280z Engine fuel "tubing" problem (see pics)
 

Hello everyone. I just recently got a 280z for my birthday, and after two weeks, it sporadically and gradually failed. :( it seems to be fine on idle, or on first gear, but when it goes to a higher gear, it has trouble accelerating and keeping up with me pressing on the gas. I know it has something to do with the intake of gas from the tank to the engine itself, but I don't know the name of the part. The highest speed it went was 35 mph. Just recently, my father took it to a mechanic who diagnosed the faulty piece to by the one pointed in the picture, but i don't know the name of it, and he also mentioned it will take a while for him to find it. My concerns are:

1. What is the name of the piece?
2. Is it easy to locate/ find online?
3. How much would it approximately cost to fix it?
4. How long would it take?


Here are the links to the pictures:
http://i40.tinypic.com/vzvg38.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/2qjlsvm.jpg
Thanks.

Welcome to ZDriver! :006:

Are you pointing to the rubber boot or metal part in those pics?

That rubber boot looks pretty trashed... and it's been taped up???

If you are talking about the metal part, it's called an AFM (Air Flow Meter). You can buy one new, or reman, for ~$200... or just adjust / fix it yourself (Click: https://www.zdriver.com/forums/240z-280zxt-s30-s130-tech-tips-275/js-how-rebuild-your-afm-15277/)

Also, download the FSM for free here: www.xenons30.com/reference

You can buy most all parts from MSA, BDA, or Nissan (https://www.zdriver.com/forums/240z-280zxt-s30-s130-tech-tips-275/where-buy-parts-240-260-280-zs-20060/).

Let the fun begin! :D

Hello. Thank you for your reply!!
I would say both the rubber AND metal parts are faulty, but I don't know if the rubber part is just part of the AFM. :0

And yes, I was quite in dismay when I saw the rubber part was covered in duck tape. The guy that sold it to us did not mention such thing, although he did mention the car had been abandoned for well over 8 years and it has rarely been used thought its lifetime, BUT the engine has been well maintained.

The mechanic just located the piece, and the car's going in the shop Monday. I just wanted to know how much the piece will cost so my father won't get ripped off :D

Looks like prices have jumped in the last few years...

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...946980_0_7432_

http://www.courtesyparts.com/meter-air-p-280342.html

http://nissan4u.com/parts/280zx/us_s...llustration_2/

http://static.nissan4u.com/epc_img/57333738180336.png

I have extras for the 280z might even hqve the rubber boot part. Let me know it youre interested.

My dad's taking the z to the shop, and he'll let me know if the part was available for replacement. The most difficult part to find is the rubber, so I would be more interested in the rubber part. Thank you for the offer!! I'll let you know later, and if you happen to have the rubber part, please tell me.

Hello. Well turns out the AFM wasn't the problem. It is essentially brand new. The mechanic said clogged fuel injector tubes were the problem, and that he will try to clean them and see if that is the problem. Could this be true? The car has been sitting in a shed quite a lot of time, and I read this is very common in cars that stay parked for a long time, as the gas goes bad and plaque deposits form.

More than likely the fuel filters will get clogged prior to anything else. How long did it sit and didn't you change all fluids in it before starting it? Oil trans fluid and gas if it was over a year of sitting.

I just read this post -_- . Should have read it earlier hehe. Yes, as it turns out, the car has been sitting in a garage for many years, one could say abandoned. The inside of the fuel injectors are ridiculously clogged with plaque and whatnot, and the mechanic advised me to go look for a replacement fuel injection rail, as replacing it will be faster than unclogging all the crud out. I was darn lucky to find the EXACT part i needed on ebay, so I hope that IS the problem. Maybe you guys can help me? Is that the appropiate part to replace if the car has stayed out for too long like snwbrderphat540 suggested? Thanks.

Do yourself a favor and get a spray bottle of purple power for cleaning and degreasing. As for the rail, it would take quite a bit to clog the fuel rail, it depends on if the car had gas in it when it sat. At the very least I would pull the injectors and replace the rubber hose that goes from the fuel rail to the injector.

Hi, thank you for the suggestion. Yes, I will do ASAP. Do I spray the Purple Power inside the tubes in the fuel rack and the injectors? Or where?
Thanks.

You can, a big bottle of lucas injector cleaner in the tank will do better at cleaning the fuel system though. If you haven't yet, do fluids and filters.

I was told by the manager at Auto Zone that Purple Power will destroy the engine :0 . I found Lucas Oil in a counter nearby, but the mechanic in charge of my car ALREADY put that inside the gas tank of my Z :( . Any suggestions?

WTF? I think you misinterpreted the use of Purple Power... It is used to degrease the OUTSIDE of the engine (aka engine bay)... EXTERNAL NOT INTERNAL. :D

Read Hoov's statement again:

XD hahahaha!! It would make sense :D
I found the exact part I need on eBay, so i hope I win the auction, and end the never ending dilemma of what's wrong with it. But thank you for all of the suggestions, it helped me rule out the AFM.