Just dies, feels electrical

[59ghia]

Hi Folks,

My Z is on the road!!! My first one. After sitting a few years I got it back on the road, rebuilt carbs,new brakes,fluid changes etc.

Been driving it in the 'hood with no problems so i took it to work this morning. It died, kinda. It's like you shut of the ignition switch.

Boom dead. Then after cranking it over a few minutes it starts. Five minutes later, boom dead. I'm thinking some electrical is heating up. Ballast resistor? Points condensor? Any Ideas?

Thanx

[kmack]

Check your coil.

I had an old twin motorcycle that would run great until the engine warmed up and then one cylinder would die. Turn out one of the coils was going bad, and when it heated up, would break some sort of internal connection not allowing it to work.

Grab a known good coil and hook it up. Then go for a drive and make sure everything heats up good. If it still dies then start pursuing the rest if the ignition system. Definitely sounds electrical.

[Daniel]

How about fuel filter that is choking on the tank/fuel line rust.When it dies it allows the sediment to settle so it restarts?I like those glass clear units so you can see what your pumping.I would also suggest inspection and cleaning the wire connectors at the coil,ballast resistor and dist.(internal also)points,cap etc. are always nice.I had a problem once that was the battery ground cable connection at the engine.A wire brush fixed that.Some Z's had a 2nd fuel filter at the tank as well as up front.Glad to hear you're rolling! Daniel

[59ghia]

blew out gas lines, drained tank (you gotta love that they put a plug down there) clean gas in fuel filter, checked connections at coil, ballast etc and they are aliitle crusty. Could very well be problem. I'll clean them up during lunch break. It just seems strange that it would die that fast and after a couple minutes fires right up. Thats why I'm thinkin somthing gets hot and fails. Thanks for all the input so far I'll be implementing all of 'em

[AxtellZ]

I'd think bad part or bad connection in the coil or ballast resistor area. When it dies, does the car run with the key in the "start" postion, then die again? (BR) May just be a corroded or loose connection somewhere- i'd try checking all the connections, starting at the battery. Good luck, Jeremiah

[Daniel]

Allow me to throw a couplemore out there. On the starter soleniod where the positive attaches .There is a wire about a #10 that goes to a connector.If that connection is bad you will stop.(Unplug that as security and no one can start that car)I would install new dist.stuff and get the corrosion/oxidation of any wire I could unscrew.It can't hurt.Check the ground inside the dist.Make note of the dist.timing mark location and the rotor position.Unscrew the single screw on the opposite side of the marks.The dist will pull straight out.It is keyed so it will only go back in correctly.Its easy!!That will allow you to install points,clean connectors etc. Again it can't hurt.A Z car tip-Gently tighten bolts just to feel a movement.Then unscrew a little move and tighten a little do that a few times during the removal.Alot of the bolts attached to the motor have a tendency to snap.That dist. screw is one of them.Don't force!!I put telfon tape on mine for future ease.It will need to work for timing.Thermo housing and water pump are other areas of caution.Do your temp and fuel hold when it dies.That would eliminate the relay you here click when you switch the key on.Sorry I got long. Have fun!! Daniel

[59ghia]

I did replace the wire off the starter that powers the car, the original had 5 or so wires left! No insulation! But great question on whether or not my gas guage still has movement,

after it dies, if it didn't that would indicate I'm losing 12 from somewhere else.

Thanx!!

[Daniel]

A word of caution.The #10 looking wire is a fuseable link.It's job is to fail(burn up)before wiring harness damage is done.As are all fuses.It is truly the "weakest link".To replace it with standard wire would be equal to tin foil around a fuse.I haven't ever needed one.Where would he get one of the correct rating guys? Daniel