[kanedaZ350]

What's up guys , I'm new to the site, to start my name is George and I own a 2006 brickyard 350z which I manual swapped last year.

Last month I changed the battery and the car decided to mess with me. It cranks over strong and after about 5-7 cranks it will start. But after driving it it take 5-10 minutes to want to start again.

I started with changing cam and crank sensors, then renewing all the grounding points under the hood. followed by checking for broken or corroded wiring. I check the NATS as well and still having the same issue.

My CEL is showing u1000 but I'm guessing that's cause the car used to be auto and is now missing the TCM.

My IPDM makes a clicking sound from the starter relay which I have also replaced it clicks on and off every 5 secs or so. I have ran into a dead end here as I have no idea what to do next. The car runs amazing once it starts but getting it to start sucks and is embarrassing when out in public lol.

If you guys could help I would seriously appreciate it. I have asked 3 groups on Facebook and no one knows what to do almost like no one works on there own cars anymore.

Any questions you guys have ill be logging in every 1-2 hours. I really want to start driving my Z again so please ANYTHING you can think if will help.

 

[dkmura]

Welcome George- I suggest you look at your fuel pressure regulator (FPR). The VQ needs adequate line pressure to gain an immediate start. If the fuel pressure regulator becomes defective, that pressure drops off and needs to be cranked a few times to build up again. Check your FSM for more specifics on location and procedure for changing the FPR.

 

[kanedaZ350]

Welcome George- I suggest you look at your fuel pressure regulator (FPR). The VQ needs adequate line pressure to gain an immediate start. If the fuel pressure regulator becomes defective, that pressure drops off and needs to be cranked a few times to build up again. Check your FSM for more specifics on location and procedure for changing the FPR.

Ok, ill check into that, someone told me to check my negative cable as well, it was super hot so ill be replacing that too. I do have a whole other motor I could pull the FPR off of and see if that makes a difference. Question, do VQ's have 2 FPR or just the one?

 

[dkmura]

Just a single FPR for the fuel line. Check the FSM for location.

 

[kanedaZ350]

So today I changed the negative battery wire and terminal, had battery tested and its great and changed the dampeners at the end of the fuel rails. No improvement. I also changed the vvt sensors on the front of the motor and nothing either. Motor only has 47k on it and its never been run dry on oil or overheated, I cant think of anything else.

I might just purchase another crank sensor and see if maybe the one I bought is defective on Friday.

Any other ideas is appreciated to anyone with input. I am running out of ideas. When it turns on its a champ its just starting it that is being a pain!!! lol

 

[dkmura]

So, did you change the FPR? You mentioned "dampners", but nothing about the FPR? When you say "no improvement", do you mean the car remains hard to start, or is it not starting now?

 

[kanedaZ350]

So, did you change the FPR? You mentioned "dampners", but nothing about the FPR? When you say "no improvement", do you mean the car remains hard to start, or is it not starting now?

So I looked online and it said the FPR is built in to the pump itself, also read that the fuel dampeners are what hold the constant psi for the fuel lines something about because its not a recirculating fuel system( i know my explanation must sound handicapped sorry). I had some laying around so I changed them.

No improvement meaning the car still takes 4-8 cranks to start up. It never cranks on the first try and after driving it take 5-10 minutes before it will start again.

 

[dkmura]

Try reading the FSM itself. Here's a link to a free copy: Factory Service Manuals - NICOclub

 

[kanedaZ350]

Captains log day 58. (lmao but seriously been almost 2 months of dealing with this)

I bought starter fluid today and decided to spray around the intake manifold area and wouldn't you know it, the car started instantly. Now I'm thinking that I have a vacuum leak somewhere around the intake plenum spacer and throttle body.

I will be disassembling everything and checking/replacing the gaskets in and around the manifold to see if I can finally get this Z to start on the first turn every time.


I'll post results by tomorrow once everything is done.

 

[kanedaZ350]

Well, no positive results.
At this point i have:
Change crank sensor twice
cam sensors twice
check all my ground
changed O2 sensor (sensor 2 bank 2)
resealed the intake manifold
replaced fuel damper/regulators
checked for spark and fuel
MAF sensor is confirmed working
the Z has actually gotten harder to start.....

IDK anyone in the Fort Myers Fl area that might be a guru, honestly I'm willing to pay someone to come here and tell me what has to be fixed.

 

[dkmura]

Can you post a picture of the "fuel dampeners" you replaced? That may not be the right part...