hi everyone ive been reading this site a lot lately and just now decided to register. My problem is that my 81 280zxT is not getting spark and fuel. The fuel pump doesnt come on and theres no spark coming out the ignition coil.
This car used to be my friends car but he sold it to me due to him not beign able to get it running again. this all started when the key was left in the on or acc position overnight, ever since then the car wouldnt start anymore. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated

 

Welcome to ZDriver!!!

The car was left at the on position all night... DEAD BATTERY maybe?

 

battery?! does your car have lights on the on position now?

 

haha no thats not it. ive already worked on this car, ive checked the coil, relays,fusible links and the fuel pump, they all check out ok. oh and also the ignition switch thats ok too. is it possible that somehow the ecu took a dump? what about the power transistor on the coil bracket? im out of ideas.

 

yeah my dash lights turn on and everything. actually every light inside and outside the car works kinda surprising for a 26 year old car.

 

The ecu doesn't control the fuel pump... it's controlled by the fuel pump modual above the ecu. Make sure it is grounded securely as that is the ground for the fuel pump. If that doesn't work, try hard wiring the fuel pump to see if it will pump / start. Also, the coil braket must be grounded for the coil to spark.

 

That's surprising???

 

its surprising to me. the interiors not really in good shape. Anyways, the 81 year models dont have a fuel modulator thingy, mine is the style with nothing above the ecu and has a CAS on the crank pulley. Yes ive hot wired the pump and it does come on.

 

And the coil bracket has the ic modual secured to it & is grounded?

 

yup i even cleaned the bracket and its mounting surface but still nothing. Im thinking its either my ECU, ign module/transistor, or something in the wiring but im not sure. I've read that on these cars everything works in conjuction with eachother, if something is amiss the car doesnt turn on.

 

eh... it depends on what is wrong. That's how it works on most all fuel injection systems.

There should be a green LED light on the bottom of the ecu (you have to look through a peep hole to see it). Can you see if that is lit when the key is on?

 

i havent really paid attention to the ecu light while the ignition is in the on posistion. I did though look at it while cranking though and the light doesnt turn on. Does this mean that my ecu is bad? or probably not getting power?

 

huh i did not even know about that light... chalk one up for learning some thing new...

 

Welcome to the site autobot280zx, this is a great place. Whereabouts is Litchfield park? I am in East Mesa.

Anyway it is definately going to be ignition related. Also check fuses, fusible links, relays. There are gobs of things to check. And also get a Haynes or FSM for your Z. They are verry helpful, and make it easy for someone to pick up on mechanics. It worked for me, and of course people's help on here.

 

litchfield park is in Glendale. Im concerned about the ecu light though, does it not turning on mean that the ecu is bad?

 

if your pump works hard wired you can just put in a switch and relay hardwired straight to the pump... other wise check the wires currently ran.. the relay and the AFM, i forget the whole AFM dealy its liek a bad connection somewhere and the fuel pump no worky.

 

what part of the afm makes the fuel pump work, because so far i believe that everything works but my fuel pump and i'm jsut wondering if maybe thats it....

 

umm... there is a wieght that has a slide attatched to it that contacts a metal strip... it the contact is bad there the fuel pump no workie... i cant think of any technical terms but i tried to describe it best i can.

 

coughcough