So today, my brother sent me a radio. I go to a n audio store to buy a harness. Guy that works there helps me out and we start talking about the car. So we lifted the hood and he checked some things out. (FYI: I just bought this Z last Tuesday) First off he tells me it's not stock or had a turbo possibly before I bought it. He said there's some kind of spacer on the engine (In Picture). No sure if it had LSD, he looked under the car and said that it did, due to some bolt with a polished finish (In Picture). Not sure if this car's a Base trim or what. (I went to Nissan and they checked the VIN and said it is)

Got home and installed my radio, finished and notice that the door speakers and tweeters don't work. (Me...WTF?) I rechecked wiring, all good. Checked doors...no speakers or tweeters. So I checked for the Bose sub...not there only a cover. WTF? Could/should I go after the dealer for selling me this crap without telling me all this. (ANOTHER FYI: sticker price on it was $13,999, I bought it for $10,500. When I bought the car there was a headunit in it but no face. So I couldn't check out the radio, that's a reason why price was lowered. Car: 2003, 93kmiles)

Anything else I should be checking on? Car runs, shifts, and idles like a champ, clutch very good.

 

Hey the spacer on your engine is called a plenum spacer (search for it on this site for more info), although it may not be installed well. That missing bolt is to keep your wiring harness snug, he probably left the bolt off doing the spacer install.

Also your differential looks like it's leaking fluid. You may want to get that checked out

 

I just talked with my brother earlier and he gave me the name, and I've been researching that spacer since I posted it. The differential doesn't leak, I checked that when I took the picture. It's weird it's seems to be some kind of sealant.

How can I tell if the statement about LSD on my car is trut?

 

Rev it up and dump the clutch. If you see two skid marks you have an LSD that was installed if there is only one skid mark you don't.

 

You should have a VLSD on your car. By your steering wheel/seats it appears you have the enthusiast package. You can research it to see what features are included. I believe the bose system is not included in this package but I'm not certain.

didn't see that the vin came out as a base model.... The steering wheel/pedals aren't from a base.

 

VERY unlikely someone put the cc steering wheel on there...I am saying no base. Do you have the TCS or VDC button to the lower left of your steering wheel? If so you definitely have VLSD.

Oh and a further look at your pumpkin looks like maybe they had it open to swap guts.

 

Can anyone explain the thing that connects the two hoses in the engine bay?

 

I'd agree with what you said. seems like way too much work to make it look like an enthusiast.

OP Do all the VINs on the car match?

 

Doubt someone would swap the steering wheel, looks like you have an enthusiast. As well looks like your Differentials liquid filled bushing popped, hence the liquid leaking down on your pumpkin. I'd suggest getting the SPL solid diff bushing to replace the liquid filled rubber one.

 

most likely for a boost gauge, it looks kinda crudely done, too. as for the black goo dripping down on the back of the diff my 350z had that too and mine was stock, i think it was from a bushing blowing out or something

 

about the bose subs, the enthusiast does not come with it. but u can always throw aftermarket subs in it for a couple bucks. the MISSING SPEAKERS AND TWEETERS, that's messed up. u got hosed man. lol

 

It almost sounds like he has a Touring model. He said that there is a grill for the bose speaker, but no speaker. Mine just has a flat panel with no grill. Was the Original CD player a six disc?

 

I'll check all the VINs to see if they're all the same. Carfax came out clean.

I have a VDC (not sure what this does tho )

No TCS button.

That hose under the hood has been cut and spliced with what use to be something else.

ZGrand2ring: Me or the dealer got shafted on those speakers. ...how they hell they gonna put a grill... lol

Not sure if "original" was 6cd changer.

Also a little strange...when I park and pull the e-brake up, sometimes, an alarm beep goes off and the car stays on when I take the key out. Once I open the door and close it, it goes off. However, I was only given a Nissan fob.

 

That sucks dude, how did you not notice all of this stuff when you bought it?

 

Didn't have a radio in it? (Which was a price drop)
- So I couldn't test speakers til now. Then I opened up to see why things didn't work

And I'm new to the Nissan world, I was a Honda/Acura guy before this. I never heard of a plenum spacer.

But that's it. Nothing big to me but all the speakers missing. I'm getting a full ?-point inspection and dyno at Precision Z this Friday.

 

yea seem like you have a plenum spacer already installed. Plenum spacer raise the height of your intake manifold, which allows more air into the engine. More air = more power! its dyno proven! Its a popular best bang for the buck mod on the Z.

The T connector looks like it was previously cut to use with some gauge for temp monitor. But i guess the previous owner decided to removed it and connect the hose back.. Shouldn't be a problem in the future.

Enjoy the car!

 

Black liquid on the differential cover looks dry. May just a sloppy installation or repair.

 

Not sure what the T is for. Vacuum gauge? You can pull it out and connect the hoses properly.

 

Yes definitely the diff bushing........follow the gunk up and you will see its most likely not coming from the diff, but from one of the diff bushings.......

Do a search and you will find threads on diff bushings blowing and very similar pics to yours where the sealant goop has slowly leaked down over everything.

Well, i understand you come from a FWD world, ask a buddy that "knows" what hes doing to drive your car, and anyone with LSD diff experience would know.......depending on type of LSD you can also:

jack the rear of the car, turn the drive shaft while in neautral and see if the wheels spin together.......

the bolts were definitely changed out, so:

1. It could have lsd still in it
2. they could have recently removed the lsd and sold it and went back to stock prior to selling, which looks like what happened with the entire car obviously...I would bet its no aftermarket LSD, but based on your steerign wheel and your comments of VDC you said you found, then the most likely reinstalled the factory VLSD diff guts back in.

Also, if they did go back to stock with factory VLSD, im certain the car once did have an aftermarket LSD, because its common for the diff bushings to blow when the car is equipped with an aftermarket aggressive LSD.

-J

 

The VDC is a vehicle dynamic control, its a anti slip system, when engaged, the system will automatically cross brake the opposite criss cross wheel and help you regain control........on a rainy day it will come on, or go try and do some sharp fish tails with it engaged and you will see that the car takes over and corrects itself.........

yes, no TCS if you have VDC, its one or the other.........
-J