HELP! Electrical Problem ~Wont Start

[Black Jaguar]

To start off, it is a '75 280z. It has electric ignition and Fuel injection. Recently, the car would start up great, and would go to 180 degrees, right where it should and the car just shuts off while driving or just sitting after about 5 or 10 minutes of running. I know that it is not a fuel problem, it just dies... No sputtering or anything like that. Then after the car cools down after about 5 or 6 hours, it will start up just like nothing ever happened and then dies 5 to 10 mins later just like before. And will not start back up. It turns over but will not start. I pulled the coil wire off the Distributor and it sparks. I pulled the wire off of the spark plugs and it did not spark. I then thought I would have to get a new distributor or rebuild it, but first I bought a new cap and rotor, even though the ones on there were pretty new. This then made sparks come from the spark plug wires, but will still not start up. All the fuses are good, the wires to the battery and starter are great. The coil making sparks when it wont start up makes me belive that it has nothing to do with the coil... After I switched the cap and rotor, it sputters but does not start up and makes a clicking noise spartically every 7 or so trys to turn over.

If anyone knows what could be the problem I would greatly appreciate it! I am ready and rearing to drive my baby agian!!! It was very reliable before this started to happen and am getting frustrated with it. I am leaning towards a performance rebuild of the distributor for 80 dollars or should I get a new electronic distributor for 120 dollars... Im on a low budget and any suggestions would help alot!

Thanks in Advance! Dean

[gramercyjam]

Pull your plugs. Are they clean?

[hls30.com]

Dean,

Run the car at idle, if it does the same thing, replace the ignition module on the side of your distributor. Beware of the $ attatched to this part!:stupid:

Will

[mdbrandy]

Originally posted by hls30.com

Dean,

Run the car at idle, if it does the same thing, replace the ignition module on the side of your distributor. Beware of the $ attatched to this part!:stupid:

Will

Is there really a module on the distributor on a '75? On my '78, the actual ignition module is on the passenger kickpanel in the footwell. I thought that the ignition module didn't actually get attached to the distributor until the 280ZX, with that E12-80 module that is so coveted.

Another thought is the magnetic pickup inside the distributor. I was having trouble getting a '78 280Z parts car started (before I decided it was a parts car), and found that the pickup itself inside the distributor was bad. If memory serves, the wires were frayed and corroded as they left the pickup body, which was not obvious until I removed it to look at it.

Good luck...

[hls30.com]

My bad, didn't pay close enough attention you your year! Still sounds exactly like an ignition module problem-easy test, loosen the mounting, rin the car until it shuts off, spray the module with component cooler from Radio Shack and try to restart-if it will there is your problem!

That Pertronix system is calling.......

Will

[Xargon321]

sounds like a prob that some cars have with the computer once it warms up it dies, start it up and give the computer a nice tap see if it cuts off, after it warms up a bit of course

[Black Jaguar]

Thanks for your suggestions, I tried to look for the ignition module but had no luck finding it. I have the feeze and am trying to find the ignition module. I got a quote for a new one at 200 dollars for the igntion module. The new distributor is 120 or 80 for a performance rebuild of the exisiting distributor.... Not sure what to do yet. I will pull my plugs as soon as I can to see what they look like.

The FI computer? the one on the drivers side down by ur feet? Is that the computer your talking about? It could be that, im not rulling anything out, but am leaning towards the distributor itself. The igition module would not let the coil spark if that was the problem correct? And the coil is sparking when it shuts off. So does that rule that out? Any other suggestions on that?

Thanks

Dean

[Black Jaguar]

I might have my electronic ignition off.... Does anyone know how to adjust the electronic ignition inside of the distributor and could help me out ? I think I might have screwed it up when moving that stuff around to see if the wires were grounding out or corroded... Thanks, Dean

[Xargon321]

check your rotor cap on your distrib if the ignition box was going out it would not spark at the coil, the ignition is what tells the coil to spark

when you checked you spark plugs did you hold them aginst the block? make sure they are touching or very close. once the coil fires it should go to the spark plug unless the rotor in there is fubar but then is shouldnet run at all.

try pulling the injectors and holding them in a jar to see if they are working, i still think that the computer might be cutting out when it gets warmyou don thave to pull it out just tap it when its warm and running and see if it stops the car also make sure the connector is tight