Notices
Maintenance & Repair 350Z up keep and diagnosing/fixing problems

Engine broke! What should I do?

Old Jun 13, 2012 | 02:31 PM
  #1  
nbdyfcnsqnc's Avatar
nbdyfcnsqnc
Thread Starter
350Z-holic
Premier Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 21,377
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Default Engine broke! What should I do?

Not sure why... It was clicking so I thought maybe the clutch or transmission was going because both were replaced under warranty at 17,000 miles when I had a minor 5th gear grind. But then it started shaking and acting crazy right before I got home. Now the engine is dead at 60,000 miles. The oil was fine, too. I always used synthetic and changed it often enough. It was changed just a week earlier. I drove too fast most of the time but wasn't very hard on it otherwise. People still always ask me if it's brand new.

Should I...

- Find a used engine and replace it. Know of any in so cal?
- Put in some other kind of engine. I don't know, what are people doing nowadays? I haven't been around much since ~2005.
- Just sell it. Anyone want it?

Another factor to consider is that I haven't been driving it much over the past 5 years and I haven't bothered to renew the registration since like 2008.
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2012 | 03:09 PM
  #2  
nbdyfcnsqnc's Avatar
nbdyfcnsqnc
Thread Starter
350Z-holic
Premier Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 21,377
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Default

Who moved this thread? It should be in the general area NOT technical. It's not a technical question about an engine. It's asking for general ideas about what I should do with the car.
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2012 | 03:18 PM
  #3  
mattleegee's Avatar
mattleegee
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 867
Likes: 0
From: Kent, WA
Default

LSx swap or sell it, sounds like you dont want the car not being registered or used so i would just walk away from it and sell the car with messed up motor
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2012 | 03:23 PM
  #4  
nbdyfcnsqnc's Avatar
nbdyfcnsqnc
Thread Starter
350Z-holic
Premier Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 21,377
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Default

I like the car just fine. I've had it almost 10 years. I just don't like the state of CA.

The LSx is a V8? I wouldn't mind more power, but what's the weight of that engine, and how fuel efficient is it?
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2012 | 04:03 PM
  #5  
Waiz's Avatar
Waiz
Premier Member
Premier Member
iTrader: (57)
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,465
Likes: 10
From: SoCal
Default

Moved to the correct section
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2012 | 04:08 PM
  #6  
Lee R's Avatar
Lee R
Registered User
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,026
Likes: 0
From: Southern California
Default

It amazes me that you don't take it to a shop for a diagnosis first. I can't recall anyone saying that their engine was "broke".
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2012 | 04:11 PM
  #7  
mattleegee's Avatar
mattleegee
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 867
Likes: 0
From: Kent, WA
Default

Originally Posted by Lee R
It amazes me that you don't take it to a shop for a diagnosis first. I can't recall anyone saying that their engine was "broke".
yeah its usually
"my engine puked its guts out"
"engine wont start"
"because racecar"
"fuel problem?"
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2012 | 04:21 PM
  #8  
SparkleCityHop's Avatar
SparkleCityHop
Living in 350Z
Premier Member
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4,293
Likes: 2
From: Spartanburg(SparkleCity), SC
Default

Originally Posted by Lee R
take it to a shop for a diagnosis
^This.

Then get estimate to fix it.
Then get an estimate from a dealer on what they would give you on a trade so you know a ballpark value of your "broken" car.
Then get an estimate for replacing it with another vehicle.

Look at all of the numbers and make a decision based on your financial situation and how much value you place on owning and driving your Z.
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2012 | 05:19 PM
  #9  
Smalls's Avatar
Smalls
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Pennsylvania
Default

I'll give you tree-fiddy for how it sits.
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2012 | 11:17 PM
  #10  
nbdyfcnsqnc's Avatar
nbdyfcnsqnc
Thread Starter
350Z-holic
Premier Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 21,377
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Default

Originally Posted by Lee R
It amazes me that you don't take it to a shop for a diagnosis first. I can't recall anyone saying that their engine was "broke".
I did. It stopped running 8 or 10 weeks ago, so I just finally had it towed over to a mechanic for diagnosis. They said I should probably just sell it to get rid of it, or buy a new engine.

