Car wont start!!!!!!!!!! please help.

[tylersnyder]

i drive, or drove i should say a 1976 280z, one morning i went to start my car. it turns over but it wont start. i checked for a spark, and yes i had one. i cleaned the connections for my battery. changed my fuel filters. the fuel filter next to the engine has gas in it but the one next to the tank does not, so im thinking that maybe my fuel pump isnt strong enough???? is there anything else i can check to see before i buy a new fuel pump?

[Zs-ondabrain]

Have a shop or a friend do a fuel pressure test on it. If the rear one is empty, replace it and start checking for clogged lines, crap in the tank and so on...

You might want to drain the tank using the bolt on the lower right side of the fuel tank. Inspect the fuel, bang on the tank as it's draining to see if any rust or flakes come out. This will tell you if the tank needs to be replaced are cleaned and coated using a kit like the POR15 Fuel tank sealer kit.

Where in Washington are you?

Dave

[tylersnyder]

what is needed in order to do a pressure test? and for the clogged lines does that mean i have to take each line out? im going to go outside right now to drain the gas, i live in silverdale washington. across the water from seattle, thank you for the help dave.

[Zs-ondabrain]

You need to borrow a fuel pressure tester for Fuel injection motors (about $20 or $30 at Harbor Freight Tools) or maybe a local friend or mechanic will let you borrow one.

If and when you get one, disconnect the fuel line at the fuel filter, between the filter and the fuel rail, connect the "T" fitting to the open hose you disconnected, then add a spare peice of hose of the same diameter between the filter and the added "T".

Make sure to put a towel or rag over the lines before pulling them from the filter.

Run the motor (if possible) or turn the key to on, hold then try and start it, watching the gauge to so the pressure......

The Fuel pressure in your car should be around 36 pounds

BUT FIRST!!!! Drain the fuel tank. Disconnect each line and Blow Them Out, disconnect the filter up front and the same line in rear and blow it back wards (from the front to the rear) and get as much crap out of there as possible.

THEN, when it's all blown out, if the tank seemed clean, reconnect everything and fill the Tank about 3/4 of the way. You need an almost full tank to prime the pump and lines once they have been blown out and or emptied. Then try the fuel pressure test again.

Fuel injection can be easy but at the same tiome, it only takes one little thing to make it run like arse or not at all.

Dave

[tylersnyder]

so i drained the gas. its the color of dehidrated wizz. is that normal? i thought gas was a more clear color then that. now i am going outside to clear out the lines.

[StinkyCheese]

No closure?? i have the same issue. What was the resolution?

[grantf]

I have been in this same boat. What Z brain said: check the fuel pressure. Also can you here the fule pump running? My 78 never had a fuel filter after the tank till I installed one myself as a tempory solution to a rusty gas tank, before I did that rust would clog the fuel pump, not good $$$.

[260 z]

The discoloration of the gas sounds like it is old. The new stuff is clear and due to all of the additives it starts changing colors in a month or so. Per my friending that work at the refineries here in Houston. The fuel pump, if it is like mine (1974 260z) has a fuel filter inside the pump. I also have one between the tank and electric pump and finally a last resort in my carbs. Do you 280 z people remember what a carb is ??