I recently purchased a 280ZX that seems to have an issue in the charging system that I could definitely use some help with. I've put in a new battery, new terminals and cables, new alternator, and I can still only get a few good starts, and then it won't start.

There's some funky wiring going on under the hood. I've included pictures..

*All pics represent the current state of the battery and the immediately surrounding wiring. The 8th and 9th pic are of another wire that seems to have both ends disconnected.*

Ideas?

 

that little pigtail in some of those pictures goes to what appears to be a removed ascd (cruise control) and shouldnt be a problem. but that wire going into the side of your fusible links i not normal at all...

neighter is the stray coming out of your firewall...

i'm going to follow this thread because i've got some electrical gremlins as well.

 

Lol believe it or not, you've already helped me out, just with this info...

 

Jones... i am stationed at fairchild as well... are you the one i was gonna get that head from?

 

Oh, cool. Gettin cold lol. Nope, not me on that part

 

Only thing I see good in there is they didn't put those one size fit all clamp terminals. The ground wire should run to a bolt just below the battery box into the body and then to the starter. that little 12 gage wire (red) running to the screw in the body is not really an adequate body ground. the kluge made of the fusible link block is an insult.

 

I completely agree, which is why I'm looking for solutions. I have an idea of how I'm going to straighten it out, but any ideas are more than welcome.

Oh, and I put those terminal clamps on there, so I'm glad that's the "only good thing"

 

Hi, I’m 15 years old and I recently started fixing up a 1980 280zx that has been in my family for a little while. It was sitting for over 20 years untouched and uncovered outside. I’ve been putting a lot of time and effort into getting this thing running and I’m so close! I just can not figure out where the small red wire coming off of the main positive battery cable goes to it’s the only thing keeping this thing from running again. If anyone can tell me where the other end of the wire is that would be great thanks!

 

Welcome to ZDriver! A picture would be helpful... because on a stock 280ZX, there's no "small red wire" at the pos battery terminal. Most likely someone added it for an additional power source.