z won't go vroom

[will_sphyrna]

my z the other day broke down (luckily as i was getting into my driveway). my z started to jump and knock and it just stopped. i thought it was the gas, so i put in about 3-4 gallons and it still didn't start. i checked my fuel filter and it was fine and flowing and there was gas going. but nothing is going right. help me please.

[78 280zcar]

You might want to check and see if your fuel pump is turning on with the ignition on, and also check to see if there is any cracks inside the distributer cap.

[beandip]

A little of information would help ! We cannot read your mind. Are you driving a na or injected car? Do you have any spark at the plugs ? Have you been working on the engine recently ? The little information you supplied makes me think ignition. But there are different kinds for different years and after market units. Gary

[v12horse]

Hello, I am having the same problem as Will with my carburated L26. On Monday I started my car after a hard rain and I was warming it up. After 3 minutes, the engine shut off and I have not been able to start it since. The starter motor turns so I thought it would be the ignition or the fuel.

I looked at the distributer cap and there are no cracks. The coil is definately giving spark to the distributer. I then pulled one of the ignition wires off of a spark plug and there seemed to be no spark. Was this wrong of me to do? Should there be an obvious spark?

Anyways, there is a block off plate where the mechanical fuel pump used to be. So I checked the filter that is before the electrical fuel pump and it looks like there is a bunch of rust sediment in it. Is it safe to say that this is the problem? I tried to remove it, but I was afraid that gas would spew everywhere. If this is the problem, how should I remove it?

Thanks in advance and sorry for the newbie questions. I just want to fix it on my own, drive it home, and hopefully drop the tank and recoat it, as well as replace many of the fuel lines.

Ben

[beandip]

v12, since you responded, Yes there should be spark at the plug wires when you try and start the engine. You do know that you must have the spark go to ground I hope . Do you have points or is the ignition electronic ? On the inline fuel filter , buy a replacement filter, remove the old one and insert a wooden pencil in the hose to block any flow , install the new filter to the line then remove the pencil and plug in the new filter. If you have a stock ignition check the points for pitting or being burned. If they are ok then the condenser may have failed . Replace it, it's cheep. The fuel filter is not the trouble if you are getting flow up to the engine. If it has crud in it , it is time to change any way. Gary

[v12horse]

Thank you so much, I will look into these problems as soon as I get some time.

[Alfadog]

Ben - to avoid the petrol spilling anywhere you can also just put the filter inside a plastic bag before unplugging it - all petrol will just go BLERH into the bag. Make sure you check your lines too! The hoses on my Z were CLOGGED. Also, make sure to check the filter a week or two after you change it as if there's rust in the tank/lines you'll see it.

[will_sphyrna]

ok. i have checked the fuel pump... is pumping. checked the spark... is sparking. checked the fuel.. is coming past filter. can't think of anything else. guess i will just have to take to a mechanic.

[Victor Laury]

get a flashlight and take a look at your dampner. Really. Was /is your car air conditioned? the reason why I ask is, sometimes the dampner bolt loosens, which allows the dampner to move forward, wich allows the distributor gear to move = Z car No Vroom. And in very much the same fashion as you described.

[Zedrally]

snip

which allows the dampner to move forward, wich allows the distributor gear to move = Z car No Vroom. And in very much the same fashion as you described.

How is the distibutor drive related to the damper [harmonic balancer]?

Isn't the distributor driven by the oil pump?

TIA

MOM

[78 280zcar]

I thought the dampner was inline of the fuel pump behind the gas tank

[Zedrally]

I thought the dampner was inline of the fuel pump behind the gas tank

No, I think you are confusing the scinterlater with the damper.....