7psi spring:ghey: Is this the same on all garret T28`s?

Well worth upgrading to a -31 as i did or an off the shelf hks or sumo power one which can be purchased from the traders section:thumbs:

Fully understand your greif mate but in this game with these old nissans ya just gota get used to being out in dark crap weather and enjoy the moments when your boosting trouble free for a few weeks lol

Chin up mate were get it sorted with the advice from others who have had similar if not the same problems, like the s12`s you can guarantee someone else has had indentical problems so there always an answer on the board somewhere:thumbs:

[jacks300zx]

well i wouldnt go replacing crank shaft seal unless it is actually whats leaking as that aint a ten minute job!! as i mentioned its more than likely the rocker cover gasket (well technicaly it doesnt have one but it seems to make more sense to people if u say that) and that really is a ten minute job.
look down the back of the engine, if theres oil from the top down, dripping down onto the gearbox and off the bottom, its the above mentioned.

my zed was silver mate, although ive heard its been resprayed blue, might be that one. i miss it too!

[vigilante]

hmmm....check this thread! the car isn't going past 2k RPM. I'm about to go check the AFM as that was the last thing we touched last night.

http://sxoc.co.uk/vbb/showthread.php?t=269157

[Richy_Boy]

Good luck putting it together :thumbs: I never buy a car expecting it to be 100%, I love the thrill of finding and fixing the teething problems :wack:

The great thing about buying a car from the SXOC is you can search through the users history and see if they've stacked it, or have discussed bodging a repair. :D

Rich

[vigilante]

Problem sorted, we didn't re-connect the AFM sender cable. How tired must we have been? :)

[jacks300zx]

think your having fun, im in the middle of building a s13 that cost £100!

[vigilante]

eh...? don't you have the stage 3 bright orange S13 with large bonnet scoop? maybe that was another 300zx owner! :D

good luck with it mate!

[Adz-s12]

ITs not the rocker gasket thats leaking.

[jacks300zx]

nah that was me alright, i had the orange one, sold it for the green machine (RIP) then swapped it for a scoob which ahem, i no longer have! so had to start again with a standard shitty 13

[fletch_14a]

my zed was silver mate, although ive heard its been resprayed blue, might be that one. i miss it too!


you know as well as i do jack, you dont miss that zed at all,

you couldnt wait to get rid of it......cause it was crap:D

[vigilante]

ITs not the rocker gasket thats leaking.

But wouldn't it be worth taking it out to check though mate? Just in case, to eliminate the chance of it being slightly cracked at the back of the head?

[jacks300zx]

you know as well as i do jack, you dont miss that zed at all,

you couldnt wait to get rid of it......cause it was crap:D

yeah but the girlies loved it! :D

[docwra]

But wouldn't it be worth taking it out to check though mate? Just in case, to eliminate the chance of it being slightly cracked at the back of the head?

Cant you see where the oil is coming from?? Sump and cranks are a good bet IMO, but if theres any above the oil filter, youve found your culprit there :nod:

[vigilante]

I'll have as best a look tonight as I can, it is all over so could be from anywhere :wack:

Need ramps! If anyone wants to help............ :)

[docwra]

It probably wont go up ramps ;)

Welcome to the wonderful world of 200SX maintenance :D

[alanjuggler]

cam cover oils leaks are common - especially the passenger side. check the half moon seal at the back.

i had a similar experience with buying an s13 - big ends went the day i got it :wack:

keep at it chap :thumbs:

if it is the sump seal / crank seal, it's a bugger to change them.

[vigilante]

cheers mate, will do. big ends on the day of purchase! bummer!

local jap garage is steam spraying the underneath on saturday so we'll hopefully be able to determine the cause of the leak. i'll look at the half moon seal tonight (hopefully...). any help on where i find this and what i need to do to get to it?

[vigilante]

woohoo! we sorted out the timing and it's THAT that was causing the lack of boost.

the car's running sweetly now! :nod: