Electrical

129 topics in this forum

1. 

   Battery draining constantly; Flux capacitor problem?

   April 16, 2012 by hall.nathan89

   • 6 replies
   • 4.1k views

   So I'm having a problem with my battery dying and I can't figure it out. As far as I can tell, nothing is on when the car is off (I've gone around listening/looking in a quiet place at night) but the battery is still draining and after 8-10hrs, the car won't start anymore. I had the battery and the alternator tested, and both tested good. I charged the battery all the way and it lasted 4 days. I know the real answer to this is a date with a multimeter, some long test leads, and an extra-large helping of patience. But is there a faster way to troubleshoot this? It wouldn't be a problem except that it's my daily driver and I think my coworkers are tired of letting me jump m…

   

   Last reply by Wade Nelson, June 4, 2012
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3. 

   280Z NEED "ignition relay", cannot find any 1 2

   April 21, 2012 by restorerestore

   • 17 replies
   • 15.2k views

   1978 280Z manual, 2 seat. I have had a continued problem with "systems on" AKA fuel pump runs, volt charge lite on, EFI relay goes on, when Key off. I first tested all EFI (under hood right side box) relays, all OK. Check alternator which was new-OK, seat belt warning lite ON, unplugged harness, checked key switch-OK. Removed key switch harness, still got same systems showing "ON". Would run down battery in few hours as fuel pump remained running. Note even with full charge volt meter reads low (4-6) but will creep up to 12 plus over time. Charge light remains on. Finally printed blown up FMS electrical skew's, ONLY common to all this stuff, more so with ign switch unplu…

   

   Last reply by restorerestore, June 4, 2012

   • electric
   • ignition relay
4. 

   Just installed 2nd cigarette lighter plug

   May 12, 2012 by Wade Nelson

   • 4 replies
   • 2.5k views

   Since the dash is out for a stereo install, I decided to add a second lighter jack. That way I won't have to constantly unplug the radar detector to plug other stuff in. (And my Valentine plug didn't like the 280 lighter jack for some reason. It's a "1601" jack at NAPA, cost, $7, plus a little effort to wire. Ideally you want one jack that's always powered, and one that switches with ignition. That way your radar detector doesn't stay on in the parking lot, but you can play your Ipod or whatever, whenever, OR plug in a solar battery charger if your car sits for a long time.

   

   Last reply by Wade Nelson, May 12, 2012
5. 

   1982 280zx starter/key issue and powersteering pump

   April 11, 2012 by whitezeppelin91

   • 4 replies
   • 2.2k views

   Hi, this is my first post and I'm not very car saavey, but I'm educated in electronics etc. So, I found an ad for a 1982 280zx in my town and I wanted to know if it was worth buying($1,100). All I know is that it has about it is that it has 107k miles, stock everything. Apparently there is an issue with the starter/key and the power steering pump. here is a link to the ad(no pic): http://santamaria.craigslist.org/cto/2927698962.html I'm going to check it out soon, but i wanted to know if these things would be easy to repair. I have about $1,000 that i can afford to put into it for now. I know it's not that much information, but i want to know what I'm getting myself int…

   

   Last reply by zbane, April 14, 2012

   • 280zx starter issue
   • powersteering pump
6. 

   need help on a 83 zxt swap in a 280z

   March 20, 2012 by mikes240zbuild

   • 1 reply
   • 1.5k views

   we got everything in the car going for it to crank and fuel feed buy we cant get the spark we need for it to go i need help obtaining a ballast resistor from a zxt to get the 12v to get it going for spark. any ideas on were i can get one or any other option from a car that i can replace it or a way to bypass it...

   

   Last reply by LeonV, March 20, 2012
7. 

   280zx Turn Signals

   February 23, 2012 by Trigger2

   • 8 replies
   • 8.4k views

   So, I've been working on restoring a '79 280zx, and man, it's been a fight. But finally, it's running, it's ready to go, and so I thought that from here on out, it'd be all cosmetic. That is until I started testing my lights. Long story short, my right turn signal... With the lights on (parking or head), the front right turn signal will stay solid (even without the turn signal being engaged), and the rear right will flash rapidly. With the lights off, all works well, except the left side (side mounted, not the entire left side) parking light/flasher blinks as well when the right is engaged. The left side turn signals functions, no problem. Any ideas?

   

   Last reply by FricFrac, March 15, 2012

   • flasher
   • signal
   • (and 2 more)

     Tagged with:

     • flasher
     • signal
     • turn
     • turn signal
8. 

   280zx Digital Dash speedometer issues

   February 2, 2012 by nightfur

   • 2 replies
   • 2.3k views

   My digital dash speedometer tends to not track speed very smoothly. For example; while accelerating the numbers may jump down a few, then go up a few before staying consistent on the speed. Is a normal function or should the speedometer track acceleration and deceleration perfectly smoothy and move through all numbers without jumping? thanks again for humoring a newbie question.

   

   Last reply by nightfur, February 3, 2012

   • 280zx digital dash
9. 

   Aspirator Fan - how to disable

   January 30, 2012 by nightfur

   • 4 replies
   • 4k views

   I have an 83' 280zx couple. The aspirator fan in the dash is very noisy. Does anyone know how to disable this without losing AC functionality?

   

   Last reply by nightfur, February 2, 2012

   • aspirator fan
10. 

    car won't start, buzzing over fuse box?

    January 31, 2012 by gompers

    • 1 reply
    • 5.5k views

    I have a '79 280zx non turbo, and I was trying to start it but the engine wouldn't quite kick over because it was about out of gas (it had just started up a half hour ago). So I put a little gas in and tried starting it, got nothing this time but one click sound along with a low buzzing sound coming from the fuse box when I tried cranking it. All the lights still worked and when I cranked it none of the lights dimmed to show it was trying to start. Does this sound like it's a blown fuse or possibly a bad starter?

    

    Last reply by grantf, January 31, 2012
11. 

    Bench Testing Digital Cluster

    January 19, 2012 by Ben's Z

    • 0 replies
    • 1.5k views

    Is there a way to bench test a digital cluster from 1983 turbo?

    

    Last reply by Ben's Z, January 19, 2012
12. 

    Radio makes funny noise

    January 12, 2012 by p_trice

    • 8 replies
    • 3.2k views

    got an 82 280zx, when i bought it, it had no stereo and the original stereo was no where in site. After much trouble shooting and staring at a wiring diagram for an hour, I installed a new alpine stereo in the car. I also installed new infinity speakers all the way around. If I turn on radio with car off, it works perfectly, sounds great. If i turn on the radio with the car running, it makes an odd hissing type noise, but once the car gets to full operating temp, the hissing slowly fades out and the stereo sounds good again. I was thinking it might be something to do with the alternator, the hissing noise gets louder with rpm increase. I just installed a brand new alterna…

    

    Last reply by zbane, January 13, 2012
13. 

    Brake lights won't go off

    September 15, 2009 by spoolinitup33

    • 8 replies
    • 3.1k views

    What makes the brake lights come on? I know there's gotta be a switch on there somewhere but I didn't see it, but then again, I didn't look real hard. My friend picked up an '82 280zx turbo and the brake lights won't go off. Hmm.. The brake lights don't have a relay do they?

    

    Last reply by Jeff G 78, January 1, 2012