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  7. The Nissan 350z Misfire Issue: 7 Tested Solutions

The Nissan 350z Misfire Issue: 7 Tested Solutions

nissan 350z misfiring

The Nissan 350z Misfire Issue: 7 Tested Solutions

If you are like most car owners out there, then you most likely pay a lot of attention to your car. Many car owners do not like it when their cars become faulty or fail to perform at optimal performance. While you can do your best to keep your car from breaking down by maintaining it regularly, you are only postponing the inevitable.

Yes, that breakdown would occur sooner or later. If you drive a Nissan 350z, there are a variety of problems that you may face – especially an engine misfire. That’s why you’ll find many owners of the Nissan 350z dealing with an engine misfire.

Engine misfires are caused by a variety of reasons. If your Nissan 350z is currently experiencing an engine misfire, there’s no reason to panic. We’ve got you covered. In this piece, you’ll learn everything about dealing with an engine misfire. You will also learn other important things such as the causes of a misfire and how to identify them.

What is a 350z Misfire?

In simple terms, a 350z misfire occurs when there is incomplete combustion in one of the car’s cylinders. Yes, the Nissan 350z is a great car, but when this type of fault occurs in your motor vehicle, it will manifest itself as vigorous shaking while the engine is running. When the check engine light of your car flicks on and the car is shaking, it may be a sign of a misfiring cylinder.

What Are The Causes Of A 350z Engine Misfire?

nissan 350z with bonet open
Photo by Unsplash

Let’s say that the engine of your Nissan 350z has started to misfire. What could be causing it? Well, there are numerous reasons why the engine of your 350z will fail. They include;

Bad Ignition System

When most people think of a bad ignition system, the only thing that comes to their mind are the spark plugs in the engine. However, the ignition system is more than just mere spark plugs. A typical ignition system contains a control module, coil packs, spark plugs, wiring, and crankshaft position sensor. If any of these components has a fault, it can result in an engine misfire.

Bad Air and Fuel Delivery

In a car engine, air and fuel mix are ignited by the spark plug. There is an ideal amount of mood and energy that should be delivered into any car system. Issues such as a failed fuel injector or vacuum leak may lead to an unbalanced air/fuel ratio in the engine. When this happens, a misfire will also occur. 

Bad Emission Equipment

If your car is currently having any issues with its emission, it can affect the air/fuel mixture in the car engine. This type of scenario will cause a misfire in one of the cylinders.

Bad Engine

Many car owners don’t realize that a bad engine could also result in a misfire. Each cylinder in the machine also has a piston. The work of the piston is to compress the amount of air present in the cylinder. The cylinder must be sealed properly during engine combustion. If any mechanical problems prevent a perfect sealing, it will lead to a loss of compression and result in a missed Sensor.

There are several sensors in the body of your 350z. These sensors are used to control certain engine functions, such as fuel delivery. If you have any bad sensor that is preventing proper engine functions, it may also result in a misfire.

How To Deal With A 350z Misfire?

white nissan 350z
Photo by Pavel Anoshin on Unsplash

An engine misfire is one major fault of a Nissan 350z. Let’s say that you determined that your car is experiencing a misfire. How do you deal with it? Take a look at the following steps:

Look at the check engine light

Look for a flashing check engine light on the dashboard of the car. The purpose of this indicator is to let you know that something is wrong with the bonnet of your vehicle. If your car is shaking and you can see the light, then it’s a clear sign that something is wrong with your vehicle’s engine. However, take note that you may still experience an engine misfire without the flashing of the check engine light.

Check for error codes

Now, if you are sure that your vehicle is currently experiencing a misfire, another thing to do is to plug a compatible scanner into the car. There is a port beneath the dashboard on the driver’s side. It looks like a trapezoid with round edges. This scanner will check the sensors for error codes and let you know what is happening. The scanner will produce a set of codes that are made up of numbers and letters. It should also have an English description of the problem. But if it doesn’t, you can check through the vehicle repair manual to find out the meaning of the codes. If there is a misfire, you will get a code indicating a sensor problem, a misfiring cylinder, or a general problem across all the cylinders.

Locate and seal any vacuum leaks

Another major cause of an engine misfire is a vacuum leak. Check the engine bay for any damaged fuel lines. It would help if you immediately replace any pipes that are the source of the leakage. If you replace the vacuum, the misfire should stop, and the engine should run better. If it doesn’t, then there is another source of the problem. Make sure that you only use high-quality materials to replace the damaged ones in the engine.

Remove and check each fuel injector

Another great idea is to disconnect the fuel injectors to find out if there are any changes to the state of the engine. Remove each injector one after the other and see how it affects the engine. If you remove an injector and the engine starts running worse, replace it and check the next one. However, if you remove the injector and there is no effect on the engine, it could mean that the cylinder is not functional. It would help if you replaced any injectors that are not working.

Replace mass airflow sensor if it’s damaged

If your scanner has indicated a problem with the airflow or oxygen sensor, it would be a good idea to replace this component. Replacing it may restore the air/fuel mixture in your engine. When adding a new sensor, ensure it is properly installed and connected before closing the bonnet.

Check the spark plugs and replace any defective ones.

A faulty spark plug will cause the combustion in any cylinder to fail. Make sure that you disconnect all the sparkplugs one after the other. Please take a good look at each of them and inspect for damage. This damage may cause all the fuss that’s going on in the engine. If you have been using the same set of spark plugs for a very long time, it may be time to replace them completely.

Ideally, the spark plug should have a darkened color to indicate a rich running engine. A wet spark plug means that there is too much oil or fuel getting into the engine block. This may prevent the air/fuel mixture from effectively burning. If the plug appears fine, try to close the gap between the metal sticking out of the plug and the base.

Replace the head gasket

If you find two or more cylinders close to each other that are failing to run properly, it’s most likely due to a bad head gasket. Another sign of a bad head gasket is finding coolant material in your oil. Make sure you replace the head gasket. If you do not have the expertise or tools to remove this gasket, it may be better to consult an expert mechanic.

a black nissan 350z
Photo by Patrik Storm (Alstra Pictures) on Unsplash

Conclusion

And that’s all on how to deal with a 350z misfire. Without any doubt, an engine misfire would prevent you from driving your car around conveniently. As a result, we would do our best to take care of the problem quickly. It’s a serious problem that various factors can cause. If you experience a 350z misfire, the first thing to do is identify the problem. Then, you can apply any of the solutions mentioned in the article to deal with it.

FAQs

How much does it cost to fix a misfire in a 350z?

When fixing the misfire in your 350z, you have to keep in mind that the cost may vary depending on the mechanic shop you visit and the materials they use. However, labor costs should fall between $158 and $200, while part replacements should cost $54 – $105.

What does it mean when a 350z misfires when warm?

There are numerous reasons why your 350z could misfire when warm. However, the most likely cause would be a faulty sensor.

What does it mean when a 350z misfires when cold?

If you experience 350z when cold, it could indicate a spark plug problem.

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