That Awkward First Time

[Hertz Donut]

They* say the first time is always the most intimidating. All that pent-up enthusiasm and antici...pation, not to mention the sheer lust for gratification. What if you're too quick off the mark? What if you do it wrong? What if you're just not good enough?

But here I am. My first post on a new forum.

Name: Hertz Donut, better known as "Matty" on various NZ forums or "Wibble" on Street Commodores but those were both taken. Who woulda thunk it.

Age: Oh shut up. I'm still under 40.

Location: New Zealand, where all the cutest sheep are.

Vehicle: 2004 PNM35 Stagea 350RX FOUR. Did I say that right?

Mechanical Level: Enthusiastic but clueless DIY monkey.

Online afflictions: Textual diarrhoea. Not as sexy or messy as it sounds.

Picked it up on Saturday after my faithful VS Commodore I've owned for nearly 14 years decided it didn't love me any more and refused to start, I suspect it drowned in a downpour we had last Tuesday. It was nothing to do with me being its mechanic, nor the 12 years of non-maintenance it received.

Anyway, now that's been pushed into one corner of the car port to dry out, we (being the 'Minister of Warfare, Intelligence, Food and Entertainment' and I) decided we needed something a bit more reliable and safe as a family hauler, and we needed it at 1:30pm last Tuesday. After a frantic online search we came across the Stagea fresh off the boat from Japan and only 300km away.

So far we love it, it's got rather more poke than I would have expected given its vital stats, and it handles surprisingly well for something rolling about on tractor tyres. It's in immaculate condition and has just ticked over 68,000km on the journey home from the dealer. Whoever owned it in Japan kept it very clean, it even still has the factory protectant film over the sill plate in the left rear door. There's very few wear marks inside or out. The intake on it has "power duct" embossed on it but I don't know if this is an aftermarket part or just a hangover from the good old days when Japanese manufacturers liked to list everything on the car.

No huge plans for it, however my wife would like to do the same basic mods as we did to the Commodore many years ago, namely wheels, suspension, headers and exhaust. Bless her.

I would post pics but the car has already been consigned to the school run this morning. Just picture a stock silver PNM35 with epic beige/tan/oatmeal interior.

Stay tuned for rookie mechanical questions like "what's this thing?" and "what's this noise?" and "160Nm should be enough torque to do up the alternator mounting bolts right?" and "how do I get this snapped bolt out?" and so on.

And now you know what "textual diarrhoea" is too.

Cheers,

Matty.

*Who are "they" anyway? "They" always seem to have a lot to say about everything. Probably radio talkback callers.

[34GeeTeeTee]

Welcome to the forums mate! Get some pics up of the new daily when you can

Plenty of info here to get your DIYing skills happening .... Good step in the right direction, no more commodores for you!

[PN-Mad]

Hey buddy,

Welcome!

Can't believe I found you in here, but we all hang out in the stagea section. Plenty of info in there. Try the search function first.

Power duct is a factory item, lesser models have that area closed off.

See you around stagea town!

[Hertz Donut]

34GeeTeeTee: Cheers, only downside so far seems to be getting hold of a repair manual. The great advantage of the Commodore is that every bogan and his dog has one so everything's easy to get hold of.

PN-Mad: Hi, I was hoping you'd pop by, I've been having a look through your build thread, looks great.

[34GeeTeeTee]

34GeeTeeTee: Cheers, only downside so far seems to be getting hold of a repair manual. The great advantage of the Commodore is that every bogan and his dog has one so everything's easy to get hold of.

PN-Mad: Hi, I was hoping you'd pop by, I've been having a look through your build thread, looks great.

There should be enough help on here mate! As well as info on where to obtain a manual!

PN-Mad is a weirdo, beware

Just kidden

[darksky34]

love reading your textual diarrhoea

[PN-Mad]

Lol.

Just stop reading before you get to the part where I buy a shitbox and try to drive fast!

Anyway, for service manuals, try to get the correct year G35 manuals online from the US cars. Awd drivetrain is G35x. Really, there isn't too much you need a service manual for. Routine servicing is a piece of piss.

See you in stagea land. Don't be shy.

[luke gtr]

welcome.

glad to hear you finally upgraded to something that handles.

as mat(34geeteetee(aka gumtree) )has stated, lots of info on the his forum for the diy guys.

and, alot of members on here no longer own skylines, were that type of crowd.

as for a manual, try ebay?

I know they have gtr ones available.

either way, hope you enjoy the car and the forum.

and please, post pics.

[xALmoN]

beware of luke too.

[luke gtr]

beware of luke too.

so long as I dont drive his car, im harmless.

no bearings will be spun.

[xALmoN]

bearings are meant to be spun!

[Hertz Donut]

Thanks again for the welcome. Only real issues I've found so far are:

- A random noise that sounds like a loose bolt or something flapping. I think it's just the front number plate but my wife has run off with the car so I haven't had a chance to tighten it up yet.

- The battery will go flat if the headlights are left on when the car is parked up overnight. I have sworn to protect the identity of the person who found this out for fear she will withdraw marital congress.

- I've failed the "make the pop-up screen pop up" intelligence test. Surely I just push the button on the top, right? Or is there some other trick to it, like holding the button down for 5 seconds?

[34GeeTeeTee]

Lol, your verbal diarrhea is entertaining

[PN-Mad]

Thanks again for the welcome. Only real issues I've found so far are:

- A random noise that sounds like a loose bolt or something flapping. I think it's just the front number plate but my wife has run off with the car so I haven't had a chance to tighten it up yet.

- The battery will go flat if the headlights are left on when the car is parked up overnight. I have sworn to protect the identity of the person who found this out for fear she will withdraw marital congress.

- I've failed the "make the pop-up screen pop up" intelligence test. Surely I just push the button on the top, right? Or is there some other trick to it, like holding the button down for 5 seconds?

Track down the noise. Nothing hard about that. Yes battery's will go flat like that.

The pop up screen can be a little tricky. Sometimes you'll need to help it up, and it sort of re learns the process.

welcome.

as for a manual, try ebay?

I know they have gtr ones available.

either way, hope you enjoy the car and the forum.

and please, post pics.

Bish, please. This ain't no GTR! It's far rarer!

[Hertz Donut]

Yeah I'm not concerned about the noise and flat battery. Must remember to use emoticons...

As for the pop-up screen, there's a whirring noise from somewhere in/behind the centre console when I first turn the starter knob, is this the screen trying to come up? What's the best way to help it up? Or is it a case of "jam something down the sides and hope you don't break it"?

[PN-Mad]

The whirring noise is the DVD rom spinning up I think. It's used for the jap nav programs, and can't play DVDs I case your wondering. Mine hasn't had the issue, but Iamhe has, perhaps ask in the stagea section. Check fuses. Might be a connector, or button issue. Could lever it carefully up to try to kick start it and see if motors up.

[L33SH]

Welcome.