# 1986 Nissan 300ZX - Shut down on the highway

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1986-nissan-300zx-shut-down-on-the-highway/178527>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** nissan, engines\
**Created:** [August 5, 2021, 5:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1986-nissan-300zx-shut-down-on-the-highway/178527 "2021-08-05T17:34:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Nyamweya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nyamweya](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nyamweya)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2021, 5:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1986-nissan-300zx-shut-down-on-the-highway/178527/1 "2021-08-05T17:34:25Z")

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I was driving down the highway when the car suddenly shut down. Luckily, I was near an exit so I coasted to a stop. I tried to start the car back up but it would not start. I got a jump and that did nothing either. It would not even crank up. Radiator and oil still good. What could be the problem?

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**Author:** ![oldnotdeadyet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a6a055/32.png) [@oldnotdeadyet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldnotdeadyet)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 12:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1986-nissan-300zx-shut-down-on-the-highway/178527/2 "2021-08-06T00:00:30Z")

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What does “crank up” mean. Are you saying it won’t turn over at all, or it won’t start when turning over.

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**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 5:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1986-nissan-300zx-shut-down-on-the-highway/178527/3 "2021-08-06T17:36:59Z")

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I am not a mechanic but I’m wondering, based on personal experience, if the timing belt might have broken. I hope not because that would mean your _interference_ engine is toast. 😢

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**Author:** ![ledhed75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@ledhed75](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ledhed75)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 8:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1986-nissan-300zx-shut-down-on-the-highway/178527/4 "2021-08-06T20:48:17Z")

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Yeah, this sounds a whole lot like a major engine problem. Hope I’m wrong.