dumb ? can open diff go bad? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

devonkyle77 · 03-09-2006, 06:45 PM

i posted a week or more ago that i was having random problems with "hesitation" and the more i encounter it i think its in the rear end. the rear of the housing of the diff was damp when i checked it visually, but i dont really know what else to look for. i checked and replaced all ignition and fuel related items so i know its not due to them, and now i am suspicous.
thanks in advance!

breakindrifts · 03-09-2006, 07:59 PM

Uh how about checking diff fluid?

devonkyle77 · 03-09-2006, 08:04 PM

would that cause the complaint i am describing though?

breakindrifts · 03-09-2006, 08:08 PM

What do you mean by heisitation? Does the car stumble or what?

devonkyle77 · 03-09-2006, 08:16 PM

very ramdomly it will hesitate, or "jump"
it is not all the time, and on a 30 minute drive, may happen once.

motonagam · 03-09-2006, 08:24 PM

since the rear diff is all mechanical, the only thing I can think of that would cause "hesitation" from the rear end would be any play in the driveshaft yoke, or excessive backlash of the ring & pinion gear, but it would also be accompanied by a "clunk" noise. It would also happen all the time. If it's intermittent, it is usually an electrical problem in the engine, such as sensors like TPS, MAF, etc., or it could even be a bad ECU. If it's temperature related, where the problem only occurs hot or cold, it's most often a bad sensor or ECU; if it happens only when you go over rough roads, it could be a wire connection problem.

gotta240 · 03-09-2006, 08:25 PM

there is a SINGLE bolt on the rear of the diff. Unbolt it, and stick your finger in the hole... The oil should be right up to, or near the bolt hole.

HOWEVER....Your broblem does not sound like a diff AT ALL. Not even remotly close to sounding like your diff.

When a diff goes bad, you hear loud clunking, and it feels like you have HUGE bumps on your rear tires(ie shaking, jumping feeling)

andrewmp6 · 03-09-2006, 08:38 PM

sounds more like wheel hop change out the gear oil in the diff its probaly never been changed

03-09-2006, 06:45 PM	#1
devonkyle77 Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: md Age: 41 Posts: 3,091 Trader Rating: (3) Rides Gallery: devonkyle77 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	dumb ? can open diff go bad? i posted a week or more ago that i was having random problems with "hesitation" and the more i encounter it i think its in the rear end. the rear of the housing of the diff was damp when i checked it visually, but i dont really know what else to look for. i checked and replaced all ignition and fuel related items so i know its not due to them, and now i am suspicous. thanks in advance! __________________ WTB-NARDI wheel & NRG 2.8 QR

03-09-2006, 07:59 PM	#2
breakindrifts Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Agoura Hills, CA Age: 36 Posts: 1,006 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Uh how about checking diff fluid? __________________ [

03-09-2006, 08:04 PM	#3
devonkyle77 Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: md Age: 41 Posts: 3,091 Trader Rating: (3) Rides Gallery: devonkyle77 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	would that cause the complaint i am describing though? __________________ WTB-NARDI wheel & NRG 2.8 QR

03-09-2006, 08:08 PM	#4
breakindrifts Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Agoura Hills, CA Age: 36 Posts: 1,006 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	What do you mean by heisitation? Does the car stumble or what? __________________ [

03-09-2006, 08:16 PM	#5
devonkyle77 Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: md Age: 41 Posts: 3,091 Trader Rating: (3) Rides Gallery: devonkyle77 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	very ramdomly it will hesitate, or "jump" it is not all the time, and on a 30 minute drive, may happen once. __________________ WTB-NARDI wheel & NRG 2.8 QR

03-09-2006, 08:24 PM	#6
motonagam Leaky Injector Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 91 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	since the rear diff is all mechanical, the only thing I can think of that would cause "hesitation" from the rear end would be any play in the driveshaft yoke, or excessive backlash of the ring & pinion gear, but it would also be accompanied by a "clunk" noise. It would also happen all the time. If it's intermittent, it is usually an electrical problem in the engine, such as sensors like TPS, MAF, etc., or it could even be a bad ECU. If it's temperature related, where the problem only occurs hot or cold, it's most often a bad sensor or ECU; if it happens only when you go over rough roads, it could be a wire connection problem.

03-09-2006, 08:25 PM	#7
gotta240 Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: so cal Posts: 3,496 Trader Rating: (21) Feedback Score: 21 reviews	there is a SINGLE bolt on the rear of the diff. Unbolt it, and stick your finger in the hole... The oil should be right up to, or near the bolt hole. HOWEVER....Your broblem does not sound like a diff AT ALL. Not even remotly close to sounding like your diff. When a diff goes bad, you hear loud clunking, and it feels like you have HUGE bumps on your rear tires(ie shaking, jumping feeling)

03-09-2006, 08:38 PM	#8
andrewmp6 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: kentucky Posts: 376 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	sounds more like wheel hop change out the gear oil in the diff its probaly never been changed