rcb280z

Just when I get my 77 running again another electrical problem! Had a harness connector come unplugged that took a week to find. Had Dave rebuild my combo switches. Then I wired up the headlight and parking light harness upgrades from Dave. Took the car out yesterday for a cruise and 5 minutes into it my Z broke down. Was accelerating at a great rate of speed and all of a sudden it was as if I turned the key off! I coasted to the side of the road and parked. I tried the key and nothing, nothing at all! Here we go again I said to myself. I checked a few things I thought it might be and found nothing. Finally I called Hagerty's (free towing) and had it towed to the house. The driver was really cool. Said he hadn't seen a Z car that nice in years. I think he was more bummed than I was. Made me feel good. Anyway, he left and I walked around to the passenger side engine compartment and stood there looking at things for a moment hoping to see something not right. Didn't notice anything. So I turned the ignition to the on position and walked back around to the passenger side and started looking for a bad connection. I started with the fusible links because I had messed with them with the previous electrical problem. When I touched one of the links everything came back on! Why couldn't I have done that when I was sitting on the side of the road waiting for the tow truck? I missed cleaning some corrosion on this link and it came back to bite me. I have since then recleaned all electrical connections that I could get to (again) including harness connectors. Just that little tiny bit of corrosion put me on the side of the road. If it has been awhile since you have cleaned your electrical connections it is time to do it. Especially if you live close to the beach like I do here in Oxnard CA. I consider myself lucky I was able to find the problem and how fast I found it this time. Had to share this one. It was my brother David that helped me find the first electrical problem. Dave from Zs-ondabrain also helped. So did this forum! Thanks for reading this. Hope this helps anyone with simular problems. Bob

Thanks to Dave from Zs-Ondabrain I now have excellent lights throughout my 77 280. I purchased Dave's headlight wiring harness and parking light wiring harness upgrade. Very simple install. I would have to say at least 50% brighter now. That includes all dash lights. I can drive my Z again at night! If you are thinking about doing the upgrade, do it! Dave also rebuilt my combo switches. Was having electrical problems with them before Dave fixed them. It takes a lot to impress me and I am impressed. Thanks Dave. Bob. can anyone make out the pic of my Z or is it too small to see?

Oh Bruce I forgot to tell you. I am going to clean the fusible links and link boxes. Those have corroded some over the past couple of yrs. Thanks for that tip as well. Bob

Yeah, but I love it! I had a set of ztherapy su's on my 280 about 15 yrs ago when I was in vegas and loved them. That's why I took my time rebuilding my FI. Now I'm back in CA and put my FI back on. And by the way, my Z passed smog with better numbers than my wifes 05 2.5 altima! And my Z has a header on it. So go figure. Bruce, I have already cleaned everything a couple yrs ago. Thanks for the tip. This was just a connector that worked itself loose it just took me time to find it. Aren't Z cars fun! Every now and again I take the cover off to stare at it. My wife just shakes her head, but she likes it too. Bob

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I found the problem. After taking everything apart it ended up being as simple as a connector under the dash on the passenger side had vibrated apart. So battery voltage was getting to the connector just not from it which runs into the fuse block. Hence no power in acc position. Bob

Frank, Bruce and Dave, Thanks. I will do the vinegar thing for sure. And Dave I understand what you are saying I'm just not sure were to start yet but will figure it out. I hate electrical! Dave, I just figured out who you are. I just recently purchased a head light harness upgrade, which I will say is the best thing I've done for my 280 in a long time, and you should be receiving my combo switches anytime now to rebuild. This is Bob with the gold 280 that has the fiberglass cowl induction hood. Thanks everyone. I will post the outcome.

I have a 77 280z. owned it since 1985. I am experiencing a strange electrical problem with it. It is similar to other post I have read. I have an idea what it could be but would like to know what you all think. I drove it one night and 15 Min's into the drive my dash lights went out. I took it back home and realized I didn't have side maker or tail lights. I don't drive it alot. And haven't driven it at night for several years. Then I started checking everything to see what else was wrong. Well lets see, volt gauge doesn't register voltage if the doors are open?!, Close them and it shows normal voltage. Dome light doesn't work, all dash lights don't work that includes stereo, etc. Headlights work so it's not on that circuit. Horn doesn't work. Now here is the kicker, if I start the car everything works! except dash and marker lights (parking lights) I found a disconnected wire on the combo light switch. held it in place and the parking and tail lights and dash lights came on. So that fixes that problem. I just have to figure out why it came unsoldered from the combo switch. I have a feeling it is getting hot (green with white stripe). So why no horn, dome lights, and the drain on the volt gauge with the doors open? I've looked at the wiring diagram and am missing the obvious, obviously. Anyone have an idea of what I'm missing? Could it be the ignition relay? Any help is appreciated. Bob

I am searching for a place to restore my steering wheel and I came across your post. It looks great. Do you remember how much it cost? Thanks