Ignition switch troubleshooting

[a752adz]

As I progress with the project (75 280Z), I am stumped at the moment with ignition troubles. When I try to start the car, I get nothing from the engine or starter. One click, the gauges jump and nothing else. I bridged the positive terminal of the battery to a lead on the starter and the engine turns over. That tells me it is in the ignition somewhere. Earlier in the diagnosis, I replaced the starter, battery & cables, and the 5 pin ignition switch behind the key cylinder. I am waiting on a ignition key cylinder to arrive that I bought on Ebay. I separated the 5 pin switch from the key cylinder and turned it with a flathead screwdriver and I still get nothing. Am I on the right track? What else could it be? Any insight is appreciated!

[First Gen Z]

Have you checked your fusible links?

[sblake01]

And have you checked your ignition relay?

[a752adz]

Where is the ignition relay?

[livenbad]

Suggest you make sure the ignition switch isn't upside down. It could also be a bad amp gauge.

[sblake01]

Where is the ignition relay?

On a 75 there's one right below the voltage regulator. Sounds like you need a service manual.

[sblake01]

Suggest you make sure the ignition switch isn't upside down. It could also be a bad amp gauge.

I'm sitting here with an ignition switch and assembly in hand. The only way you could install it backwards would be to force it and that would probably break the housing because it's slotted. 280zs have voltmeters not amp guages. All they do is read current rather than pass it through so if it was bad, the car would still run.

[livenbad]

OOPS!!! I didn't notice that you have a 280.....Sorry. However I still suggest you bridge the voltage gauge to make sure it isn't bad. Doesn't the white wire still go on to the ignition switch? I managed to put the switch in upside down in my 240 once. Took forever to find the problem. It has a slot also.

[sblake01]

A volt meter is just + and -. You don't really want to bridge that. . . .

[TomoHawk]

On a 280Z, there is a little wire going to the starter solenoid. It attaches via a blade connector on the solenoid itself, & it's probably easy to pull off. If it's off, the starter motor won't go. It's possible that if you were fooling with the power cables, you could have easily knocked it off.

Q.E.D.: Make sure this little wire is connected.

thx

[a752adz]

I noticed that I have what looks like a relay sitting directly across from the starter on the frame rail. There are two wires coming from this piece to the starter. What is this piece? (My local O'reilley does not have Datsun manuals)