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2003-2009 Nissan 350Z

What have you done for your Z today?

Old Aug 21, 2025 | 05:01 PM
  #16781  
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Originally Posted by Heel Til I Die
That thought has crossed my mind. It seems as though the R35 seems to be retaining value fairly well. I don't normally purchase vehicles based on their resale value, but if Godzilla doesn't live up to the hype, turn it around and go with something else. The Taycan, on the other hand, seems to have plummeted in price on the used market compared to new.
That is most EVs, they don't hold value.
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Old Aug 25, 2025 | 01:19 PM
  #16782  
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Well poop. I replaced the brake pedal stopper bumper pads or whatever you want to call them and the brake pedal feels super weird. It's really firm. The brakes aren't constantly engaging, but if I barely depress the brake pedal, the brakes engage really early with barely any pedal travel.

Came across this thread which makes me believe there's an issue with the booster system. I'm going to check the vacuum lines and the check valve and the other small stuff first. Hopefully, I don't need a new booster. Did the quick check of turning it off and pumping the pedal. Depressed the pedal the first time with it off and it felt normal. Then it got firm. Kept my foot on the pedal and turned it on, pedal didn't move.
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Old Aug 25, 2025 | 04:05 PM
  #16783  
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Yikes! Hope it's something simple. Sounds crazy, but have you scanned for any stored codes? I'm wondering if the ABS is freaking out since the bumper was missing. Fingers crossed it's not a faulty ABS pump. Brake boosters and master cylinders are pretty easy to replace and you could even upgrade to a 370Z unit I think.
Cheers!
-Icer
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Old Aug 26, 2025 | 04:42 AM
  #16784  
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Sadly no. That would have been the smart thing to do. I did not heed my own advice when something goes awry and scan any possible codes first since I'm apparently a dumb-dumb. Instead, I decided to do the old "turn it off and back on" first step, or in this case, reset everything with a 24-hour battery disconnect.

If this doesn't do the trick, then I'll create some other thread or piggyback off the other one to post troubleshooting results in the event anyone runs into similar issues. Interesting issue though - did the brake system cause the bumper stop to fail or did the failing bumper stop cause the brake system to fail? Seems odd. Maybe coincidental. Either way, I'll get it figured out.
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Old Aug 29, 2025 | 05:03 AM
  #16785  
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Finally changed my shift ****.
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Old Aug 30, 2025 | 11:11 AM
  #16786  
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SO much work went into this and it’s not even done! Stripped ALL the paint and primer, removed the pods to fix cracks, and repainted the pods flat black while painting the rest matte black.

Still need to reweld the pods back on, add felt in some places, and obviously reinstall the cubby and radio.

Last edited by Black306; Aug 30, 2025 at 11:13 AM.
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Old Aug 30, 2025 | 11:31 AM
  #16787  
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Started like this…



Last edited by Black306; Aug 30, 2025 at 11:32 AM.
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Old Aug 31, 2025 | 10:21 AM
  #16788  
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Old Aug 31, 2025 | 11:44 AM
  #16789  
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What a great transformation. Just wondering, what paint did you use? Anything specific or just whatever flat black Autozone had that day? I'm wondering since I want to repaint the window switch bezels on my car as they are scratched, but I want to know that the paint is going to hold up to the elements and the natural oils our fingers have.
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Old Aug 31, 2025 | 12:18 PM
  #16790  
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Originally Posted by MoneyPitZ
What a great transformation. Just wondering, what paint did you use? Anything specific or just whatever flat black Autozone had that day? I'm wondering since I want to repaint the window switch bezels on my car as they are scratched, but I want to know that the paint is going to hold up to the elements and the natural oils our fingers have.
Thanks! Had good experience with VHT high temp paint, so for my window switch bezels I went with VHT Plastic paint.



Seems like it’s holding up well, but I didn’t care for the finish. So for the center dash, I went with Krylon Fusion. Flat for the top of the gauge pods and matte everywhere else.



Really happy how the top of the gauge pods turned out. Cracks are well hidden.

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Old Sep 2, 2025 | 02:13 PM
  #16791  
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I've been through the process. It truly is a labor of love. Well worth the effort in the long run, but also a very lengthy and tedious process.

