bad luck...or good luck??

ed_423 · 02-14-2024, 07:27 PM

was driving home and heard some unusual rattling (not like your typical Z rattles

) i look in my rear view mirror and saw an old truck so thought maybe it's from the truck.

i made a left turn and realized the metal clunking/rattling was my car, but i was already on my street almost home. I made it into my garage, got out of the car and heard a loud CLUNK and the damn pulley fell straight to the ground!

now i cant drive the Z, but it's safely parked in my garage LOL.

SG4247 · 02-14-2024, 08:32 PM

Luck,

If it was bad luck, you’d have run over the pulley, blown a tire and hit the concrete median.

Ask me how I know…

Inflaymes · 02-15-2024, 03:56 AM

How does that even happen?

filip00 · 02-15-2024, 10:28 AM

Wow, this looks scary. Which pulley wheel is it, and how did this happen? Don't tell me this is a known fault...

gr8-wrx · 02-15-2024, 12:28 PM

Wow, glad you made it back to your garage!

nis350 · 02-15-2024, 06:37 PM

I imagined the drive belts would be all tangled up.

ed_423 · 02-15-2024, 07:05 PM

it was the idler pulley between the crank shaft and compressor.

Surprisingly the belt was not tangled at all!

i have no service records of this car so i have no idea if the previous owners ever replaced any of these. it seems like i got lucky and nothing got seriously destroyed and i made it home haha

ZoomZ · 02-16-2024, 12:27 PM

Was the bolt stripped/sheared or did it just back out?

Amazing.

nis350 · 02-16-2024, 10:28 PM

how many miles on your car? I suspected that it was reinstalled improperly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ed_423

it was the idler pulley between the crank shaft and compressor.

Surprisingly the belt was not tangled at all!

i have no service records of this car so i have no idea if the previous owners ever replaced any of these. it seems like i got lucky and nothing got seriously destroyed and i made it home haha

ed_423 · 02-16-2024, 11:40 PM

i think the bolt just backed out? doesn't seem stripped.

about 83k on the car, yeah could be not properly installed from previous owners haha

Tractionless · 02-17-2024, 08:27 AM

If the bearing isn't seized, seems the bolt simply backed out for who knows what reason. Glad you weren't stranded, definitely good luck!

ZoomZ · 02-19-2024, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ed_423

i think the bolt just backed out? doesn't seem stripped.

about 83k on the car, yeah could be not properly installed from previous owners haha

One of the biggest mistakes is installing a fluid line or a blind bolt and only finger tightening it and walking away for whatever reason.

The person comes back to see the said part is assembled (so it appears) and closes up.

3 steps you can take to minimize the potential hazard.

1. Don't install it until you are absolutley ready to tighten it.

2. If you must install it losely but need to walk away, place a warning tag or bright ribbon on the part to show it needs torque.

3. use torque seal/witness seal or paint pen to indicate you have torqued it. Good for future inspection to see if bolts have turned.

ed_423 · 02-22-2024, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoomZ

One of the biggest mistakes is installing a fluid line or a blind bolt and only finger tightening it and walking away for whatever reason.

The person comes back to see the said part is assembled (so it appears) and closes up.

3 steps you can take to minimize the potential hazard.

1. Don't install it until you are absolutley ready to tighten it.

2. If you must install it losely but need to walk away, place a warning tag or bright ribbon on the part to show it needs torque.

3. use torque seal/witness seal or paint pen to indicate you have torqued it. Good for future inspection to see if bolts have turned.

Good suggestions, thank you! I’m still debating if I’m going to DIY this or tow it to a shop. I’ve watched a few videos and it seems doable. But also may not have a lot of time haha. If I diy it though I’ll definitely make sure it’s tightened!

