I bought a 75 280z last week site-un-seen. to my suprise its a kick a** car,BUT it won't start and I know nothing about the FI. The car turns over just, but won't even try to come to life. I am looking for a list of sugguestions on were to start. I keep comming across some AFM flap might be flapped over something or somthing like that. any help on finding that would be helpfull, and what it is? This is just the way I got the car, with no previouse owners wisedom. A couple of things have been that I dont care for theres a push button for a start button, a toggle swicth under the dash (driver side) that goes to the coil & just under the coil. Any idea why this might be ????
my first z .....need help!!!!!!!!!!
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So let's get this straight: you bought a Z sight unseen that doesn't run from people you couldn't talk to, and you have no experience with fuel injection. Scuse me for asking, but what did you expect? Even with all the info you DIDN'T supply, which is a lot — has car been sitting (how long), battery condition, did you do anything besides turn key? (new plugs, filters, etc.) — I doubt if we could help you from this distance, especially on a car that's had the ignition and coil screwed around with. Your best bet is to get ahold of a Factory Service Manual. This is NOT those near-worthless things put out by Chilton or Haynes. An FSM was put out by Datsun and will cover, in your case, the 1975 280Z only. They are hard to come by in original form (try eBay), but available for about $30 on CD through www.ideal-z.com. The FSM has great troubleshooting 'trees' that will walk you through non-starting problems in a logical manner. Good luck!
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The switch and pushbutton were probably there due to a bad ignition switch in the column. Do you have any auto experience? If not you need to go to the library and browse though the auto repair books and do at least a basic tuneup on the car. Plugs, wires, cap, rotor, filters, charge battery, clean batt cables. And then browse the archives in this forum using key words like RUNS RICH, NO START, IDLES BAD, etc. Do NOT get hung up with your 'friends' telling you to replace the air flow meter, ecu, brain, etc. Look up how to adjust throttle switch, clean connections, and cleaning tank and fuel lines. There is a lot of material in historical files here to get you started, but if you plan on working on this car much you will need to get a good manual on the car (see JR's post on FSM on CD from Ideal Z, or Courtesy Nissan in DFW).
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Try to see if you are getting a spark. Get someone to turn the engine over for you. You can pull the distributor wire off the coil and hold it about an inch or less from the coil. When someone turns the engine over you should be able to see the spark shooting across. Try to keep your hands clear though. There is quite a lot of power coming out of the coil will wake you figures up really quick. If you are getting spark then unplug the little wire that runs to the starter. With this unpluged someone can turn the key to start and the fuel pump should turn on. From next to the passenger rear tire you should be able to here it turn on. You can also pull the fuel line off the filter and let someone turn the key to start and see if any gas somes out. If none comes out you will need to search for post about fixing rusted tanks. There is quite a few in the last few days. You will need a meter to check to make sure you are getting power to the pump. Don't really know what to do if you aren't getting power to the pump. Get a book even a haynes is better than nothing.
getting spark from there
ok i've got spark there and at plugs. i'll try your idea in the morning, i do have a chilton's NO HELP going to order the cd everyone here talks about. There is a ele. thing uder the hood (pass side) that as been melted, it has 4 wires going to it 2 white 2 white with red stripes. it has been jumped across with wire but i dont like that but can't seen to figure out what it is any ideas????
ok i've got spark there and at plugs. i'll try your idea in the morning, i do have a chilton's NO HELP going to order the cd everyone here talks about. There is a ele. thing uder the hood (pass side) that as been melted, it has 4 wires going to it 2 white 2 white with red stripes. it has been jumped across with wire but i dont like that but can't seen to figure out what it is any ideas????
Re: getting spark from there
The thing you mentioned on the passenger side of the engine bay is the fusable link box. It should be jumped with fuse wires. It is very important as it is the main fuses for the efi, electrical system, ect... Hopefully someone did not use regular wire (like 10 gauge, ect) instead of fusable link wire! If it is melted, it sounds like the previous owner used regular wire instead of fusable links. The melt down could have taken out the transistor ignition unit, efi relay and a host of other items. When you order your cd-rom manual, check with Courtsey Nissan about the Ztherapy FI tune up video. They may have some of them in stock. It is a must have, and will explain how the FI system works.
