What Have You Done To Your Stagea Lately?

[NickM91]

Finally did the brake wire mod yesterday

[Commsman]

Looks good Leon. How's the car going? Are you rebuilding or replacing the engine?

Replacing it. Much easier/cheaper, at least for me, but still patiently waiting for the engine. May play around with the old engine in the future - learn me some new skills.

[scotty nm35]

Finally did the brake wire mod yesterday

Finally.

Replacing it. Much easier/cheaper, at least for me, but still patiently waiting for the engine. May play around with the old engine in the future - learn me some new skills.

Have you ripped the heads off? Is the bore ok? I might be able to fix it if you want to sell it cheap enough.

It would be a shame to loose another engine, they are quite rare as you know. Are you importing one from Japan?

[Daleo]

Replacing it. Much easier/cheaper, at least for me, but still patiently waiting for the engine. May play around with the old engine in the future - learn me some new skills.

What happened mate?

[Commsman]

Have you ripped the heads off? Is the bore ok? I might be able to fix it if you want to sell it cheap enough.

It would be a shame to loose another engine, they are quite rare as you know. Are you importing one from Japan?

No, haven't pulled anything apart but I did use an inspection scope & it looked OK. I think I just blew a ringland. I won't be tossing this out as I hope to rebuild it for a working spare. In the meantime it will be a good source for sensor swapping, if (when?) I find myself needing to diagnose something. Looked at importing thru JS but decided a local engine is less risky & cheaper. I've bought Darrin's now that he's not doing the swap into the C34. Will be more of a wait since he's in China buying stock for his spare parts business, but I'm not in too much of a hurry as mine is still driveable albeit smoky.

What happened mate?

See above. Essentially I was adjusting the AFM voltage to stop it droping off the edge of the map (had major AFM cutout) & thought I'd compensate by changing the fuel pump to full voltage. I think my pump didn't like it very much & was intermittently noisy, & I suspect it wasn't doing it's job properly. Leaned out on a cylinder & the rest is history....

I returned the pump to normal wiring & is quiet again. The silver lining is I can test stuff to my hearts content now that engine is already busted, lol.

[joshm35]

Replacing it. Much easier/cheaper, at least for me, but still patiently waiting for the engine. May play around with the old engine in the future - learn me some new skills.

shotgun turbo

[Commsman]

shotgun turbo

Lol. I intend to have my current hi-flow rebuilt to new condition & then sell it with a swap with a standard turbo (blown up or not). Maybe the start of a turbo swap service??? In any case, my current one doesn't suit my driving preference so am looking forward to trying something different once the one on the new engine gives up the ghost.

[projects]

Hi Guys, Im new to the stagea section i just brought a 2002 M35 VQ25dd RS a couple weekends ago for a stea $1500NZD. High KM's 280,000 worth. So it had a terrible cam chain stretch, sounded like a old type writer going to town under the bonnet. Anyhow yesterday i began to replace this timing chain. No wonder the local dealership said its worth more than the engine to replace them, the labour to get to it was 4 hours worth and a 10min job replacing the chain and guides. spent 30 mins cleaning up the sump front cover and all the mating faces of silicone.

People say you dont need to replace chains but this was a prime example of needing it done. As we took the cover off the chain nearly fell off the gears, the timing was out by a good couple degree's made starting really hard. the tensioner was at full and wasnt doing a thing, the top guide had worn down to the metal in the centre. and there was so much slack that the chain had gouged out grooves in the front and rear covers. I was very very close to having the pistons and valves go BOOM!

Got the new chain on and its all tight the cams were pulled back into line and comparing the new to the old its tight as a ......

Now we began reassembling the rest of the crap you have to take off to get to it. took 3 hours to get all the covers bolts and pumps back on, still have a hour or so to do tonight after work, getting the radiator, electrics and fluids back into the motor and then listen to the new girl purrrr.

[PN-Mad]

Post pics!

[projects]

sorry i didnt take any pictures of the old chain or the damage it cause to the covers, my hands were filthy and i wasnt going to handle my phone. i can take some photo's of the damages guide, that's about all.

this is what i brought for $1500NZD

[Jezboosted]

Took some better photos to show the BOV control i rigged up to the original boost control solenoid. The control switch is mounted to the gear stick.

For anyone not quite sure what this does, it basically allows you to make the bov atmo or blocked/flutter by the switch.

Home made air ducting and shield for pod.

