z car frustration!!!!

[FairladyZS30]

well of course ive dont that , well since the battery blew out i changed volateg regulator and the points dizzy to an elctric but the points dizzy didnt even want to get the car started at all either

[rdefabri]

I am out of ideas for both of us - I am so %^&*(*&^&* p'd off it's not even funny...fuel pump works like a champ, fuel getting to both carbs.

Now I do have some fuel on the plugs, so I am either getting too much gas (flooding) or not enough (carb problem)?

I practically sledge hammered the car I am so infuriated. Can't understand how it started about a month ago and now I waste a whole can of ether and nothing happens.

[FairladyZS30]

I am out of ideas for both of us - I am so %^&*(*&^&* p'd off it's not even funny...fuel pump works like a champ, fuel getting to both carbs.

Now I do have some fuel on the plugs, so I am either getting too much gas (flooding) or not enough (carb problem)?

I practically sledge hammered the car I am so infuriated. Can't understand how it started about a month ago and now I waste a whole can of ether and nothing happens.

i fell ya' stupid car......and i just got a 5 spd ready to go in it

[shamus11]

Hey guys,

Forgive me for suggesting these two bleedingly obviouus points.

On slightly different scale to a 6cyl L24 but I spent hours trying to get the lawn mower started on Sunday. Exact same thing. Had spark. Had fuel. Wouldn't start. Checked plug 50 times. Cleaned it up, gapped it. Kept coming out slightly wet with oily fuel on it. Was a fairly new plug, I had replaced it about 2 months ago.

Finally got off my lazy arse and went down and got a new plug. Started first go. Sometimes under compression a plug that looks good just won't work. I don't know if it's as simple in multi-cylinder engines.

If you haven't put new plugs in it I'd do that.

Another embarrasing thing I've done, twice, is spent half a day trying with freinds offering all sorts of advice to get my dastun stanza to run. We'd tip a bit of fuel in the carbies and they'd run then use up all of the fuel and stop. I had no fuel in the tank! I'd used it up a the track and must have rolled on the trailer using the last litre or two. I shouldn't be admitting to this...

[240Z-Fan]

Fabian,

At this point, the timing might be way off. Who know where it was before the change. But changing the distributor almost certainly is adding to the problem if the timing wasn't verified.

You can check timing with a timing light while the engine is cranking. Do that first. If that doesn't solve the problem, it is also possible that the rubber damper in the crankshaft pulley failed and allowed the outer part of the pulley to slip. This will cause the timing marks to be off.

Verify that Top Dead Center matches the timing marks by pulling the spark plug, and inserting a screwdriver in the hole so you can feel the piston reach TDC. IF the pulley slipped, you will need to replace it first before proceeding.

Let us know what you find

Al

[DougN]

RD -- I would have to agree with shamus, sounds like the plugs are indeed fowled, try replacing them and see if that helps. I've also tried to clean and re-gap fowled plugs with no success - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't :classic: At any rate, replacing them can't hurt!

Of course, it may be that the Z know you're trying to get rid of it and acting accordingly :classic:

[rdefabri]

I did replace the plugs - new NGKs, so I am sure that's not the problem. I would doubt timing, given that the car worked fine just a month ago, nothing should cause that to change given I've done no mods or changes to the car to affect it.

I do think the car doesn't want to leave the cozy confines of my garage...the car must be possessed and ticked off I tried to bail on her!!! :eek:

[JimmyZ]

An Update...

To help anyone answering Fairlady's post here he's changed SEVERAL things since his car stopped. This complicates anyones ability to determine what steps to take. It's now not as simple as saying that "only" the regulator was replaced. (At least this is what I assumed from earlier)

Normally one would whittle down the variables to achieve a working motor. It seems he has added some variables. As he mentioned, he changed the dizzy for an electric model then he swapped the cap and coil.

The good news is that he did try starting fluid to no avail so at least we know it's an ignition problem. If you've been following the last three threads (not posts) he's made then you'll see that the results have varied when he made tests for spark at the coil.

It seems that now he's got spark at the coil and at the end of his plug wires. Talked to him and found that his plugs were new but probably fouled from a rich fuel mixture. He's replacing plugs in the next day or so now. This still leaves the question of whether he has the timing "on" enough to run/start the car, the plugs in the right sockets and the coil hooked up right. Time will tell. Keep our fingers crossed that he get's it running.

[rdefabri]

JimmyZ,

Thanks for the PM - I am intrigued by the rich fuel mixture - so Fairlady must have changed something to upset the ratio of air/fuel. I am not an SU expert, but from my response to your PM, I have a feeling my issue is related to that...as I mentioned, I can turn the car over on starting fluid, sounds great for the second or so it burns off the ether - then it dies. So it's not igniting whatever mixture is getting into the chamber, which implies it's not getting any or it's too much (my suspicion given how well the fuel components flowed from my troubleshooting).

I didn't change anything on my car, but I think Fairlady and I have related problems - as I said, I am not an SU expert - they have a reputation for being testy when not balanced/adjusted...thoughts?

Fairlady - my apologies, I realized I somewhat hijacked this thread, so I'll say no more other than to give guidance as to what (if anything) helps my situation....

[FairladyZS30]

ah jimmy i finally regulated my problem i tired my spark plugs on my freinds car and they sparked greatly and ran on his z now and i kept checking for spark again on my spark plugs and noticed the spark wasnt sparking enough times...now this can only mean onthing.....cap and rotor funny eh?...rdefabri dont worry this website is to help us all

[JimmyZ]

ah jimmy i finally regulated my problem i tired my spark plugs on my freinds car and they sparked greatly and ran on his z now and i kept checking for spark again on my spark plugs and noticed the spark wasnt sparking enough times...now this can only mean onthing.....cap and rotor funny eh?...rdefabri dont worry this website is to help us all

Just trying to cut clutter so I PM'ed rdefabri a checklist.

Fairlady,

Let's first make sure that you have the plug wires right. Here is a past thread...

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21863&highlight=firing+order

And here are some pics of what my stock 240 cap looks like. Print this and compare to yours before proceeding. Even the "best" of us miswire a cap once in a while. Let's make sure that your is right.

[JimmyZ]

ah jimmy i finally regulated my problem i tired my spark plugs on my freinds car and they sparked greatly and ran on his z now and i kept checking for spark again on my spark plugs and noticed the spark wasnt sparking enough times...now this can only mean onthing.....cap and rotor funny eh?...rdefabri dont worry this website is to help us all

I imagine you tested your plugs on his Z by laying them on top of the valve cover? The real test would have been unscrewing his and replacing with yours. A plug may fire outside an engine but once you install it the compression in the cylinder may not allow the spark to jump on a defective plug.

Your best bet is simply replacing at least three of your plugs with brand new plugs. I know you're young and broke. I was there too at one time and feel your pain.

When faced with problem like this it is best to remove uncertainties and replace with certainty until the problem is solved.

Is your battery low? Slow cranking will greatly reduce the number of sparks because the engine is turning slower. Also, an electronic distributor will NOT operate below a certain voltage. (This was my experience with 1980's cars and not with Z's)

I'm hoping someone who owns a 280 will chime in and tell us what the lowest voltage they were able to start on was. Usually if I run my battery near dead with the points ignition a simple push start will get it running again.

Cya,

Jim