prolecs
Member
I bought another Z22SE cheapie (always a Convertible for me) with most of the common issues expected at 230k Km, cam chains rattling, oil leaking, foggy headllights, buggared roof latches etc. but it drove ok from the Gold Coast to North of Brisbane after topping up oil, air and water. Even the battery came up after its long period of sitting in the street.
When I got under it, there was a lot more oil under there than in the engine. Drenched from wheel to wheel, bumper to bumper, so a good pressure clean was done to enable investigation to start.
Sump level was weeping, auto trans cooler pipes were loose and leaking, cam cover had some minor leaks, chain cover some weeping, and drive shaft boots were shot. But nothing major major. Worst I could see was coming out the starter motor (hoped it was not a rear seal!) but seemingly not that bad. So ordered a chain kit and gaskets and seals, and put two new drive shafts in as they were both shot anyway, with drop links while I was at it. Got it on the road again with registration and loaned it to a mate to drive for a bit.
Few days later he rang to say it was making a noise (on the other side of the city as well). God I thought, the chains have crapped out. So up early and do the hours drive to get to it.
Checked the oil - none on dipstick. Hmmm on a slope toward the front, that's a bit serious. Mate tells me he topped up oil yesterday as well. Put in a couple of liters, nothing on the stick. Couple more liters and it starts showing. It must have been empty!
Ok, try a start and it rattles a bit but comes good, so we move it to level ground. Check the oil again, but not showing on the stick. Put more oil in and start it up, while I search around for a serious leak on the top side. Plenty of minor leaks and some spilt while topping up but nothing obvious, so pop the head under (well squat and squint under), and it's p**sing out somewhere. BUGGA! Tow truck required as I can't get it home leaking that much oil without killing the engine completely, or getting arrested for polluting.
So clean it again, and up on the hoist. That starter motor is leaking LOTS of oil now. So off it comes while I ponder how to do a rear engine seal.
But inside the flywheel housing is dry, so it's not a rear seal thank God. Maybe its that oil pressure switch that others have mentioned on here. Never had a problem myself. Pull the plug off and oil is running free off the plug and switch. That's the problem all right!
I would never have believed that an intact switch could allow so much oil to pass if I had not seen it.
Down to the parts department and they have one in stock. By end of day, starter motor washed out, new switch installed and it's all back together and actually running quiet enough so it seems no harm done. So it's back on the road again while my fingers are crossed that chains will not fail before new parts arrive from the US of A.
Merry Christmas
When I got under it, there was a lot more oil under there than in the engine. Drenched from wheel to wheel, bumper to bumper, so a good pressure clean was done to enable investigation to start.
Sump level was weeping, auto trans cooler pipes were loose and leaking, cam cover had some minor leaks, chain cover some weeping, and drive shaft boots were shot. But nothing major major. Worst I could see was coming out the starter motor (hoped it was not a rear seal!) but seemingly not that bad. So ordered a chain kit and gaskets and seals, and put two new drive shafts in as they were both shot anyway, with drop links while I was at it. Got it on the road again with registration and loaned it to a mate to drive for a bit.
Few days later he rang to say it was making a noise (on the other side of the city as well). God I thought, the chains have crapped out. So up early and do the hours drive to get to it.
Checked the oil - none on dipstick. Hmmm on a slope toward the front, that's a bit serious. Mate tells me he topped up oil yesterday as well. Put in a couple of liters, nothing on the stick. Couple more liters and it starts showing. It must have been empty!
Ok, try a start and it rattles a bit but comes good, so we move it to level ground. Check the oil again, but not showing on the stick. Put more oil in and start it up, while I search around for a serious leak on the top side. Plenty of minor leaks and some spilt while topping up but nothing obvious, so pop the head under (well squat and squint under), and it's p**sing out somewhere. BUGGA! Tow truck required as I can't get it home leaking that much oil without killing the engine completely, or getting arrested for polluting.
So clean it again, and up on the hoist. That starter motor is leaking LOTS of oil now. So off it comes while I ponder how to do a rear engine seal.
But inside the flywheel housing is dry, so it's not a rear seal thank God. Maybe its that oil pressure switch that others have mentioned on here. Never had a problem myself. Pull the plug off and oil is running free off the plug and switch. That's the problem all right!
I would never have believed that an intact switch could allow so much oil to pass if I had not seen it.
Down to the parts department and they have one in stock. By end of day, starter motor washed out, new switch installed and it's all back together and actually running quiet enough so it seems no harm done. So it's back on the road again while my fingers are crossed that chains will not fail before new parts arrive from the US of A.
Merry Christmas