Stock solenoid and HDI solenoid

Plumbing

Gear shift switch

Now i am playing around with shock height and stiffness again, just to work out the last niggles in clearance. Fun fun fun !

[m35stagea]

http://m.flickr.com/lightbox?id=8651784144

So yeah my boost is peaking at 1.1-1.2 bar

[scotty nm35]

I can't see any pic...

Mine hits 2.38 bar now.

[Mr 20Valve]

swapped my attessa pump for a working one. god its nice to have 4wd again

[M35]

sorry i didnt take any pictures of the old chain or the damage it cause to the covers, my hands were filthy and i wasnt going to handle my phone. i can take some photo's of the damages guide, that's about all.

this is what i brought for $1500NZD

Welcome. That's a good buy for that price. Any future mods to it? what part of Nz are you? Very helpful site if you want info in regards to Stagea's.

[projects]

Thanks for the welcome, I'm from Cambridge. Only mods would be to lower it and maybe some wheels, it'l be the Mrs daily driver if i can sort it out. Got everything back in and started it up, there was a bit of a tapping sound when it was cold and then it not driven, once i took it for a drive the taping sound had gone. Do these have hydraulic lifters or solid, as i think it might be to do with the oil viscosity? if they're solid then i'm stumped and hope its not play between cold pistons.

Also i'm now having a starting issue which i thought the timing was out from the chain, but with that replaced its still hard to start. I'm wondering if its a faulty sensor or if the starter and everything is drawing to much current from a slightly old battery. Would the ecu or learnt that with the old chain and timing been so far out to drive like that. and now its back to factory it cannot start properly?

Have booked it in with a auto sparky to see if they can diagnose it next week. Yes this is by far the best site to get Stagea info from i have found out.

[pipster11]

From memory the vq25det's have issues with the cam angle sensors and afm's

Another renault driver will be along shortly to help you out

[scotty nm35]

Thanks for the welcome, I'm from Cambridge. Only mods would be to lower it and maybe some wheels, it'l be the Mrs daily driver if i can sort it out. Got everything back in and started it up, there was a bit of a tapping sound when it was cold and then it not driven, once i took it for a drive the taping sound had gone. Do these have hydraulic lifters or solid, as i think it might be to do with the oil viscosity? if they're solid then i'm stumped and hope its not play between cold pistons.

Also i'm now having a starting issue which i thought the timing was out from the chain, but with that replaced its still hard to start. I'm wondering if its a faulty sensor or if the starter and everything is drawing to much current from a slightly old battery. Would the ecu or learnt that with the old chain and timing been so far out to drive like that. and now its back to factory it cannot start properly?

Have booked it in with a auto sparky to see if they can diagnose it next week. Yes this is by far the best site to get Stagea info from i have found out.

The cam tensioners take a fair while to fill with pressure once re-assembled, that would have been the noise you heard. Nothing to worry about unless it doesn't go away. The workshop manual says to rev it to 3k and hold it for 5 minutes to bleed the tensioners. The valve gear has solid buckets, some are shimmed and some aren't.

If it's hard to start, try a new battery first. If you still have issues, is there an engine light up? Most of the faults will throw a code.

[M35]

Thanks for the welcome, I'm from Cambridge. Only mods would be to lower it and maybe some wheels, it'l be the Mrs daily driver if i can sort it out. Got everything back in and started it up, there was a bit of a tapping sound when it was cold and then it not driven, once i took it for a drive the taping sound had gone. Do these have hydraulic lifters or solid, as i think it might be to do with the oil viscosity? if they're solid then i'm stumped and hope its not play between cold pistons.

Also i'm now having a starting issue which i thought the timing was out from the chain, but with that replaced its still hard to start. I'm wondering if its a faulty sensor or if the starter and everything is drawing to much current from a slightly old battery. Would the ecu or learnt that with the old chain and timing been so far out to drive like that. and now its back to factory it cannot start properly?

Have booked it in with a auto sparky to see if they can diagnose it next week. Yes this is by far the best site to get Stagea info from i have found out.

I guess it depends on how you want to lower it, I've noticed here they seems to go coilovers rather than changing springs. Personally I want to go coilovers but, the car has to be certified afterwards so the costs escalate. The majority of sellers on TradeMe seems to recommend JAMEX lowering springs, due to limited options availability for M/PNM35 when it comes to springs???? can someone prove them wrong.

[iamhe77]

Plenty of different spring types for M35's.

Just check out Japan's Yahoo Auctions.