The 2013 Fairlady Z (370Z) with the VQ37VHR is a robust sports car platform, but it suffers from well-documented timing chain wear, CSC (concentric slave cylinder) failures on manuals, and transmission cooler line leaks. Most issues appear after 60k miles and can be expensive if ignored.
Timing Chain Guide & Tensioner Wear (VQ37VHR)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Cold-start rattle for 2-3 seconds that goes away once oil pressure builds, Metallic rattling from front of engine on startup, Check engine light with timing correlation codes (P0021, P0011), Visible plastic debris in oil during changes
Fix: Complete timing chain kit replacement including guides, tensioners, chains, and oil pump inspection. Requires front engine disassembly. 12-16 labor hours. Many techs replace the oil gallery gaskets while in there to prevent future leaks.
Symptoms: Clutch pedal stays on floor or feels spongy, Difficulty shifting into gear, especially first and reverse, Clutch fluid level drops with no external leaks visible, Grinding when attempting to shift
Fix: CSC is internal to the transmission bellhousing—requires transmission drop. 8-10 hours labor. Smart shops upgrade to aftermarket heavy-duty CSC or external slave conversion kit while trans is out. OEM parts fail repeatedly.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks (Automatic)
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: ATF drips or puddles under front of vehicle, Transmission overheating warnings on gauge, Burnt ATF smell after spirited driving, Low fluid level on dipstick checks
Fix: Cooler lines rust at crimped fittings or crack at hard bends near subframe. Replace both lines and flush system. 3-4 hours labor. Some owners proactively upgrade to braided stainless lines.
Estimated cost: $600-1,000
Fuel System (Fuel Level Sender & Fuel Damper)
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Erratic fuel gauge readings—jumps around or reads empty when tank is half full, Fuel smell in cabin or near tank area, Hard start after sitting (fuel pressure bleed-down), Audible fuel pump whine louder than normal
Fix: Fuel level sender unit in tank wears out. Tank drop required. 4-5 hours labor. Fuel damper (pulsation damper on fuel rail) can also leak or crack, causing pressure loss—easier fix at 1.5 hours.
Estimated cost: $500-900
Transmission Mount Deterioration
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive driveline clunk on throttle tip-in or lift-off, Vibration felt through shifter at idle or under load, Visible tearing or separation of rubber in mount, Transmission housing sitting lower than normal
Fix: OEM rubber mounts wear quickly, especially with spirited driving. Replacement is straightforward—support trans, unbolt old mount, install new. 2-3 hours. Many owners upgrade to polyurethane mounts for longevity.
Estimated cost: $300-600
Steering Lock Actuator Failure
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Car will not start—steering wheel locked and won't release, Clicking sound near steering column when trying to start, Intermittent no-start condition, works fine after sitting overnight, Warning light on dash for steering lock system
Fix: Electronic steering lock motor seizes or fails internally. Requires column disassembly and actuator replacement, or many owners delete the system entirely with a bypass harness (not road-legal everywhere). 2-3 hours for replacement, 1 hour for delete.
Estimated cost: $400-800
Owner tips
Use quality 5W-30 synthetic and change every 5k miles—VQ37 is hard on oil and timing components depend on it
If buying manual, budget for CSC replacement immediately or do external slave conversion—it's when, not if
Listen for cold-start rattle before purchase—indicates deferred maintenance on timing components
Check transmission fluid condition and cooler lines during pre-purchase inspection on automatics
Consider steering lock delete if you track the car or live in extreme climates
Solid sports car platform if timing chain service is documented and CSC addressed on manuals—budget $3-5k for deferred maintenance on higher-mileage examples.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: Battery located in engine bay; Nissan Z34 chassis
As an Amazon Associate and Autel/ANCEL partner, OLP earns from qualifying purchases — how we link. This never changes the specs we publish.
Every control module on the 2009-2020 Nissan Fairlady Z — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
Electric Power Steering Control Unit (EPS)1.5 hr R&Rdealer / factory tool +0.5 hr▸ programming details
⚠️ Mileage and VIN programming required. Digital display. Cannot transfer mileage without dealer tool.
Intelligent Power Distribution Module (IPDM-E/R)0.8 hr R&Raftermarket tool +0.3 hr▸ programming details
📍 Engine bay, passenger side near battery
🔧 Nissan CONSULT-III Plus or Autel/Launch
⚠️ Controls fuel pump, cooling fans, and other high-current loads. Configuration may be needed.
Sonar Control Unit (SONAR)0.6 hr R&Raftermarket tool +0.2 hr▸ programming details
📍 Rear cargo area, driver side trim panel
🔧 Nissan CONSULT-III Plus or aftermarket
⚠️ Optional equipment. Rear parking sensors on Sport/Touring models.
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2013 Nissan Fairlady Z 3.7L V6 VQ37VHR and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Mechanic · 20+ years.