So, if I find an engine, I might save it. Or, if someone wants a 350Z with a broken down engine, I'll sell the car too.
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2012 | 11:18 PM
  #11  
nbdyfcnsqnc's Avatar
nbdyfcnsqnc
Thread Starter
350Z-holic
Premier Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 21,377
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Default

Originally Posted by Smalls
I'll give you tree-fiddy for how it sits.
Bidding starts at *unintelligible*.
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 03:43 AM
  #12  
silvertouringz's Avatar
silvertouringz
New Member
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 648
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
Default

pics of the claimed car
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 04:30 AM
  #13  
SLId3W4YS 89's Avatar
SLId3W4YS 89
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: tennessee
Default

if you've got pics, I would give you a buck two forty for it.
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 04:45 AM
  #14  
laurentj23's Avatar
laurentj23
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: Duluth
Default

2jZ
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 05:35 AM
  #15  
Bmurray350z's Avatar
Bmurray350z
New Member
10 Year Member
iTrader: (34)
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 8,075
Likes: 92
From: Burlington, NC
Default

you should probably fix it.
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 06:07 AM
  #16  
05UltraYellow's Avatar
05UltraYellow
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Cheshire, CT
Default

Originally Posted by nbdyfcnsqnc
I did. It stopped running 8 or 10 weeks ago, so I just finally had it towed over to a mechanic for diagnosis. They said I should probably just sell it to get rid of it, or buy a new engine.

So, if I find an engine, I might save it. Or, if someone wants a 350Z with a broken down engine, I'll sell the car too.
so you brought it to a shop, and there response is "you should probably just sell it or get rid of it"

was this shop in a buddy's backyard or something? did they even run a real diagnostic to determine what went wrong?
maybe you put diesel in by accident.... who knows
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 06:19 AM
  #17  
BigZeus's Avatar
BigZeus
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 40
Likes: 1
From: Illinois
Default

Replace the engine, its worth it. I just replaced mine with an engine with 60k on it. 2300 for the engine + install. If i were you I'd replace the engine first then sell because nobody's going to pay good money for a 350z with a POS engine. And if you do replace the engine make sure to run the VIN to see if it has the correct amount of miles!
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 06:37 AM
  #18  
Flo-ridaZ33's Avatar
Flo-ridaZ33
New Member
iTrader: (60)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 9,201
Likes: 73
From: Miami
Default

rebuild
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 07:39 AM
  #19  
drivessidewayz's Avatar
drivessidewayz
New Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 892
Likes: 0
From: Akron, OH
Default

I'm in the ls/lq swap boat. Most likely lq because from what I've read on ls forums they're more durable; the car weighs so damn much to begin with the extra 80-ish lbs won't be noticed if you shift the battery. To answer your weight difference question between the vq and ls, the ls weighs about the same or slightly less based on one or two threads on our forums. I don't have links atm.
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 11:31 AM
  #20  
nbdyfcnsqnc's Avatar
nbdyfcnsqnc
Thread Starter
350Z-holic
Premier Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 21,377
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Default

Originally Posted by 05UltraYellow
so you brought it to a shop, and there response is "you should probably just sell it or get rid of it"

was this shop in a buddy's backyard or something? did they even run a real diagnostic to determine what went wrong?
maybe you put diesel in by accident.... who knows
The guy seems smart and his shop has great reviews from Nissan owners.

He said if I don't want to deal with it, I should sell it. It makes sense. If I'm not interested in doing that much work on it, I should sell it with the work undone to someone who would be interested in that. That way they can do whatever they want. If I rebuild it and sell it, then who knows what I really have? Why stick someone else with that choice?
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:12 PM.