1992 300 zx 2+2 clicking noise from top end

rcantoys · #1 09-08-2004, 11:02 AM

IM thinking about buying a 1992 300 zx 2+2 but it has a clicking noise from top end if you take the oil fill cap off you can here a clicking noise better from the valve train I THINK anyone had experienced with this noise maybe a collapsed lifter or a flat cam and how hard are them problems to fix also what's the cost of that I have never worked on a z car IM mainly a chevy guy please don't hold that against me it only has this noise at idle and when it goes over like 1700 rpm it goes away its an automatic you can put it in gear and step on it and it still goes away so I don't think its a rod it has 80 k on it and the guy wants $2500 for it as is the body is nice its red and the interior is in good shape also its black leather it has t-tops and a bose stereo that does not work it also needs tires and an exhaust system its been sitting for a couple years inside a garage any help would be greatly appreciated IM just wondering if its a worth while project being its an automatic 2+2 non turbo model randy

1viadrft · #2 09-08-2004, 12:06 PM

$2500? 80K? Do you know how much I bought mine for? $7500 with 92K!!! Marked down from $10K!!! That's a total deal! The ticking is no biggy I'm pretty sure... I believe it to be a charactistic of the Z32 but I could be wrong... mine does the same and I know two other people outside of this forum that have the same sound. Maybe we all have crappy cars... but I'm pretty sure it's no problem. FellaZ?

k3smostwanted · #3 09-08-2004, 01:15 PM

is it a faint ticking? you could just be hearing the coil packs sparking...

also $2500 is well worth it if you do need to buy a new engine or soemthing. i paid $5,500 marked down from $8,500 for mine and it had like 87k and its 2 years older and i got a good deal. if you get it, just be proud because you got an AWESOME DEAL!!!!

1viadrft · #4 09-08-2004, 01:17 PM

Shit! You both got better deals than me!

freakonaleash1187 · #5 09-08-2004, 06:43 PM

that is a hell of a deal. i got mine for $6200 with 130k miles on it. the clicking noise is most likely the coils firing. find yourself a nice exhaust system, like borla or stillen.

ZedEx · #6 09-08-2004, 07:35 PM

Be aware...

When I got my first Zed... It was just a SMALL TICKING... Which ended up leading to be bent valves.

Just like Broke as **** said... He got his Twin Turbo, he heard a faint ticking, then five minutes down the road, piston shot through the crank case.

For those of you who dont know, VG30DE's and VG30DETT's are tough to work on... For the average bear.

I'd say be careful about it. Any be ready for some extensive work if anything goes wrong.

Best of luck buddy.

-Wes

knightinwhite86 · #7 09-08-2004, 10:37 PM

If i'm not mistaken, can't low octane in turbo cars make a pinging sound sooner than it would than n/a cars?

Broke_as_**** · #8 09-09-2004, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knightinwhite86

If i'm not mistaken, can't low octane in turbo cars make a pinging sound sooner than it would than n/a cars?

Yes. Boost = death to engines in the long run.

But you might want to check the oil level of the Z in question. The hydraulic lash adjusters in the Z32 use oil pressure to maintain contact with the cam shaft. So if the oil is low there might not be enough pressure at low rpms to pop a few of the lash adjusters all the way up after being compressed by the cam lobe. thus resulting in a tick when the lobe comes around again. But if its a ticking from the valves you hear, 10 to 1 its a realatively small problem. Even if its not and you have to replace the whole engine, well, at $2500 with a good body, thats a deal anyway. I'd say buy it.

rcantoys · #9 09-09-2004, 11:08 AM

I know its not the injector coil popping I have heard them before and as mentioned that is very faint this is consistent and louder but not getting any louder from when you start it to when you turn it off and its only at idle and goes away when you touch the throttle the oil level is fine and clean again I don't think its like the other gentleman's car with a rod knock HOPEFULLY IM not sure how to replace the cams on that 3.0 engine but IM willing to try or if it did lose some shims IM up for that also I just didn't know if it was worth the $2500 for it he told me it was a $33,000 dollar car when it was new that seems awful expensive for a 92 non turbo automatic 2+2 but he said it has every option on it and his brother paid $22,000 for it in 95 IM somewhat mechanically inclined I have been racing muscle cars for 20+ years so this would be my first time trying something new with the import scene and it is a cool looking car but IM not sure how it drives and handle's and I don't see a lot of them on the road around here in Illinois I will find out this weekend if I can get it home hope I can count on you guys for some advice and some technical help maybe some web sites for help the one on removing the bose radio is a help that is IM sure coming out first thanks again guys hope it works out for me randy

k3smostwanted · #10 09-09-2004, 12:33 PM

hey rcantoys...what part of illinois are you from??? im about 60 miles south of chicago in kankakee.

also, everything the owner told you was true and actually he could have been downplaying the car a little. brand new the z32 was very expensive, i even think a little more expensive than the $33,000 that he said. and in 95 it would have still been worth $22,000 of not more. and now, they go for about $6,000-8,000. so like i said before. even if you have to replace the engine, it is still worth the $2,500.

240/350Z · #11 09-09-2004, 02:42 PM

it could be the lifters making the noise i know alot of z's that make that same noise and never seen any problems with it, almost like the car was made to tick. So it could be valves or lifters. but you could buy a front clip(if something is wrong) and that car for cheaper than it would be to buy most N/A's.

rcantoys · #12 09-10-2004, 08:07 AM

actually k3smostwanted were neighbors I live in channahon that's near Joliet if your not sure were that is the car is in Chicago just off of cottage grove if your familiar with that area not a place I like to visit if you know what I mean IM waiting on the guy to call me back to see if he accepted my offer on it and how to get it home you can not get a trailer into were the car is and IM not sure about driving it the 60 + miles back to my house with the noise the tires like they are the bad battery and after sitting so long what else could go wrong just about anything and breaking down in that neiborHOOD is not an option with my wife she is not keen on pulling it with a tow strap if that does happen so IM not sure what to do at this point but one thing I would like to know is and remember IM A NEWBIE WHAT IS A ZED and what does that stand for just in case I do get it and somone ask's you know IM not down on the HIP inport LINGO randy

ZedEx · #13 09-10-2004, 08:33 AM

Haha, Zed is something I started on here... Im Aussey, they call 300ZX's 300ZedX's, Zed's, instead of Z.

Just something I picked up talking to real Zed aficionado's in Aussey.

I would probably suggest a front clip if anything is wrong internally... I'll get you some prices if you are really interested. Just send me a PM.

-Wes

k3smostwanted · #14 09-10-2004, 10:43 AM

good luck with all that. cottage grove is not an area i would like to visit again. y couldnt u drive it to the nearest respectable tow shop after making arrangements with that tow shop in advance? or...i was lookin at a z in ohio back in the day and what i was goin to do is rent one of those little hoist trailors and pull it behind a pick-up truck. you could do soemthing like that...

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