[1982jetblack280z]

Ok i'm starting to get a little upset now........


The Z has been giving me trouble. I mean i'm not a cert. mech. here, i can do minor stuff if i have some books but the car is pissin me off....here is a list of my current problems.


car wont rev past 3.5k under load and 4.5k with slow accelerator push

Dont really feel a turbo kicking in, i just hear it spool up. I mean should i feel a KICK when i hit a certin RPM or does it just speed me up all the way through RPM range??

Need a new radio ant. I know not a major problem but a pain in the a$$ cause of where the motor is located to it....right behind a big metal bar.

Went into the panal and looked at my ECU, sucker looks like i melted all over itself. There are little bubbles and all the wires are stuck together ( what computer is compatable i need to go check the junk yard )

I dont know how to do body/interrior work and i need new seats and panals.

Now i dont want to give up on this car!! MY father used to own one when i was little, and its a centimental thing to me now that he's gone. Any help would be awsome. Thank you very much


Matt

 

[Flip]

Hey Matt - The first thing I learned with my 78 was patience. With any Z you need lots of patience when it comes to things going wrong. The best advice I can give is to take these frustations one step at a time. I'm in the process of re-doing my 78 and am having a ball doing it with my son. I know your sentimentality if great, but don't give up. Get a FSM! Big help and also use this forum and the archives. Lots of great help here from lots of experienced people. I have learned alot. Keep plugging away and good luck!

 

[1982jetblack280z]

Ok so i went to the Junkyard and started looking at ECU's. Now i have a 1982 280zx Turbo. And the connectors into the ECU are 3 seperate connectors. The connectors with the 83, 79, 80, 81 and so on and so on are all one big connector. One thing i noticed was the difference in the sticker ontop of the ECU. Mine says this


"A18-601 042
2616"

Now on the other ones after where there was a stamped number in black (the 2616 on mine) it said L28...i know this is an engine type. Mine doesn't say it.....what the **** kinda ECU do i have? is the 82' the red-headed step child of the Z cars? or is it just because i have a turbo??

Matt

 

[ktulu81zx]

you're correct, they are different, you need an ecu out of an '82 turbo, I don't think the ecu's between the different year turbo's will work (guys correct me if I'm wrong) the 81 turbo ecu will definitely not work...if your original ecu was in that bad of shape, an ecu swap might just fix your engine troubles...you might want to check ebay, or the parts and accessories for sale section of this site, if your junkyard hunting isn't turning anything up

on another note, I have the 82 fsm if you have any other questions you can email me them, it has some turbo stuff in it... (gonna be looking up your problem with the revs when I get home to see if there's any info)

good luck,

 

[helowrench]

you may want to replace your fuel filter.
bosch type injection systems such as the z use a filter that can clog very rapidly under the wrong conditions...ANY water at all in the tank will cause the filter fibers to swell shut and no fuel flow. just a thought

 

[1982jetblack280z]

Well then thanks guys. I repalced the fuel filter a month or so back. I'll check it again just to make sure. I called up EVERY used car part place in the area and they all say they dont have an ECU...they also say that the ECU from the 81 turbo is compatable...but only that '81 and '82 ecu's are compatable with mine.

Thanks for the help


Matt

 

[Marko78z]

Motorsports lists a performance turbo ECU for $599. Not exactly cheap! Try the Zbarn.

 

[ZRube]

I have an '83 ZXT and I tried an ecu out of a '81ZXT and there was no difference and the '81 was an auto and my '83 is a stick( 5SPD) They were not that sophisticated of a computer back in the late '70's when they were designed, and correct me if I'm wrong but they have no moving parts, they are just a simple board so clean it with alchohol inside and the conector, both the male and female ends. As for your problems with the RPM's I too had the same problem and no one came to my rescue with an answer, it got a little better but it cost me a chunk of change, and I'm still not satisfied!
ZRube

 

[atmventures]

Matt,

About getting another ecu, there are ads on this website with folks selling them under "Parts and Accessories"..if that doesn't appeal to you try clicking on the sponsors link to the left. I've had great assistance from Danny's Datsun (even over the phone), and I am sure the ZBarn has something for you. Been meaning to pay them a visit as they are only 160 miles from me.

As for a turbo "Kick", my experience is it feels more like being pulled strongly on a rope..the kick comes from the kickdown switch when changing to second on automatics. May check your catalytic converter for clogging. A dead give away there is EXCESSIVE HEAT coming from the stick shift console and the turbo boost not going above, say, "1" on the boost meter...

Art

 

[New2Zs]

I have a '83zx N/A, where can I get a fsm for it other than chilton or haynes? They are kinda vaige.

 

[1982jetblack280z]

Well my boost gauge goes all the way up and down. I always suspected the Cat and i am getting it re-place with a High Performance Cat ( no one will straight pipe stuff here ) But ok i feel the pull from the turbo at about 3k.....but it runs like crap until that...bucks and such...but as soon as i hit 3k it runs great.


Matt

 

[schmaydee]

mine did that......the hoses going to the vac cannister were moved arround and some were leaking..i replaced 'em hooked em up right ....timed it.....goes like a bat now.....
i imagine if your ecu is cooked your car wouldnt run....81-83 oughtta be ok...but make sure all of those "melted wires" are separated and reinsulated before you plug it back in....is your car a z or zx.....make sure the ecu is from (whatever you have) and you prbly need for it to have the transmission too (i would think)....but it kinda sounds to me like its doing what mine did when the vac hoses were wrong....has it ever ran well?.....see any vac hoses not hooked to anything.....all the ports on your vac cannister have hoses on 'em (including the one that comes from "underneath" the cannister?......s