Engine and electrical trouble - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Birddowg240 · 03-25-2006, 08:01 PM

I've been having some troubles with the car recently. For starters, my idles are out of wack. I'm pretty sure it's the idle control valve. I already did a tune up and that didn't help. Although i do have oil in where the spark plugs are. Need to get ne o rings for that. Second some weird electrical issues are happening. My windows won't go up and down, and my air bag light is blinking. Last night while driving with the climate control on my car shut off. When i layed off the gas, my rpm's dropped down to 200. And i knew as soon as I came to a stop it would shut off. So before leaving the neighborhood, I came to a stop and sure enough......dead. Now in the process of shutting of, all my lights dimmed. Now i'm thinking the idle control valve is either bad, or not hooked up, or my alternator is going, or i have a grounding issue. Anyone have this problem, or something similar. And how the hell did you fix it. I'd hate to have to bring my car to a shop. Never have and hopefully never will. All help is much appreciated. Thanks
Charlie

NIK90s13 · 03-25-2006, 08:32 PM

Did it start back up ? It sounds like your alternater is crapping out, but first check your fuses. If they seem good, check your charging system (at the battery is ok) with a volt meter, Make sure it's putting out 13+ volt. If it is at 12v's, it's not charging. There is a big grey fuse in the fuse pannel under the hood that is to the alt, be sure to check it.

smithers584 · 03-25-2006, 08:59 PM

are you sure its oil and not just your mixture? and i second the alternator, classic symptoms of an alternator going out. probably a good idea not to drive any further then you are willing to drive on battery power alone! do the meter thing, make sure you check for DC voltage. if all good, it should be in the 14s, or at least high 13s. low 13s and 12s are pretty much only battery power and once that goes, no more power brakes, power steering, lights, engine, anything.

krustindumm · 03-25-2006, 08:59 PM

plugs could be shorting because of the oil, clean that out.

as for the other problems.....check the alternator, as stated above. Also check all of your main grounding points.

Birddowg240 · 03-25-2006, 09:46 PM

Alright I thought it was the alternator just wanted to double check. Yes it did start back up, and when the climate control was turned off, it wasn't as bad. I've had an idle issuse since i purchased the car. The battery is good, less than a month old. I will check the fuse for the alternator also. If it turns out to be the alternator i'll just get a remanufactored one. Anyone have any idea on why the power windows won't work? Does the amp on the driver side control both the windows?
Yes it is oil in there. It's pretty nasty actually makes a sucking sound when you remove the spark plug wires. Thanks for the input guys

NIK90s13 · 03-25-2006, 09:53 PM

Your oil in the sparkplugs is from the valvecover, there is a gasket that goes in between the cover and the head that is leaking oil, new valve cover gasket will fix it no prob.

03-25-2006, 08:01 PM	#1
Birddowg240 Zilvia Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Matthews Posts: 214 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Engine and electrical trouble I've been having some troubles with the car recently. For starters, my idles are out of wack. I'm pretty sure it's the idle control valve. I already did a tune up and that didn't help. Although i do have oil in where the spark plugs are. Need to get ne o rings for that. Second some weird electrical issues are happening. My windows won't go up and down, and my air bag light is blinking. Last night while driving with the climate control on my car shut off. When i layed off the gas, my rpm's dropped down to 200. And i knew as soon as I came to a stop it would shut off. So before leaving the neighborhood, I came to a stop and sure enough......dead. Now in the process of shutting of, all my lights dimmed. Now i'm thinking the idle control valve is either bad, or not hooked up, or my alternator is going, or i have a grounding issue. Anyone have this problem, or something similar. And how the hell did you fix it. I'd hate to have to bring my car to a shop. Never have and hopefully never will. All help is much appreciated. Thanks Charlie

03-25-2006, 08:59 PM	#4
krustindumm Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Iowa Age: 40 Posts: 473 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	plugs could be shorting because of the oil, clean that out. as for the other problems.....check the alternator, as stated above. Also check all of your main grounding points. __________________ ASE Master Technician

03-25-2006, 08:32 PM	#2
NIK90s13 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: texas Age: 58 Posts: 471 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Did it start back up ? It sounds like your alternater is crapping out, but first check your fuses. If they seem good, check your charging system (at the battery is ok) with a volt meter, Make sure it's putting out 13+ volt. If it is at 12v's, it's not charging. There is a big grey fuse in the fuse pannel under the hood that is to the alt, be sure to check it.

03-25-2006, 08:59 PM	#3
smithers584 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: sc Posts: 416 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	are you sure its oil and not just your mixture? and i second the alternator, classic symptoms of an alternator going out. probably a good idea not to drive any further then you are willing to drive on battery power alone! do the meter thing, make sure you check for DC voltage. if all good, it should be in the 14s, or at least high 13s. low 13s and 12s are pretty much only battery power and once that goes, no more power brakes, power steering, lights, engine, anything.

03-25-2006, 09:46 PM	#5
Birddowg240 Zilvia Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Matthews Posts: 214 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Alright I thought it was the alternator just wanted to double check. Yes it did start back up, and when the climate control was turned off, it wasn't as bad. I've had an idle issuse since i purchased the car. The battery is good, less than a month old. I will check the fuse for the alternator also. If it turns out to be the alternator i'll just get a remanufactored one. Anyone have any idea on why the power windows won't work? Does the amp on the driver side control both the windows? Yes it is oil in there. It's pretty nasty actually makes a sucking sound when you remove the spark plug wires. Thanks for the input guys

03-25-2006, 09:53 PM	#6
NIK90s13 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: texas Age: 58 Posts: 471 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Your oil in the sparkplugs is from the valvecover, there is a gasket that goes in between the cover and the head that is leaking oil, new valve cover gasket will fix it no prob.