Hey guys, I thought it was best to bring this up to the forums finally. This hasnt happened in about a year and I thought my '83 280ZX was cured, but tonight after 15 minutes of driving the engine started cutting out on me. It sounds like how a pit lane speed limiter would on a racer car cutting the engine to keep it at a certain speed. I have to rev the engine or it will die if it gets to low, it will flutter for maybe 15 seconds or so and then stop for awhile, then start again. I thought maybe it was vapor lock but I doubt that, as it always starts up fine each time. I only have problems when the car heats up after a bit of driving. I replaced the distributor a year and half ago so it isnt that, but maybe it is something else in the ignition or maybe some sort of sensor that would cause the engine to constally cut out? The problems might go away as they have before, but it seems like the gremlins always come back atleast for a brief while, I am bamboozled! :\

Z U L8R

 

Have you checked the AFM and the sensoers on the manifold for the air and fuel. I noticed on my 81 that if the front temp senser is oose my car acts up and if the AFM is sticking or going bad it wil also cause problems. The ECU is another place for gemlins. When i had my 260 I replaced that dam ECU 5 times before I got a good one. If you have checked everything else i woul change the ECU. I have one out of a 79 I also have a AFM out of a 79.
Well these are some ideas hope they help.

Gotta get my Z's

 

I remember one time monkeying with some connectors and looking at all the wires when i was having problems, and it was fixed for awhile so maybe it is one of those, anyways I will definatley be inspecting them shortly, thanks.

Z U L8R

 

Sounds like a temp sensor. But which one, Head or water.
My Z had a terrible ordeal when the wiring to the head temp sensor went bad. 8 days! My Haynes Manual had the exact readings that each sensor should be at so with the ole trusty
ohmmeter I disconnected the computer and measured the
resistance at the pins of the connector and found faulty wiring.
Look at the EFI schematic page for the pinout. If you encounter problems figuring it out do a private email and we'll
work it out in less than 8 days. Oh yeah, don't pressure wash
the engine, they hate it. If you did by chance, disconnect and
dry every connector from injectors to sensors. She'll come back to life.

 

Thansk Andy, I will take a look in my Haynes manual.

Z U L8R

 

that's weird, my car is doing exactly the same thing...it cuts out but doesn't stall.... someone told me it was the fuel pump.... if you get it fixed, post the anomaly!

TIA!

 

Did you check the fuel filter? I had a car that would intermitantly stall. It tooks months of diagnosis to find out that the fuel filter was clogged. I felt pretty dumb afterwards.

 

I dont think its the fuel filter, as it comes and goes, when fuel isnt flowing much it will still kill on me, its definatley some kind of electrical problem I think.. I also forget to mention, when it starts acting up, I hear a clicking noise coming from what sounds like underneath the glovebox over in that area, its like CLICK CLICK CLICK.... pause.... CLICK CLICK CLICK... maybe this will narrow things down, i havent had much time to take a look at my manual.

Z U L8R

 

I'am working on aproblem like that My problem is Air flow Meter. I could go about 4 miles then die wait 5 min then run ok.

 

Hi. i have a 83 280ZX that is doing the exact same thing - click click and all. in the manual it talks about the oxygen sensor on the car that regulates the fuel-oxygen mix. if it goes bad, the car will get poor gas mileage, have problems starting up on occasion, and will experience engine stutters and stall-outs when warm. the manual also sez that this part (it costs $32. we are getting one tonight and replacing the old one) needs to be replaced every 30 thousand miles to avoid any problems with it. the car we have sat for a while and was just recently restored. it has 80 thousand miles on it and the part has only been replaced once at most cuz we didn't know about it. i will let you know if this cures our problem.....