02-14-2024, 07:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
ed_423 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Socal Posts: 57 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 408	bad luck...or good luck?? was driving home and heard some unusual rattling (not like your typical Z rattles ) i look in my rear view mirror and saw an old truck so thought maybe it's from the truck. i made a left turn and realized the metal clunking/rattling was my car, but i was already on my street almost home. I made it into my garage, got out of the car and heard a loud CLUNK and the damn pulley fell straight to the ground! now i cant drive the Z, but it's safely parked in my garage LOL. gr8-wrx and Rusty like this. __________________ 2009 370z Nismo

02-14-2024, 08:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
SG4247 Track Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: OKC Posts: 724 Drives: 2010 touring Rep Power: 4486	Luck, If it was bad luck, you’d have run over the pulley, blown a tire and hit the concrete median. Ask me how I know… cooltoy and filip00 like this. __________________ NA on E85 - 12.669 @ 110 mph (stock fuel pump) 100 shot E85 - 11.589 @ 117 mph (DW fuel pump) JWT C2 cams rev Base Circle & Titan Valves

02-15-2024, 03:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
Inflaymes Base Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 130 Drives: 2014 370z Nismo Rep Power: 7051	How does that even happen? __________________ 2014 370z Nismo Fairlady \| Gold Powdercoated Nismo Rays \| Z1 Ported Manifold \| RJM Adjustable Clutch Pedal \| Berk Test Pipes \| Beluga Racing Exhaust \| Custom Billetworkz Imperial Sledge Shift Knob \| Carbon Fiber, Flat-Bottom Steering Wheel \| Ecu-Tek Custom Tune

02-15-2024, 10:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
filip00 Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2021 Location: slovenia Posts: 481 Drives: 370z pack Rep Power: 105292	Wow, this looks scary. Which pulley wheel is it, and how did this happen? Don't tell me this is a known fault... __________________ ride epic drive epic

02-15-2024, 12:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
gr8-wrx Track Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 607 Drives: 10 370z Roadster 7AT Rep Power: 15	Wow, glad you made it back to your garage! __________________ Me: 2022 Toyota Tacoma SR5 Double-Cab SB, 2023 Toyota Corolla Wifey: 2013 Toyota Highlander Limited AWD Weekends: 2010 Nissan 370z Roadster

02-15-2024, 06:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
nis350 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: socal Posts: 1,084 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 13434	I imagined the drive belts would be all tangled up.

02-15-2024, 07:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
ed_423 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Socal Posts: 57 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 408	it was the idler pulley between the crank shaft and compressor. Surprisingly the belt was not tangled at all! i have no service records of this car so i have no idea if the previous owners ever replaced any of these. it seems like i got lucky and nothing got seriously destroyed and i made it home haha __________________ 2009 370z Nismo

02-16-2024, 12:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
ZoomZ Track Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 714 Drives: 17' 370Z Nismo Rep Power: 40312	Was the bolt stripped/sheared or did it just back out? Amazing. __________________ “Action without vision is a nightmare.”

02-16-2024, 11:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
ed_423 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Socal Posts: 57 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 408	i think the bolt just backed out? doesn't seem stripped. about 83k on the car, yeah could be not properly installed from previous owners haha ZoomZ likes this. __________________ 2009 370z Nismo

02-17-2024, 08:27 AM	#11 (permalink)
Tractionless A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Atlantic SE Posts: 1,237 Drives: '10 K23 ST 7AT Rep Power: 30525	If the bearing isn't seized, seems the bolt simply backed out for who knows what reason. Glad you weren't stranded, definitely good luck! __________________ Toys Not Tots

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Luck!	ImportConvert	New 370Z Owner	52	02-28-2012 02:55 PM
Bad luck? good luck? Profound change to my 350z !!!	andre12031948	Track / Autocross / Drifting / Dragstrip	13	10-18-2011 07:26 AM
Such Bad Luck!!	Brutal 370Z	Nissan 370Z Pricing / Ordering Discussions	11	08-04-2011 07:36 AM
Good luck scraping the ice off your car...	Xan	The Lounge (Off Topic)	11	01-31-2011 02:37 AM
Wish Me Luck!!	DooDooBrown	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	19	01-23-2010 11:24 AM