Won't turn over, fuel?

[Cornbreadxd]

I've been driving my 78' 280z w/o problems for a while (even with a small fuel leak) and today I drove to work and couldn't start the car a few hours later, It would turn over but not start. I thought I'd ran out of gas by being lazy and having a low tank and letting it sit for 3 days. I filled the car with 3 gal of gas to get me to a gas station to fill it up but it still won't start.

I hear the fuel pump when the key is in but I don't know what the problem is. I searched the forums and checked the fuses but I still can't figure it out. Im not sure if the filter has gone and that is causing the problem or if the fuel pump is just crapped out. Anyone have any suggestions? The engine was swapped for a 83zx nonturbo so it isn't carbed.

The small leak came from one of the lines under the fuel tank on the passenger side, i'd see a spot about the size of a dvd under the car if left off for a few hours. but I haven't had any problems since this is the first time I actually ran out of gas

I also thought maybe it may have been flooded because it has been raining for 3 days straight and I don't know if the plugs need to dry

[m4xwellmurd3r]

rain won't get inside of an engine. If it did it would be toasted. HOWEVER you may have gotten water on a connection and it's corroded now. have you checked for spark yet? Whenever i check my car for no start issues, I spray starter fluid into the intake. If the car tries to start, it's a fuel issue, if there's no start, it might be a timing/spark issue. Maybe try spraying a bunch of starter fluid into the intake?

[DatsunZsRule]

"I've been driving my 78' 280z w/o problems for a while (even with a small fuel leak)"

"The small leak came from one of the lines under the fuel tank on the passenger side, i'd see a spot about the size of a dvd under the car if left off for a few hours."

Doesn't sound like a minor leak to me :paranoid: Thats more than likely your problem right there. Fuel leak = major loss in fuel pressure. Of course it wont start & run. Not to mention unsafe. :nervous:

[Cornbreadxd]

yeah, I never got a chance to work on fixing the leak due to the weather,school/work schedule, and lack of a garage. I was thinking that since it ran out of gas the pressure was lost because I always ran with a 1/2 tank or more. I have a pdf. manual but I haven't worked on the car really and most of what I know came from searching old posts. So is that the fuel damper that has the two hoses connected to it next to the tank, because that is where it leaks. I think the lines are worn out but i'll try to get pics.

I'll try to work on it in the daylight but how can I go about getting the pressure back in the lines in the mean time or will I just have to order whatever is the problem and be w/o the car for a few days?

[DatsunZsRule]

Yes, some photos will be helpfull to see what your talking about.

There is only one way to get the proper pressure back and thats to fix the problem wheather it would be a fuel leak, malfunctioning F.P.R. (Fuel Pressure Regulator), bad check valve at the fuel pump, clogged fuel filter or line ect.

After reading your post, it sounds like your 280Z is no longer stock. You got a 280ZX set up under the hood now correct??? I'm more a 1st generation Z Car Guy and I'm not 100%up on all the little changes that were made on the ZX's but on a stock 280Z EFI system, it's suppose to maintain a fuel pressure reading of 36.3 PSI @ idle in order for the engine to run/operate smoothly and properly. You need a Fuel Pressure Test Kit to perform the test obviously and get the car to at least stay running. People that try to troubleshoot a driveability problem that could possibly be fuel related on a EFI car without doing a fuel pressure test might as well forget it In my opinion. For most fuel related problems on an EFI car, It always requires a fuel pressure test to start troubleshooting.

Now with yours we need to at least get it to start and stay running. If you get that fuel leak fixed, HOPEFULLY I think You'll get it to the point where it will stay running again. If it still runs like crap thats OK We can now at least continue on with a fuel pressure test and start there. There is just lots of things that can cause a rough running condition. I don't care to list everyone at the moment Just focus on getting that leak taken care of first for starters and post your results. Also remember if you have to buy new rubber fuel lines, make damn sure its high pressure EFI rubber hose

Best of luck.

[Cornbreadxd]

this is what is leaking right next to the fuel tank underneath the car, you can see the droplets of gasoline. it actually is now leaking more fuel than it ever has before, it never leaked when the car ran though only when it was off. isn't this just a filter like this>http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-280z-280zx-Fuel-Filter-NOS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ46101QQihZ011QQitemZ320215278883QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

and would that have caused the car to not run? I tried to start it again and it made sort of a hiccup but wouldn't run. I never had a rough idle or anything before the gas went empty.

[DatsunZsRule]

Holy jeeze thats a huge photo :eek:

Is that some sort of added on fuel filter back there???? gee wonder why they added that looks like a rusty tint to it. after the leak gets fixed, I have a good feeling there will be more issues to fix. Was this car sitting for a long period of time before you got it???

Yeah, thats no small leak. priority #1 is fix that leak.

[sblake01]

Leak? At 36+ psi that's a blowtorch waiting to happen! Don't know if it would cause the car not to run but it would cause me not to drive it until it's fixed.

[DatsunZsRule]

Yep it will. When my fuel rail sprung a leak, she didn't want to even start. The EFI Zs are fussy that way. Just like vacuum leaks. DANGEROUS no question.

[sblake01]

Yep. Anything that lowers the fuel pressure plus the inside of that fuel filter looks pretty nasty.

[Cornbreadxd]

I bought it in october and the guy used it as a daily driver just like I have and this is the first real problem i've had with it. the filter wasn't that dirty the last time I looked at it a couple months ago, im thinking any sludge that was in the tank must have been sloshed around and clogged the filter up maybe causing the leak?

[DatsunZsRule]

Damn I gotta go to bed for work tomorrow

I'll check in again tomorrow but yeah, thats why he added that filter. I'll bet you the inside of that tank is NASTY which is why the guy added that filter. well I know so because you can see the rusty tint in the fuel. Not a good sign man. Like I said before, at least get that leak repaired first. Don't want you to blow up. Your too yung to check out if you know what I mean