I used SEM interior paints, I've had bad experiences in the past with Krylon and Duplicolor products. Let us know how the Kyrlon Fusion holds up. The finished product looks good, no runs or contaminants that I can see, you must've done an excellent job prepping the pieces.
Cheers!
-Icer
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Old Sep 3, 2025 | 09:42 PM
  #16792  
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Thanks! Yea, it was a pain in the *** getting all the paint off. Started with a literal bucket of iso alcohol, but had to switch to brake fluid cause some of the primer would just not come off. Was aggressive with removing the primer cause otherwise the texture was not nearly as good.

Next up, rear speakers. For some reason, they aren’t working at all with the factory radio or the aftermarket deck. Measured resistance at the factory harness behind the radio and got nothing. So, I’m suspecting dead speakers (crossing fingers) or a break in the wiring.
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Old Sep 4, 2025 | 01:45 PM
  #16793  
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Most likely dead rear speakers, especially if they're the original units. Upon inspection, both of the rears in my Z (OEM) had dents in the woofer cones. One was not putting out any sound at all, while the other was barely audible. To this day, I'm not sure how that came to pass since the speakers are protected by a hard plastic grill in the OEM paneling, which showed no signs of damage or having been disturbed/removed in the past. My best guess it moisture damage or extreme temperature swings, or potentially over-driving the speakers with an aftermarket head unit (my Z's stereo was bone stock when purchased, so this 3rd guess is unlikely).

The stock speakers, although not terrible, are also not great, especially if you plan to upgrade the head unit. I believe they are 2-ohm speakers, meaning any aftermarket head unit will overdrive and potentially blow them. It's best to simply upgrade both speakers and head unit at the same time, even cheap aftermarket speakers will probably sound better. If you do plan to replace only the speakers and continue using the factory head unit, try to find speakers that have a matching ohm rating, otherwise you will get weird results.
Cheers!
-Icer
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Old Sep 4, 2025 | 08:49 PM
  #16794  
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Yup, dead speakers. New ones arrived today and popped them it. Stock ones looked perfectly fine, just no sound. Now I need aftermarket door speakers cause the rears are louder.
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Old Sep 5, 2025 | 12:23 PM
  #16795  
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had a check engine light come on yesterday. Come to find out I had a bad cam sensor go bad, bank 1. Sooooo I changed that out before the sun came up and reset the ecu to clear the code aka disconnect the battery
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Old Sep 16, 2025 | 12:38 PM
  #16796  
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Finished 90% of my wrap.. Been a long time coming







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Old Sep 28, 2025 | 02:05 PM
  #16797  
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Washed and waxed after 1000 miles of gravel dust, grime, and filth from this month. Mustve been a stunner of a color back in its prime.
Washed and waxed after 1000 miles of gravel dust, grime, and filth from this month. Wish I took before photos. Must've been a stunner of a color back in its prime.

Replaced the window mirror seals, replaced the previously peeling tint, plus installed a few interior bits. I replaced the window mirror seals thinking that would fix the leak coming from that area like many people suggested, and while the old seals were definitely not good, the leak still occurs during rain so back to the drawing board. (Convertible life, am I right?)

Last edited by MoneyPitZ; Sep 28, 2025 at 02:07 PM.
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Old Oct 1, 2025 | 03:03 AM
  #16798  
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I finally found, ordered, and received the last two interior parts to my 03 350Z. I found a replacement in-dash cup holder and I have found the center console ashtray. Super excited.
Before
Before
After
After

Last edited by ChocolateCowboy; Oct 1, 2025 at 11:29 AM. Reason: Needed to add pictures
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Old Oct 12, 2025 | 04:01 AM
  #16799  
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Hello Everyone. I changed the oil and differential fluid and spark plugs. To my surprise, three of the plugs were fairly loose. I know they do not take much torque to install but still. No oil observed. Plugs look good. Also adjusted the hand brake. The rear caliper bolts are a ***** to remove so just adjusted the handbrake pads from the inspection hole in the rear rotor. Next to do is Plenum spacer I bought from Z1 guys, It has been sitting in my garage for several months. I have a 2006 roadster with 65K miles on it. I have other vehicle that is my daily driver.
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Old Oct 12, 2025 | 11:39 AM
  #16800  
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I drove it to get coffee. Nothin' but gas and oil this year as we approach 40k miles.
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