Biker_Trash

Used some starter fluid and the car fires/runs, so I'm looking at a fuel problem. I've got good flow into the rail and flow out of the rail, though not as strong coming out as going in. I'm going to pick up a fuel pressure gauge first chance I get. Until then (and assuming my fuel pressure is fine), what are my culprits? > bad fuel pressure regulator redirecting the fuel to the return line? > injectors not injecting (electrical? would they all go dead at once?) I'm not sure what else could be the problem. Open to suggestions. Thanks. Jeff

New day, same issues. Spark is good and fuel supply is good to the fuel rail. Is there a point in the fuel rail where I could be losing fuel to the cylinders? After I crank it over, there appears to be some buzzing from the fuel pressure regulator. Could the fuel regulator be bad and redirecting all that fuel back to the tank? Should the fuel regulator "buzz"? If it is bad, will a Napa one due or should I get OEM? Jeff

Thanks for the reply. Sorry, yes fuel is flowing through my fuel lines. Cranking the motor over causes fuel to flow freely. I do hear my fuel pump power on, too, so I think it is okay. Any other thoughts? Jeff

1978 280Z that has been sitting. Boiled & sealed tank, cleaned out lines, new filters and hoses. Running pretty well. Bled clutch and now she's able to move on her own. That brings us current. Had low oil pressure reading so I bought a new factory sending unit. While screwing in the new unit, it didn't seem to go in very far (I didn't realize my crescent wrench was hitting something so the sending unit wasn't very tight). Started the car and was getting spotty reading from the gauge (no surprise!). Ran it for awhile then shut her down. Later same day, put 5 gallons in the tank from a can. Went to start the car and it just turns over. Hmm. Wondered whether my new sending unit was bad so got out (forgot I left the ignition on) and pulled the sending unit plug - heard something buzzing from the other side of the engine which stopped when I plugged it back in). Shut the ignition off, then pulled the sending unit plug again. Checked the sending unit I just installed and realized it was still hand loose. Put a wrench on it and snugged it up real good. Plugged it back in and went to start the car. It just turns over but doesn't fire. Hmm. Pulled the line to the fuel rail and I have plenty of gas. Pulled a wire and connected it to a spare plug and I have spark. So . . . what gives?? I understand the sending unit will kill the fuel pump if no pressure, but I have gas so I wouldn't think that's my problem. Did I zap something when I pulled the sending unit plug with the ignition on? Something tells me this is a simple fix but I'm stumped (doesn't take too much). All help appreciated. Thanks in advance. Jeff Woodard Richmond, VA

EUREKA! SHE LIVES!!! I pulled the fuel pump and checked it on the battery and it was working. I blew out the lines and the fuel rail . . . fuel rail resisted at first which I figure was my problem. Took a little cranking but she's running!! Now I have two more questions . . . First, and most worrisome, is I didn't have a lot of oil pressure (new oil + filter already). I did have pressure and at a bit higher revs, it was maybe 30 on the 90 scale, but most of the time it hovered around 10 or so. Is this telling me bad news or is it just a factor of having sat so long and as things circulate it will get better? I didn't run it long at all because the pressure worried me. Second, my gas pedal depresses but doesn't 'release' and come back up . . . stays at the point I push it. Is there a spring I need to look for or vaccuum tube or ?? Thanks in advance!! Jeff Woodard

Will the rear bumper of a 1978 280Z 2+2 fit a regular two-seater 280Z? Thanks! Jeff Woodard

WingZr0 - yes, The Horse is the only mag I pay for. IdahoKidd said, "Sounds like it is working correctly. The fuel pump will come on for 5 seconds or so when you first turn the switch on and then stop." Mine doesn't do that. I don't get any noise until AFTER I'm done cranking, and I'm not sure where that sound is coming from. So maybe my pump isn't working correctly? How do you clean your fuel lines? Compressed air? I'm really wondering about the line from the pump to the filter. If I'm only getting a couple of tablespoons of gas but should be getting "a considerable amount", then maybe it's the fuel line? Jeff

New to the forum, so hello! Had a few Zs back 20 years ago as a kid. I recently picked up a pair of 78s both of which have been sitting awhile. The one I'm working on now has been off the road since 2003. The previous owner had it a couple of years and it sat unused. Prior to that, it was stored by the original owner's son where it also sat, being started occassionally. The Z has rust and is nothing special, but hasn't been hacked on so I picked it up. The owner I bought it from said he started it once a month, but it had recently quit starting. While I was there, he started it on a bottle at the air flow sensor (yikes!) but I heard the car run and it sounded good. So, I figured the fuel pump. I picked up a used fuel pump and replaced the one on the car which was gunked up. I drained the gas tank of approximately 5 gallons of old fuel and replaced it with 10 gallons of fresh stuff. New oil and filter, new gas filter, new air filter, new battery. Went to start it and it just cranks. Checked for spark and I've got it at the plugs. So, I'm figuring it is still a fuel supply issue. When I turn the key on, I don't hear anything until the car cranks over. Is that a problem? Once I let off the key, I hear a buzz which the wife tells me is coming from "back there" (I'm in the car and hear it but can't tell from where). I pulled the fuel line where it enters the rail and had plenty of pressure (poof!!). I ran the fuel line into a container and cranked the engine over about three times for maybe 7 or 8 seconds each time. I checked the container and there was maybe a tablespoon or two of gas in it. Does that sound about right or should there have been more? I'm not a mechanic by trade (big surprise reading this!) but I'm not completely helpless, either. Old motorcycles are more my thing. So, if I don't hear the fuel pump when I turn on the ignition, is that a bad pump? If the fuel rail pressurizes and I get a little gas, does that indicate the fuel pump is working? What do I need to be checking next? Remember, the car ran off a bottle and I have spark at the plug. All help appreciated! Jeff Woodard