260Z with a TIU that needs to be heated...

[lugmanhere]

I have used this site to help me with my 8/74 260Z 2+2 auto while bringing it back to life... you guys have been very helpful. THANKS SO MUCH! This is my first post for help though.

This Z is from Hawaii and then lived in AZ and now resides in NH. It has been in storage for 16-17 years. I did get it running and was able to take it for some local drives last summer. As fall approached I then started having issues where one day it would start and the next it would not. The issue was no spark. I could not figure why one day I had spark and the next no spark...

Well this past week I pushed it out of the garage on a few nice days and starting tinkering again... still no spark. On the 2nd day I unplugged the TIU and brought in to the house to get a closer look inside this thing... next morning plugged it in and BINGO my Z started again. I needed to spray fuel into the carbs to keep in running, but it fired and ran.

Today is another pretty nice day here NH but colder than yesterday... and NO SPARK today until I got my heat gun out and warmed up my TIU and just like yesterday my Z is back and running...

So as long as my TIU is warm I have spark... SEEM ODD TO ME.

Now I need to start on those damn carbs again...

This Z seems pretty rare and maybe you guys can set me straight here.

74 260 2+2 with automatic, factory AC, factory tinted windows... with NO RUST!!! Any thoughts?

[sblake01]

My guess would be that something inside of that transistor ignition unit (I thought I'd type that out because I'm sure some people are scratching their heads) is not making good enough contact when it's cold and somehow expanding enough when warm to make good contact. Don't know if I'd want to try it myself but someone who is skilled with intricate soldering like printed circuits, computer cards or motherboards could fix that by re-soldering the connections inside of it.

[lugmanhere]

Thanks Stephen, it is so small and detailed inside that TIU I can not find anything that looks out of wack there...

thanks

[sblake01]

I just looked at the 260Z FSM and there is a rather involved procedure for troubleshooting the TIU especially so for the one on automatic transmission cars. And it's considerally different from the TIU on a 78 280Z which I am familiar with. Apparently the 260Z requires a proprietary 'Transistor Ignition Unit Tester' whereas I can test mine with an regular oscilliscope. In both cases, however, either they pass the test or they don't and there's no recommendation for repair. The only recommendation is to replace them when they malfunction. In fact the exact wording in both FSM's is "If the result is 'N.G', the fault lies in either the transistor unit or in the secondary high-tension wire. Replace these parts." The fact that you have to heat yours to get it to function would indicate a bad transistor somewhere in the unit and unless you posess the skills of a master electrician and know where to find a replacement, your only alternative would be to replace the entire unit. And from what I recall, the TIU for 74 260Z with an auto trans is the most expensive one out there!

Edited March 20, 2009 by sblake01

[lugmanhere]

I think it is time to replace the TIU... This may explain why I had so many spark issues all last summer...

Any thoughts about how rare this Z might be with AC and Factory tint with automatic tranny? The other interesting thing about this Z is the paper work I have with. All paper work from the orignal sale, to repairs made back in the 70's, even the New Car Warehouse Order form...

[sblake01]

I could be wrong but the tint might have been a dealer installed option. If it's truly factory AC and not dealer installed, 74 was the first year for it. I don't really think that the auto trans is all that rare. That 74 TIU will be a tough find.

[lugmanhere]

Thanks again... I am on the search for the TIU...

[beezee]

I have a 260 auto car, the TIU has been removed and upgraded to a MSD . A simple and easy upgrade to an E12-80 electronic dizzy would be highly recommended. I do have 2 TIU,s E12-05 in my spare parts, guessing from man. trans. cars if interested.

[sblake01]

You'd have to have the one from a auto trans car if you're going to use the stock auto trans distibutor. It's different to work with the advance and retard circuitry in the auto trans distributor. A changeover to an E12-80 might be the easier alternative as Rick mentions although I have no experience setting one up in an auto trans car.