hey ZDrivers,

ok...so I tried changing my brakes. So far the job came out successful, but when i had to brake i would have to press it all the way down. Turned out the problem was the master cylinder. Got that fixed, then the ABS light came on. Parked it in my garage, then it started smoking around the ABS area. any ideas of why? or how to fix it?

 

Where's The abs area? Did you bleed all 6 points?

 

2nd to "did you bleed all 6 points?"

 

i was typing on my ipod earlier. what i meant was which abs area is the smoke coming from? from a sensor? inside behind the seats? there's probably somewhere else associated with the abs too lol.

 

it was from the engine bay. behind the master cylinder. like on the bottom right side. :/ it was just random. i was driving fine, when all of a sudden my ABS light came on. Idled it for a while, then smoke started coming out.

 

that area is the booster area. not the abs area. don't know what to tell you man. i've never looked much into abs function. all i know is that it has potential to be extremely expensive to fix. almost $4k worth of abs equipment on our cars.

 

****!!! ill try to find out what it is. i will keep you all updated. im getting irritated with these problems. :/ but i love my Z soo much. i hope to fix it, sell it, then look for a twin turbo one.

 

it's a complicated car man. it's not particularly unreliable, but it is getting up there in age, and coupled with a few weak spots in the earlier ones, you can have your hands full with a z32.

there is a way to do abs computer diagnostics. that's a good search topic for you.

 

Weak spots in earlier ones? Excluding injectors, what are these "weak spots" you speak of? Keep in mind, this is coming from a person who's owned 90's exclusively.

 

connector styles really get on my nerves. i mean, it's nothing that sways me from liking it, it's just stuff you have to deal with. there are also the fairly rare head problem and the very large brake rotor problem.

i've both wasted (old style injectors) and spent (brakes/connectors) a lot of money on overcoming my car's '90ness

 

Connectors getting old aren't a weakness... everything gets old.

The soft valve problem (the head problem you speak of) is no longer an issue, as it was limited to very early-production Z32s and showed up before 35,000 miles or two years. The problem was suspected to be limited to a whopping 350 cars, and any car that had the problem has since been repaired under warranty. Of the roughly 57,000 1990 and 1991 (suspect years) Z32s, that means a particular Z32 has a probability of 0.6% of having ever had soft valve problems, and an even lower (drastically) probability that the problem has lingered for 20 years without being caught and corrected. People who suffer from head problems on 1990's nowadays simply have worn out heads.

And your "very large brake rotors problems" consist of what? The thinner brake rotors and calipers on 1990 model-year non-turbo Z32s? This isn't actually a problem, it just means the heat doesn't dissipate as well as later years. Not being as good as others doesn't, by definition, mean it's a weakness. If that was the case, the NA Z32 is a weakness of the Z32 because this problem (as well as horsepower deficiency) doesn't exist with a TT.

I still stand by the 1990's and will pursue another when I'm ready to buy another Z32 (of course, it's getting to a point where I might just buy the nicest clean Z32TT I can find, regardless of model year, excluding 1996).

 

yeah yeah. injectors and new front brakes do cost a bit! and they take a while to figure out once they do start causing problems. i never would have known if i didn't have the forums.

 

so it turns out that the master cylinder wasnt complete. i took it to my friend and he said that the filter was missing this bands that go under it so it doesnt leak. which is why it messes with the sensor. i got ripped off big time. i have to go to the junk yard and see if i find anything of use. i know its going to be hard, but its worth a try. thanks again guys for the help and advise. i appreciate it. when i find Z32 drivers, they are ok to talk to, but end up being stuck up. thanks again.

 

... junk yard? Just get new stuff, man... you're talking about your brakes.

 

i know but $$$ is tight right now. :/ the mechanic that did the job charged me 300. and the job wasnt even done right. how lame is that??? btw i got a new driver side panel. it looks awesome. just need to get the passenger side. it was the cloth material and found the suede version of it. (or atleast i think its suede???)

 

... so money is tight and you spent some of it on a new interior panel rather than new brake parts...