I've got a 1983 280zx turbo, and last night cruising i hit the brakes and the battery wasnt strapped in (i dont know why!!!) and the neg. cable hit the cruise control and grounded it out. the car did start after getting a new battery... but would die when i turn the headlights on and i get a buzzing when i hit the brakes from the dash.

Trying to figure out whats going on. alternator, starter, voltage meter, ecu? lol i dont know.

when i turn the key to on position i get low power to everything fuel pump dims out and such, but heads lights are full power.

any ideas, ask any questions to help explain more.

 

Check the ground cable from the battery to the body. The same thing happened to me in my 79, and when the battery fell over it melted the cable.

 

Yep... just gotta check the battery cables / terminals, and check the fusible links. Since you are getting power, just not a lot, it sounds like it's just a loose connection...

 

you dont think its the alternator? btw where is the fusible links or where are they, i just bought the car so i dont know much about datsun yet, but willing to learn

 

Learn away.... www.xenons130.com

Oh the links are in a box right by the battery.....

 

Do a load test / volt test with the car running... should be 14 to 15 volts. Then do a test of your battery alone... should be right around 12.6V.

 

ok going out to the car now to look at ground straps, by using google on a generic battery fall over moment... they all turn out to be grounds...

HOPE I FIND IT. Americruise is here today!!!!!

 

If the fuse is blown, replace it, if it blows again. It may be a switch or another short to backward engineer it from the fuse....

 

I FIXED IT!!! was ground straps on top of the head of the motor, dont know why the fusible links didnt blow but i replaced the old wire with new and it started up sort of lol. i think i overloaded the solnoid. but it runs

Thanks for all the help guys.

PS heater core now is leaking i think, since there was antifreeze on my floor tonight.

 

More likely the water valve / **** that is attached to your temp slider. Common problem. ICICE9 has a thread about that.

 

NismoPick, FricFrac, noboosts130 thanks you guys all so much. i by-passed the heater core for now since its a billion degrees with humidity

ground is fixed and its running good, im glad to have bought this ZX, im definitly a datsun lover now!

Thanks to all who responded love this forum btw haha