Hi everyone.

I recently bought a 81 280ZX and everything has been great except in the last few days I have been getting the following accuring.

My car will not always start it decides to whenever it feels like it.When it does not start it does the following.

I turn the key to start and reach the on position but when i go to fire it up it just does nothing,no turn over nothing.I can hear the fuel pump and have lights and everything but still nothing.

Then for example I will come out the next day and the car has been sitting for the whole day/night and it starts first time,and I'll reverse out and stop and turn off the key and leave it for a little while and come out to go out and it will not start again.

What do you guys believe may be the problem and what should i go about in checking?


Thanks

Beez.

P.S A quick Question I see you guys talking bout L28E's what does the E mean?
Cause my engine # is L28S.
Is this a slightly diffrent engine or something? as I do live in South Africa so
that could be the case? Maybe the S for South Africa? E For Europe? I dunno?

 

It could be one of two things:
The ignition switch connections on the back. If you take the plastic cover off from around the base of the steering wheel you can see the white plastic plug at the back of the lock cylinder. That unscrews with two tiny screws. Electrical contacts inside there go bad and it won't tell the starter to start

Or, the starter solinoid could be bad. Replacing the starter fixes that.

 

you need a new ignition switch... i got the same problem so i jsut rerouted the switch and now ive got a push button to start my car..

 

I was considering rigging up a push button start too, since my ignition cylinder's kinda finicky. But the way you wire it, do you still even need the key to start it?

 

the way i wired mine up.. youll still need a key to unlock the steering wheel and have the car on the "on" posistion then push the button th crank the engine... its pretty much wired as if you were using a remote starter...

 

The switch comes off the back of the lock cylinder. It is about $30 to replace if you want to go that route. For security you should be running a hidden kill switch anyway. Even a brand new lock isn't going to save your car from theift.

Importedcarparts.com has them.
part # M5050-20783