Hi guys,

I just acquired a '78 280Z and the wiring is in pretty poor condition. It looks like some has frayed and some has been disconnected or bypassed by the previous owner. I do have the FSM and have looked through the electrical section but these items have both ends cut so I can't trace them. Can someone help me identify the two items circled in red?

1) This part is in the driver's side of the engine bay next to the ignition coil. Both ends frayed off.

2) These two wires are coming through the firewall near the battery. One is gold and the other is white. The PO has them taped to two other wires that have been cut. No clue what they should be going to.

Thanks in advance. I have a few more coming that I still need to get pictures of.

-Alex.

Edited May 27, 201311 yr by mrodrig2

The top pic is a condenser that is supposed to be connected to the coil. It's function is to quiet ignition noise so the radio doesn't pick it up. You can find the condenser in the lower left hand corner of the wiring diagram.

The other two wires? No idea. The previous owner could have been using them for anything. What does the other end inside the interior connect to? Anything?

Thanks for ID'ing the condensor. After searching about it, seems like I can just remove it without any real consequence. If I decide to replace it, can I use any available capacitor?

I'll be pulling up the carpet and looking into the other wires next weekend. I have a lot of electrical gremlins to look into - no headlights, no dash lights, passenger side turn signal goes on but doesn't blink, no heat or vents, slow wipers.... etc etc.

Edited May 27, 201311 yr by mrodrig2

In the second photo, the wires are coming out where the vacuum line for the ventilation controls should be. It doesn't looks like those wires are colored (they look white) so I would say that they are something that the PO put in. Follow them inside to see what they connet to.

On the lower photo, on my daughters 78 z, those wires go to fog lights and a switch that looks added to the dash. I'll look tomorrow and verify my post reply.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Still haven't had a chance to look into it further. It's been raining unfortunately.

Tomohawk - The wires are colored. One is white and the other is goldish in color so it could also possibly be yellow or brown?

MillerTime802 - The PO did add a button to the dash for a horn. Looking through the FSM and based on location I do think it is related to the console harness or the console to engine harness connection.

Edited June 2, 201311 yr by mrodrig2

As per the two wired coming out of the firewall, my 280z is wired so that the heater fan is connected to the battery there. If your blower motor works fine then never mind, you might just wait until you have to replace the heater core to check it out. (Though my car is a hodgepodge of wiring I get to go through and fix).

I figured out my two mystery wires - they were for an aftermarket alarm which the PO left only partially dismantled. There's an alarm brain under the dash with a few pigtails and some stuff still hooked up. While under the dash I also saw that someone started disconnecting the optional AC but then also messed with the regular heating/vent controls. This is going to be a nightmare.

I would get a copy of the Colored Wiring Diagram from PROSPERO'S GARAGE. It is well worth the $25 you'll spend and it will save loads of time. I would also download the FSM and EFI Bible. I have the FSM in pdf if you want it.. PM me for the download link..

Edited June 14, 201311 yr by ZCurves

Wow thanks so much for the link to that wiring diagram. It will be super useful. I do already have the FSM. Can you send me a link to the EFI bible?

Hi, you can find the EFI bible here XenonS30

Its down in the "Other Guide" section http://www.xenons30.com/files/280zfuelinjectionbook.pdf

Chas

Here's a '76 for free, http://sridout.com/datsun/76circuit_COLOR.pdf

Has all the tools to enlarge it too.

Edited June 15, 201311 yr by siteunseen