e12-80 or e12-92 on 83 280zx

[ProJeKt-Z-]

I have an 83 280zx with an E12-80 module on it. Is this right? I just bought this car to restore and it wants to fire up SOOO bad but just won't. Maybe this module is wrong or maybe just bad gas as the car sat for 2years. If anyone has any advice I would most definately appreciate it.

[Arne]

The '83 L28 that was in my yellow 240Z when I bought it had the later 3-wire module on it. I thought the E12-80 was only correct for '79-80.

Not sure that that would prevent it from starting, though.

[Marty Rogan]

The '83 ZX motor that I got last year had a dizzy with an e12-92 module on it, which I believe would be the correct one for your car.

I'll trade you if you are interested.

Marty

[zbane]

maybe just bad gas as the car sat for 2years. QUOTE]

I would start here.

Lift up the mat in the hatch area, unscrew the gas tank access port, remove the sending unit, and take a peek into your gas tank (careful with the sending unit-it's like a kid with his hand in the cookie jar-hard to remove).

Even if the Previous Owner (PO) threw in gas stabilizer, I would imagine that your tank is all fouled up with rust and other assorted crud.

If you want your zx to run nicer, you will need to clear this stuff out, clear out your fuel pump, replace your fuel filter, and so on.

If you run a search on this site, you will find lots'o'goodies on the subject-pretty much everyone on this site has been down the nasty gas tank road. Think of it as a rite of passage, an innitiation to the world of the Z, or depending on the severity of the tank, Hazing.

If it isn't the tank, or the Dizzy, are you sure about the battery?

Sometimes it is that easy.

[nwcubsman]

My formerly owned '82 ZX, of which I still own the motor, distributor and module has the e12-92 on it. Hope this helps. BTW, I plan on replacing it with the e12-80 distributor that is on my L24 motor once it goes in.

[hd240z]

I'm running a 80 distributor with the E12-80 module in my 71 and it works great. I understand the E12-92 module with the third wire was intended for computer controlled cars like the 83 ZX. I have heard E12-92 will operate without the computer, but not well. Something to do with the spark advance or lack of.

Projekt-Z, does your distributor have a vacuum advance diaphragm? If so then its probably been swapped by a PO. Are you getting a spark to the plugs when you crank it over? If no spark then you have an ignition problem.

Good Luck

[ProJeKt-Z-]

maybe just bad gas as the car sat for 2years. QUOTE]

I would start here.

Lift up the mat in the hatch area, unscrew the gas tank access port, remove the sending unit, and take a peek into your gas tank (careful with the sending unit-it's like a kid with his hand in the cookie jar-hard to remove).

Even if the Previous Owner (PO) threw in gas stabilizer, I would imagine that your tank is all fouled up with rust and other assorted crud.

If you want your zx to run nicer, you will need to clear this stuff out, clear out your fuel pump, replace your fuel filter, and so on.

If you run a search on this site, you will find lots'o'goodies on the subject-pretty much everyone on this site has been down the nasty gas tank road. Think of it as a rite of passage, an innitiation to the world of the Z, or depending on the severity of the tank, Hazing.

If it isn't the tank, or the Dizzy, are you sure about the battery?

Sometimes it is that easy.

thanks for the reply i'll give it a try

[xfordman]

i had the same problem when i got my 83 280zx..it had sat 4 a year and i had to replace my module as well as pull the pump and replace the filter before it would even run. the module in my car is a E12-92 and needs the extra wire for the profile ignition pick-up for the computer or it wont allow the injectors to fire..it sounded like it would misfire then turn over and over then fire again without starting and just keep turning over..your problem sounds similar.i never had to replace my module in my car, i just needed to clean the pump and screen and replace the fuel filter. later i gave it a complete tune up and it runs great today..i would start with checking with nissan and see wut your vehicle is supposed to have.and order a shop manual for 1983 280zx so u get the wiring schematics which i found to be quite usefull.if u got ur car from a private party that u never met before they could have done some creative wiring that u dont know about..that was my expierence with my car and the book cured alot of guess work when it came to "does this belong here or there"???good luck

[beandip]

the '79-'80 has the 12-80 and this is the module for those Zs plus if you want to run the ignition on a z with no computer and SUs . There is a way to use the 12-92 module on a carbed engine but you need to have a vacuum advance with two ports and one is connected to manifold vacuum and you must make a limiter to keep the dist from retarding the timing at speed. Gary