cothran

It isn't the fusible links. I drove it about 50 miles this weekend - ran perfectly fine. This morning I decided it was ok to drive it to work. As I got near the last parking lot before the freeway, I said "ok, one stop left" as in 'if you're going to die, now is the time to do it.' And she died. Now I might be imagining this, but the last time it died and this time it seemed to be related to giving it gas in third gear while at a fairly low rpm, maybe 1500. I gave it gas and it seemed to just not respond then a few seconds later it died. Even if that's what caused it I don't know what that would mean. The thing is, if it's going to die it does it within the first couple of miles. If it doesn't die within that time it will run all day. I haven't had time to open up the turn signal and check that, but aside from that I think it's time to tear out the fuel injection. That way the entire FI electronic system is out of the picture. The fuel pump will be replaced, so I can cross that off too. Which would leave the alternator, the gas tank (which I doubt is the cause), the fuse box and the fuel pump relay unless I'm missing something.

I just ordered some replacement fusible links, so we'll see if that helps. I also just read about hogie's problem up above where his turn signal was causing the ignition to cut out - I'll have to take a look at my turn signal unit, too.

Sorry, I always forget that. 1978 280z, no mods aside from aftermarket exhaust (twice pipes) and 4 piston calipers.

Forgot to mention that I also tested the fuel pressure (before the regulator, after the filter) and was consistently getting about 32psi. There have been a few instances after it dies when the pump won't turn on, but the times that it does it still doesn't start. It really makes me think it's an electrical issue, which I'm mediocre (at best) at diagnosing.

I posted a thread here regarding this, and one of the members thought I might be able to get some better answers here. I won't make you all read that 5 page long thread, so here is the gist of the issue. After buying the car and driving it daily 60 miles roundtrip to work for about 2 months, it suddenly started dying without warning. Sometimes it will restart immediately, sometimes I have to wait an hour, or overnight. Most recently, for example, I drove it on Saturday all over the place for about 1/2 hour. I started and stopped it multiple times, got gas, etc. and it was perfectly fine. The next day i went to drive it to a local car show and I made it about 500 feet before it died and wouldn't restart. I checked for spark (good), fuel pump was engaging, but no ignition. A couple of times, after about 10 tries, it started and ran extremely rough for about 2 seconds then died again. I drove my other car to the show, came back about an hour later and tried to start it and it fired right up. I have since driven it 3 more times without issue. Here's what I have done so far: • New coil • New plugs and wires • New fuel filter • Replaced all fuses, cleaned terminals • Cleaned all relays under hood After the last time it died I pulled the fuel pump/dampener assembly and pulled the small fuel filter out of the fuel pump. It was crystal clean. My next step was going to be dropping the gas tank, but if there was crud in the tank wouldn't at least something have made it into the pump filter? I mean, it definitely ACTS like a fuel starvation problem. However... The only time I've been able to replicate the problem myself was when I noticed in a video I made that the voltage light was coming on when I put the turn signal on. The next day I drove it, every time I used the turn signal it died immediately. That was the problem that drove me to replace all the fuses and clean all the terminals. After I did that, that particular problem no longer occurs and I can no longer cause it to die by doing anything myself. So, is it electrical or mechanical? Anyone have any ideas? My next step (after I drop the fuel tank) will be to tear out the fuel injection and replace it with carbs. I find it odd that I can drive it for miles with no issues but then it will die after only 30 seconds of driving some days. If it was crud in the lines/filter, wouldn't it stay clogged up? I really thought I solved it by replacing the fuses/cleaning because it ran for about a week just fine, but the morning I tried to drive it to work I didn't make it 2 miles.