280zman

okay heres the deal,
i bought this 1980 280zx car and its been pretty good till the other day it started missing and then died. i tried starting it several times till finaly started then just died again.
after that time it died it totally quit even starting. THE ONLY things that work are the headlights and dome lights.

i already checked battery, i checked starter, fusible links, fuses, what else could i be missing? when i put the key in the ignition it *dings* like normal but absolutely nothing happens when you turn the key? any thoughts?

NismoPick

Welcome to ZDriver!

So how did you check the starter if it's not starting? Does it click?

If absolutely nothing works except the lights, it sounds like a main battery wire.

What does the voltmeter on the dash display?

280zman

voltmeter displays around 14. and i crossed the starter with a screw driver and it will crank over bu again no power to key which makes for no power to fuel pump. i will get new cable ends tomorrow and we will see if that helps

280zman

oh and no clicks from starter by key. but will turn over with screw driver.

Pipsqueak

This happened to me one time.

Make sure the ground cable is the correct cable for your car. Mine only went to one ground point, found the original cable in the back of the car, and it has two ground points on it.
once I put in the correct ground cable on, never had the issue again.

https://www.zdriver.com/forum/280zx-...y-cable-32473/

rogerz

might be a bad ignition switch

280zman

figured it out guys.

There was another fusible link that looked fine but it was broken on the inside. replaced it and now runs great!