wont start, need some advice!

[JohnnyP]

Im having trouble getting my 76 280z started. I did some thorough searching through these forums, found everything related to my symptoms/problems, and tried them all; heres what i did:

Checked the fuseable links and cleaned all the contacts

Cleaned the contacts to the starter, checked all the wires, ground, etc

Made sure the ground from the battery cable was connected

Scoped out the ignition, no fried wires, nothing.

I can only get her started when i jump it, but when I get it started, it sounds totally fine. Its not the battery, I put a new one in a few months ago (and haven't been driving it). Tested the battery with a 50v meter, its fully charged. Also tested the alternator and thats fine as well.

I apologize if this seems like a repetitive post, your help, advice, and patience are very much appreciated.

Thank you all,

John

[DeesZ]

What happens without a jump? Slow or no crank?

I can tell you from first-hand experience that having a new battery does not eliminate the possibility that the battery is shot. The battery must provide you with both voltage and amperage to get the car started. Have it load-tested to see what's up with the amperage. I assume your terminal connections are clean and tight, and that your grounds are secure since you stated that you checked them all. Another often overlooked component is the battery cables themselves. I had a bad set that looked just fine. They were old and weren't doing the job they were designed to do.

[JohnnyP]

How do I get my battery load tested, and is this something I could do myself?

And all the terminal connections are secured.

Thanks for the quick response DeesZ

John

[FastWoman]

John, most car parts stores will test your battery for you for free. They have to be able to test batteries to evaluate warranty claims.

You say the connections are secured, but are they clean?

You could have a corroded cable end (i.e. between the wire and the cable tip). Try connecting from your battery to your starter using your jumper cables (i.e. reinforcing the same connections that are already made). Any improvement?

Your starter could also be going bad. I think an auto parts store might test that for you too.

[Z Tyler Z]

I agree with these two, it's more than likely a bad battery. Just because it's new doesn't mean it's good. I personally just had a new one die on me yesterday, despite only having less than 100 miles on it and having a new alternator and voltage regulator.

Take it back to the place you bought it at, they more than likely have a load testing system. When I brought mine in first they tested it with a amp meter and it read just under 12. Which seems like enough to start the car, or at least slowly turn the starter, but when they load tested it, the amps went below 2. Needless to say I got a new battery for free under their warranty.

[JohnnyP]

I brought the battery down to the store where I bought it, to have it load tested, per suggestion. Sure enough it was reading very low, replaced it for free under warranty.

Now my question is what caused this problem? Bad starter?

Thanks for all the help thus far guys/gals. It is appreciated!

John

[d240zx2]

No particular "cause." Batteries sulfate constantly and when it has sulfated all it can, it dies. Typically, 5 years is the MOST you can expect from a battery and most die before then. There are exceptions, I know, but you can use that as a rule of thumb....

[JohnnyP]

Thank you d240zx2. I asked the people at NAPA the same thing, they gave me the same answer.

Now this.... Put in the new battery, got all jazzed up to hear this Z all fired up!.. Its not starting. It turns over and it sounds like it wants to start, it just can't quite get there :mad: I spent about 15 minutes trying to get it going, checked all my fittings, hoses, seals, fluids everything. Im not sure what the problem is, if anyone could lend me some advice I would love that.

Thanks again to everyone who has responded and lent me the necessary information. I am grateful.

John

[Z Tyler Z]

Thank you d240zx2. I asked the people at NAPA the same thing, they gave me the same answer.

Now this.... Put in the new battery, got all jazzed up to hear this Z all fired up!.. Its not starting. It turns over and it sounds like it wants to start, it just can't quite get there :mad: I spent about 15 minutes trying to get it going, checked all my fittings, hoses, seals, fluids everything. Im not sure what the problem is, if anyone could lend me some advice I would love that.

Thanks again to everyone who has responded and lent me the necessary information. I am grateful.

John

Stupid question but did you make sure the battery is in the right way? When we get jazzed up about Zs we make dumb mistakes. What about the other two wires connected to the battery (not the ones that go to the starter but the other 2 little ones that go to the ground and positive on the battery).

When I got my new battery I put it in quickly and forgot to plug in one of those little wires and it's crank forever and not get anywhere until I realized my mistake.

Next check fusible links and make sure your getting spark to all the plugs and coil. Maybe pull a plug and see if your getting gas after cranking. Hopefully one of those things will fix your problem. I was in the same boat as you a few months ago, but I was trying to get mien to start for week until I discovered by accident my Ecu got unplugged. It's always the little things.

Good luck.

[JohnnyP]

I am actually guilty of not properly connecting the battery at an earlier date, the excitment of owning my first car got the best of me.... :stupid: But this time I took my time, check and re-checked everything. The battery and its connections are all good, battery cable plugs, and the grounds. I also pulled a plug and made sure I was getting gas to the engine, and I am.

I know its something electrical I just can't figure this one out!

John

[IdahoKidd]

Check the connection that goes from the positive cable at the battery to the ecu. It is a little white flat spade connector on a red wire. Unpug, check for corrosion, clean, replug. There is a second one that looks almost identical that goes to the neg cable, also red. One 'should' have a female end at the battery, the other a male so they don't cross. I got a free car because these two wires were crossed. One is the ecu feed wire, the other the ecu ground. Car will crank like crazy but never fire.

[JohnnyP]

Problem resolved. My old man and I took a look at the distributor, the old bolt clamping the adjustment part (not sure the technical name) had corroded, broke, and was not doing its job. We replaced that bolt, played with the distributor alignment/timing, and got her going.

Sounds great, I completely overlooked the distributor (beyond the cap and rotor) as the possible problem!

Well, now I know what process to go through next time. Thanks again everyone!

John