steveh_131

Hello, everyone. I am new to the forums, although I have browsed them from time to time. There is a wealth of information here, although I haven't yet been able to find anything specific to my problem.

My dad has a 1983 Datsun 280zx. It's been sitting for years in a heated barn. It has less than 60k miles on it, but it doesn't get used nearly enough.

The other day I wanted to take it for a spin. I had previously charged the battery. I re-attached the battery cable and I heard a smoking and sizzling noise coming from the fusible link panel. I opened it up and saw the burned link, the one going to the accessories. None of the interior stuff would come on. I replaced the link, and it burned again. I took apart the steering column, fiddled with the wiring, checked all the fuses. Couldn't find any shorts. At one point I do believe that I saw a little bit of smoke coming from the steering wheel, but couldn't find anything visibly burned in there. Finally I plugged in another link and it didn't burn. I suspected that it had something to do with the wiring to that little light under the hood. The wiring was messed with to install some cruddy alarm system at some point, and was taped back together.

Now my current problem may be related or may not be. The car will turn over fine, and it will even catch and try to start, but then it immediately dies. After it dies it will turn over but not catch. Then if you try it again in 10-15 minutes it will turn over and catch then die. When I turn the key to the on position, I do not hear the fuel pump whirring.

I'm thinking it's maybe a problem with the fuel system? Or could it be in the ignition in the steering column?

Any ideas on where I should begin to diagnose this problem?

Thank you all in advance for any help you can give me.

steveh_131

I would guess that it's been sitting for a year. I put in new wires and plugs probably 2 years ago. The fuel filter is a good call, I'll check that. I'll also try to uncover the pump and see if it's getting voltage.

steveh_131

I read in the manual that the pump should run for 5 seconds every time you turn on the key, but that was in the section for the E.C.C.R. (I think that's what it said, but I don't have the book here in front of me) as opposed to the E.F.I. How do I know which system this car has? Should the pump run for 5 seconds in either system?

steveh_131

Thanks for all the help guys. My dad ended up taking her to a shop, afraid that we'd mess something up (being amateurs, and all).

They're claiming that the computer is completely fried. So bad that they won't even take it as a core. They want $935 to replace it.

I'm seeing them here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsu...item563601ad56

For way less. How hard are these to replace? I'm guessing I would need the dealer's equipment to program it, right?

Thanks in advance for your help. $935 seems so obscene, but maybe I'm just ignorant.

Steve

SpeciallySpiked

I'm fairly certain it's just plug and play. You don't need to program it / you can't program it as far as I know.

Where are you located? You could get one out of a junk yard for very cheap. You'd just want to look for one that has something obviously wrong with it that is not ECU related. (Such as it was in a wreck)

steveh_131

Great. Thank you, sir.

njgheewala

Welcome to Zdriver, hope you find the ECU! when you get her all started and going post some pictures, we alway love to see what other have...like greener grass on the neighbors lawn sort of deal LOL!
keep us posted!

350zpowa

um...

very interesting

4u2nV

i happen to have a spare ECU for an 83 280zx n/a, the parts car i got it out of had the digital speedo, let me know if your interested.

Lesnocker

Dumb...............Mine sat for 5 years........... bought for 600.00 dude said the motor blew turned out the no-start was a Gelled fuel filter........Wireing maybe a separate issue if it fires your getting spark , fuel, and air.......Make sure your getting all 3 in good flow then go into the wireing computer issues. Best of luck owned mine for a year so far and what I learned was there as temper-mental as a spoiled chick from city..anything will **** them off.

Brosef

I had a similar issue with mine (i also got it from a dumb a$$ who thought it was blown and it wasnt... $300.00 usd lol) in any case my problem turned out to be a fuel pump. luckily (being the tinkerer i am) i took my stock fuel pump apart and was able to repair it (simply spin the rotor free and put it back together) now she runs purrfect. never trust a shop with an older vehicle like that, they will rip you a new one every time. the power system for the EFI\ECU\Fuel delivery in the Z is one of the strangest ive ever played with (granted i come from a FORD background) take it one step at a time... im thinkin that if your getting power to the fuel pump (black and green wires under trunk mat/foam) the ECU is good...