So you bought the car sight unseen... did you buy it off of ebay? A guess you figured out that may have been a bad move.
The thing you mentioned on the passenger side of the engine bay is the fusable link box. It should be jumped with fuse wires. It is very important as it is the main fuses for the efi, electrical system, ect... Hopefully someone did not use regular wire (like 10 gauge, ect) instead of fusable link wire! If it is melted, it sounds like the previous owner used regular wire instead of fusable links. The melt down could have taken out the transistor ignition unit, efi relay and a host of other items. When you order your cd-rom manual, check with Courtsey Nissan about the Ztherapy FI tune up video. They may have some of them in stock. It is a must have, and will explain how the FI system works.
So you bought the car sight unseen... did you buy it off of ebay? A guess you figured out that may have been a bad move.
Re: getting spark from there
The thing you mentioned on the passenger side of the engine bay is the fusable link box. It should be jumped with fuse wires. It is very important as it is the main fuses for the efi, electrical system, ect... Hopefully someone did not use regular wire (like 10 gauge, ect) instead of fusable link wire! If it is melted, it sounds like the previous owner used regular wire instead of fusable links. The melt down could have taken out the transistor ignition unit, efi relay and a host of other items. When you order your cd-rom manual, check with Courtsey Nissan about the Ztherapy FI tune up video. They may have some of them in stock. It is a must have, and will explain how the FI system works.
So you bought the car sight unseen... did you buy it off of ebay? A guess you figured out that may have been a bad move.
The thing you mentioned on the passenger side of the engine bay is the fusable link box. It should be jumped with fuse wires. It is very important as it is the main fuses for the efi, electrical system, ect... Hopefully someone did not use regular wire (like 10 gauge, ect) instead of fusable link wire! If it is melted, it sounds like the previous owner used regular wire instead of fusable links. The melt down could have taken out the transistor ignition unit, efi relay and a host of other items. When you order your cd-rom manual, check with Courtsey Nissan about the Ztherapy FI tune up video. They may have some of them in stock. It is a must have, and will explain how the FI system works.
So you bought the car sight unseen... did you buy it off of ebay? A guess you figured out that may have been a bad move.
not a bad move
I dont think it was a bad move. My wife loves the car, the body is in great shape,as with the inside, no rest,no dents,all lights work,turn signals,new tires,slotes for wheels,and best of all I paid $150.00 for it. And now that I have been looking around on the net at the Z-WORLD I can't wait to get it all the open road.
Thanks for the help about the video and the fuseable link box I'm on my way to buy a new,,,I hope.Any other help would be appeicated(can't spell).
I dont think it was a bad move. My wife loves the car, the body is in great shape,as with the inside, no rest,no dents,all lights work,turn signals,new tires,slotes for wheels,and best of all I paid $150.00 for it. And now that I have been looking around on the net at the Z-WORLD I can't wait to get it all the open road.
Thanks for the help about the video and the fuseable link box I'm on my way to buy a new,,,I hope.Any other help would be appeicated(can't spell).
$150!!!
That is a great price! I am sure you checked the frame rails for rust, along with the floor pans, where the fender wells meet the floor pans ect... Even if the undercoating looks intact, it could be hiding rust. But for that price it is still a good deal. Sounds like the previous owner did a number on the electronics, hence the very low price. Get that video and the service manual and follow the tests in the engine fuel, body electric, engine electrical sections. If you have more questions, feel free to ask.
That is a great price! I am sure you checked the frame rails for rust, along with the floor pans, where the fender wells meet the floor pans ect... Even if the undercoating looks intact, it could be hiding rust. But for that price it is still a good deal. Sounds like the previous owner did a number on the electronics, hence the very low price. Get that video and the service manual and follow the tests in the engine fuel, body electric, engine electrical sections. If you have more questions, feel free to ask.
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