Hi everyone!

I'm now the lucky owner of a '78 280Z. The car has 81k original miles and is in, overall, pretty good shape. Even after having it just a couple of days, I'm thrilled.

That's not to say the car isn't without it's problems. The weatherstripping is in sad shape in a couple of spots, but I haven't spotted any leaks. The car is equipped with the 3-speed auto, and will not start in park. I have to pull the car down into neutral to crank the engine.

The oil pressure guage stays in the first 1/3 of the gauge when running. I'm not sure exactly where it's supposed to be, but the dipstick reading is a little less than halfway between low and full, so I think and oil change is in order, if anything just to make sure the pan is full. Fuel guage works, temp guage works, and so does the volt guage, although the charge light doesn't come on when I start the car, so it might need replacing. Best of all, the clock runs and, get this, is accurate.

The interior lights all work, and so do all the parking lights and side markers. Neither headlight seems to work, and the fuses LOOK okay...at least, they aren't broken...the filiments to seem a little bent. I'll end up replacing the bulbs I guess just to see if it works...which I hope they do. I need to check the wiper fuse too...the washer motor was just replaced and works great...but I can't get the wipers to actually move.

Other than that, the only other problem I have is more because of me...I'm a big guy (6'2" 350lbs) and have trouble getting the seatbelt out far enough to fit...although it does after some pulling and retracting. I also have a habit of resting my leg against the center console, and it does get pretty warm.

Even with these issues, I'm very happy. I still need to pick up the stock Z wheels from the previous owner and get a balance and alignment. I'm going to try to tack a few pics for all to see on here.

Thanks for having me, and if anyone has any suggestions on my problems, I'd love to hear from you.

-Kelly

Virto, you dident give a location , where are you ? I am in the Portland Or area. Your lack of oil pressure may be because of a weak sending unit. It is a round thing with wire sticking out of it on the passanger side of the engine next to the oil filter . on the passenger side of the transmission there is a electrical cnnection where there three wires connected , this is the lock out for the trans so it wont start in gear . Make sure that the wires are all connected . This maybe the reason the engine wont start in park . Take my word for it , check the fuses with a meter , they may look good but I have seen fuses that looked good where not . This may save you a lot of unneeded time and money not to mention frustration. You may have a bad headlight switch . I drive a '73 and my clock works too . Welcome to the club , Gary

Thanks Gary...updated my info so now people can see where I'm at.

I'll see if I can find my meter...haven't needed it in a while. May even just grab some 10A fuses, that's cheaper than a new meter if I can't find it.

Didn't see the oil sender on Zcarparts. Any other good places to take a look online, or should I start calling up scrapyards?

Hello Kelly,

I also just recently acquired my Z. Victoria British has a website where you can order parts, but the website does not have the full listing of all the parts they carry. I recently requested and received their catalog (quite extensive at 130 pages) and they show their part number 71-602 OIL PRESSURE SENDER-GAUGE 280Z ZX 78-83 for $39.95. They also have an 800 phone number - 1-800-255-0088. I think I'd call them to verify this part number, because curiously they show the '78 sender to be a different part number from the '70-'77

Also, Courtesy Nissan has an online parts department. Hope you enjoy your new car!

Gary S.

Wow...two replies and two different Garys. .

Thanks for the input...bookmarking now.

Arrgh. :ogre:

Well, late night curiousity has taken the best of me, and I replaced the headlamp fuses with 2 known good ones, from the radio and lighter, specifically. Still nothing to the headlamps, dim or otherwise.

Are the headlamps available at auto retailers, like AutoZone or Murray's? I'd hate to have to order a pair, and I'd hate it even more if they didn't fix the problem. I know the car sat for quite a while before I got it, so I certainly wouldn't be surprised if the bulbs were just busted.

I might feel better if none of the lights worked. At least then I'd know something was really wrong. Arrgh. Stupid payday far away.

Put that meter to use and verify that there is voltage at the headlight connectors. If you can't find your meter, how 'bout a continuity tester? Pull the connector from the back of the headlight, turn the lights on, and check for voltage. I'm not sure which pin in the connector is the low beam, but if none of them have any voltage, you'll have to track backwards through the wiring harness & switch to find the problem.

Didn't see the oil sender on Zcarparts. Any other good places to take a look online, or should I start calling up scrapyards?

Virto , dont buy a aftermarket sender , your Nessan dealer will have them. Gary

congratulations for teh Z ownership!

a really nice one you have, I would like to have same one:)

keep it clean and stock;)

good luck with the parts, cant help that much with them:( guys in US do better..

c ya arround..

Mohamed.

Virto , dont buy a aftermarket sender , your Nessan dealer will have them. Gary

Just to clarify, what I'm looking for is:

Oil Pressure Switch - 1970 - 1978 - 240Z, 260Z, 280Z

25070-S30

Is this correct?

That's just beatiful have fun with that beatiful car.

About your headlights. Mine didn't work when I first got my car either. Click the brights on and off for a while to see if they come on. Mine had some crud built up on the switch, and clicking the brights a few times wore it off so they work. Just a thought.

About your headlights. Mine didn't work when I first got my car either. Click the brights on and off for a while to see if they come on. Mine had some crud built up on the switch, and clicking the brights a few times wore it off so they work. Just a thought.

I've popped the brights toggle a few times, just to see if maybe the highs worked and the lows didn't. I don't get the "brights on" indicator either way, but since my brake warning light doesn't work either, I'm not all that surprised. I'm starting to wonder if the headlamp position on the stalk isn't making contact...it's just odd that both the headlamps AND the wipers don't do anything.

Here's a couple more pics for all.

Edit: Oh Hrududu, this car began life in the same beautiful shade of blue as yours. The PO changed it to yellow and then to grey. Looking at yours, I wish they hadn't done either.