Need immediate assistance PLEASE

[Z_Fanatic]

I don't know much about cars, much less a Z32. I have some experience working on motorcycles, and have the general tools for cars and motorcycles.

Here's the story: My dad has a 1990 Nissan 300ZX 2+2 N/A. We bought the car back in 1997, the car now has 145K mileage, we bought it at about 90K I think. Hasn't been driven much since then, and never driven hard. Here's the current problem, while we were trying to sell the car, after the potential buyer took it for test drive and returned, suddenly we notice smoke coming from the hood. When we opened it up, we notice the smoke was coming out from front of the engine, but from the bottom, so it was hard to figure out what's wrong. Then we noticed what could be radiator fluid dripping out from the engine into the ground. Obviously the sale was lost, but this NEVER happend before. And we were caught completely offguard. Prior to the smoke from the engine, we noticed the engine temperature was running too hot. Again, never happend before.

Could this be a water pump or radiator hose problem? I figure if this was water pump malfunctioning, then the engine would simply keep overheating, but there would be no leak, worse outcome would be engine seizing up or radiator fluid gushing out, but that wasn't the case. So could it be a simple hose leak? I am not ruling anything out, but once I use the car jack to get it up, what I should be looking for?

The car is actually at my folk's business place, and like many small business going out of business these days, we are closing down the business within a month. And we also can't take the car back home, since it's 1 hour drive, and who knows what may happen to the engine by then. We obviously can't afford to take it to the shop, pay the bill (and I know they'll charge arm and a leg for a simple job just for it being a Z32), and then sell it.

So I am pretty much shit out of luck, and need to diagnose the problem asap, fix it at least temporarily, take it home, fix it permanently, and sell it from there. I am going to check under the car, any good tips will be appreciated. Thanks a lot.

[DeleriousZ]

when was the last time the 60/120k mile tuneup done to it? it could easily be a waterpump or hose leak... what does the smoke smell like?

[Z_Fanatic]

I don't think my Dad did much tuning up, if it was the timing belt and water pump, I think they were replaced around 135K mileage. The viscosity seemed very clear, and the color is dirty water or thin brown liquid, my Dad's guess was old radiator fluid. The smell is very similar to water vapor, nothing too funky like burned oil. Also, I know that hot oil is usually thin at first, but then it leaves black or acidic spot where it dripped with thin tar-like residue, but there was no residue left on the ground later on.

Is there a diagram or schemetics to check for these kind of hoses without taking out the engine?

[DeleriousZ]

the 2 hoses going to the rad... lol

getting your hands on a factory service manual (FSM) would work wonders

if it's coolant then it'll most likely have a sweet smell to it when it's burning... when one of my coolant lines burst it smelt like buring syrup.. that's with that newfandangled orange coolant.

wipe the entire bottom of the engine bay down clean (pain i know) and then take it out, bring it back in and see if you can spot the leak...

but you shouldn't have any problems with the water pump leaking if its been replaced that lately...

[Z_Fanatic]

Actually scratch that. (By the way, thanks a lot for all the help. I used to frequent a lot in this section 2 years ago, you're the guy with the fast Z31 TT right, and used to race it in South Florida?? hehe).

Here's the updated info I just received from my Dad:

The car was actually purchased with 115k mileage, and soon after the timing belt was changed. He can't remember changing the water pump then, so I guess that could be one of the possibility. I couldn't tell if it smelled like maple syrup, lol, but it was definitley steaming like water. I'll do just what you said, wipe out all the moisture from the under belly, go for a short drive, and see what comes from there.

Oh yeah, I meant any online source for pictorial info w/o having to purchase the manual.

[DeleriousZ]

haha no my z's still just a single stock turbo... i've got a nice gt series waiting to be installed tho

www.carfiche.com

if it's not there now it will be within a few days.. it alternates randomly depending on the time i believe..

[Z_Fanatic]

Thanks for the link. Are you in FL? I could've mistaken the single turbo for TT, I read about it long ago. Also I remember someone wanting to drop a RB20DETT or RB26DETT motor in that Z32, I wonder if it was ever done. I have been transferred over to riding sportbikes since then and hang out in streetbikes section.

[DeleriousZ]

haha no i'm in bc canada

[Z_Fanatic]

Well I guess he had a Z31 one as well, did some street racing in FL, and I believe his car was silver with a turbo on it. And preferred the Z31 set up over the Z32.

[DeleriousZ]

he's a smart man then

[k3smostwanted]

head gasket...

[Broke_as_****]

http://300zx-twinturbo.com/cgi-bin/manual.cgi

[DeleriousZ]

i'm pretty sure you'd know if if was a bhg...

[ExTrEmEDrIfT]

Originally Posted by DeleriousZ

when one of my coolant lines burst it smelt like buring syrup.. that's with that newfandangled orange coolant.

i hope your not talking about dexcool !!! that stuff is crap and should be banned ...

[k3smostwanted]

Originally Posted by DeleriousZ

i'm pretty sure you'd know if if was a bhg...

come on...

Originally Posted by Z_Fanatic

The viscosity seemed very clear, and the color is dirty water or thin brown liquid, my Dad's guess was old radiator fluid.

overheating issues even with the fresh change of coolant. coolant leaking from the block.

whats the chances of him having a leak and the thermostat/pump going bad at the same time...slim!

i say its a headgasket...