So I just got a Z 2 days ago, my first car. Here's an experience I had today I'd like to share!

  • #1

    So I just got a Z 2 days ago, my first car. Here's an experience I had today I'd like to share!

    So when I bought the car, everything worked (well except the A/C, and the power windows need a little… help haha) and I drove it that night as well. The dashboard illumination worked just fine. The next day (last night) the lights didn't work. Only the backlighting and the door ajar/headlights on alarms didn't work. As far as I know everything else worked. SO I did a lil sleuthing (I'm a total noob when it comes to cars, but I'm don't need my hand held or for other people to do the work for me, I'd rather learn) and saw a few people had an issue like this, or similar. "Check the fuses" was the answer always given. Well, I went, looked at the owners manual, found where the fuse box was, and the fusable links just for good measure, and checked em out… Didn't see any fuses related to alarm chimes, or instrument panel lighting! The fusable links looked good too. So, I just went ahead, grabbed my toolbag (I'm an electronics technician in global defense) and pulled each fuse one by one. None of them looked blown! Some did however, look kind of old and corroded. So I cleaned up the contacts, put each one back in and walked away disappointed. I put the keys in the ignition and lo and behold, the door chime started up! Seemed that there was just a little corrosion on the fuses (which one did the trick, I can't say).

    TL;DR

    If you have the problem of no backlighting on the instrument panel and/or no alarm chimes, pull all your fuses and check each one. Clean as necessary. Don't just look at the fuse diagram and think it won't solve your problem.
  • #2
    Good tip. Thanks for sharing, and welcome!
    '86 NA - original owner (1986-93) and final owner (2005-present)

    My build thread: http://z31performance.com/showthread…-Got-mine-back

  • #3
    Could also have been the headlight switch stalk. That turns on all you had problems with (except the door ajar) and is a common problem in the Z31 when the stalk contacts get dirty.
    Restore it, Don't crush it. They don't make them like this anymore.

    Scott
    85 Turbo, original owner, restored
    93 NA Babied


  • #4
    The rear wiper fuse controls power to the digital dash power supply box. If any of you experience your digital dash all of a sudden going dark, see if the rear wiper works. If not check/change that fuse.



    1988 300ZX Turbo, Shiro Special #760
    1988 300ZX Turbo Automatic (wife's car)
    1991 Hard-body 2WD

    http://zccw.org/zccw/?page_id=1215
  • #5
    I would like to welcome you to Z31Performance as a new and valued member of Z31 aficionados. Your current contribution is appreciated.
  • #6
    Thanks guys! And yeah, I had seen a 'video' demonstration on cleaning those contacts. Lemme grab the link… Here we are http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3Eq4giP4Bo[/video]]
    For those that are curious. I wanted to make sure I exhausted all other simpler (not that this isn't simple) fixes before resolving to this

    ALSO, reddzx: Great! Thanks for the tip!

    I just drove old girl from Virginia Beach to Mobile Alabama today, and had no problems! Tho the gas mileage was a little weird but there's far too many personal factors to even TRY to get help figuring that out from the internet. I'll just have to learn more about my car. Though, a couple people in my life have told me to "advance the timing until it just starts to misfire, and then back it off". *shrugs* I had 25, 27 and 21 mpg in my 3 fill ups (had to do 3 because the first two I was learning that the gas gauge is wildly inaccurate haha). The 21 mpg stretch I was going 85 steady the whole way, the other two I was driving in steady traffic, 60-80 depending on the stretch of road. Lots of hills all the way.

    Thanks for the welcome guys!

    OH on a side note, even tho my gas gauge goes to E rather early… (like half a tank early) the little 1/4th tank gauge needle makes a guest appearance some time after that and does seem relatively accurate from what I can tell. I heard this was a common problem but wasn't aware that the 1/4th tank needle was hiding out until it showed itself.
  • #7
    Gas mileage will definitely be affected by driving speed. The old 55 mph laws enacted during the '70's oil crunch were designed to get the overall gas mileage of the country to improve… as well as save a few lives due to lower energy collisions. There are obviously other factors due to a long-distance drive which could be at play… I have kept mileage logs on several cars over the years, and the biggest single factor is stop/start vs. highway driving. After that, there are fewer factors that make big changes (assuming everything is working properly).

    Fuel sending unit is a relatively easy swap if you decide to do that one. Being in the limbo between the full-span gauge and the small one is a bit unnerving…
    '86 NA - original owner (1986-93) and final owner (2005-present)

    My build thread: http://z31performance.com/showthread…-Got-mine-back

  • #8
    Being in the limbo between the full-span gauge and the small one is a bit unnerving…
    Hahaha yeah, that's why the first two times I filled up were at like 8 and 10 gallons used. The more I drove the more confident I was. When I saw that small gas gauge working, I thought to myself, "Maybe I should trust this one…" And at 15.5 something gallons used, with 3.5 or so left, and the small gauge reading 1/8th of a tank left or thereabouts, it seemed pretty accurate. Basically when that gauge comes up, I'm going to start to think about getting gas, and use my trip meter to continue to monitor my MPG in different driving situations. (ie. too and from work in the city vs highway) and calculate worst case scenarios.
  • #9
    Like wbnethery3 said, the fuel sending unit is an easy swap. When you get some extra cash, order the new one. No more guessing on how much fuel you have. Good luck with your Z.