Forgot important info: 1983 280zx turbo/ Would appreciate any input what relay does the white (Batt) wire come from (location) I've have no voltage there of course the battery is not getting charged

Edited September 30, 201014 yr by maxxwell

Post your car info, it helps to pinpoint problems.

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symptoms: intermitent 12 volts @ output from alternator, dim headlights, bucking from loss of fuel pressure, felt like a bad afm

problem solved : found partially melted connector downstream behind fuseable links

Actually you found a symptom that manifested itself as a loss of voltage. Why did something melt? Have you made any changes to the electrical system that could drive a higher current flow through that circuit?

Very confusing thread! I'll just offer the following:

(1) This is a Z forum, not a ZX forum. There's also a ZX forum on classiczcars.com, where you might find more ZX people. Most of the folks here seem to be familiar with the 240Z, and there are a few people like me who know the 280Z. However the ZX is another generation with only a few things in common with the Z. I think most of us wouldn't have a clue how to answer specific wiring questions for your car.

(2) If it's any help, the wiring from the output of my '78 280Z (last year before the '79 280ZX) was rather inadequate out of the factory. The wire gauge is too small (maybe 10 ga to carry 60 A), and the fusible link that protects the circuit melts down at 80A. Crazy! Moreover, the wire is joined at numerous points by crimp connections in the wiring harness. When these corrode, they can heat and char. (My alternator wiring had already gotten rather toasty.) I replaced my alternator wire with much heavier wire.

(3) In answer to your "where does it go" question: Our cars MAY be vaguely similar in this regard, so... I believe the output from the alternator should go to a fusible link, and then the other wire from the fusible link should go to the battery. If memory serves, the white wire goes from the alternator to the fusible link, and the white wire with red trace goes from the fusible link to the battery. (It could be the other way around, though. Look at the wire coming from the alternator.) And of course you're going to have multiple fusible links, so I couldn't tell you which one is which. And finally, your car is a ZX, so I don't really know if any of this applies. But maybe that will get you started.

Good luck!