[Unknown User]

Stock & original California version 1977 280Z with 163,000 miles. Was running great yesterday and suddenly went belly up today. Car will start but will not idle by itself. Idle is very rough whether the engine is cold or warm and huge clouds of black (not blue-gray) smoke pours out the tail pipe. Engine will not rev over about 3,000 RPM. NO power. Came on so suddenly I have to assume it is probably electrical in nature. Wiggled some wires up by the water temperature sensor/thermotine switch and it got better for a few minutes and then went bad again. Had a similar problem 6 months ago - wiggled the same wires and it went away until today. Manual indicates it could be the altitude switch (don't know where that is) the water temperature sensor, the throttle valve switch, the thermotine switch, the cold start valve or any combination of the above. Anyone else have a similar problem and find the solution? It's a bugger getting to work when the car doesn't run.
Thanks in advance for replies.
Phantom.

 

[Unknown User]

I will give it a shot!

> Stock & original California version 1977
> 280Z with 163,000 miles. Was running great
> yesterday and suddenly went belly up today.
> Car will start but will not idle by itself.
> Idle is very rough whether the engine is
> cold or warm and huge clouds of black (not
> blue-gray) smoke pours out the tail pipe.
> Engine will not rev over about 3,000 RPM. NO
> power. Came on so suddenly I have to assume
> it is probably electrical in nature. Wiggled
> some wires up by the water temperature
> sensor/thermotine switch and it got better
> for a few minutes and then went bad again.
> Had a similar problem 6 months ago - wiggled
> the same wires and it went away until today.
> Manual indicates it could be the altitude
> switch (don't know where that is) the water
> temperature sensor, the throttle valve
> switch, the thermotine switch, the cold
> start valve or any combination of the above.
> Anyone else have a similar problem and find
> the solution? It's a bugger getting to work
> when the car doesn't run.
> Thanks in advance for replies.
> Phantom.

Phantom-Sorry to hear that bud! Sounds like mabey just a faulty wire up there. You can check the integraty of the wires withvolt meter or a test light...have you tried that yet?-Travis 77z

 

[Russ83ZXna]

Did you pull the connectors off and clean the connections. Maybe they are dirty. If it still runs like that check/ replace the water temp sensor. it will flood the engine if it is bad.

hope this helps you out.

> Stock & original California version 1977
> 280Z with 163,000 miles. Was running great
> yesterday and suddenly went belly up today.
> Car will start but will not idle by itself.
> Idle is very rough whether the engine is
> cold or warm and huge clouds of black (not
> blue-gray) smoke pours out the tail pipe.
> Engine will not rev over about 3,000 RPM. NO
> power. Came on so suddenly I have to assume
> it is probably electrical in nature. Wiggled
> some wires up by the water temperature
> sensor/thermotine switch and it got better
> for a few minutes and then went bad again.
> Had a similar problem 6 months ago - wiggled
> the same wires and it went away until today.
> Manual indicates it could be the altitude
> switch (don't know where that is) the water
> temperature sensor, the throttle valve
> switch, the thermotine switch, the cold
> start valve or any combination of the above.
> Anyone else have a similar problem and find
> the solution? It's a bugger getting to work
> when the car doesn't run.
> Thanks in advance for replies.
> Phantom.

 

[Phantom]

Daily driver died!! - Thanks for replies - read on

Thanks for the repies guys. After my momentary panic I took a deep breath and started thinking. I have an entire spare assembly where all these sensors are located on the engine. I'll wholesale replace them this Saturday and clean up the connectors while I'm at it. I agree that it is either a bad (read corroded after 21 years) connection or a faulty sensor. I'll follow up with results next week.
Thanks again.
Zya,
Phantom

> Did you pull the connectors off and clean
> the connections. Maybe they are dirty. If it
> still runs like that check/ replace the
> water temp sensor. it will flood the engine
> if it is bad.

> hope this helps you out.