deadlyvirus

I will definitely give both the AFM and ECU a good check over this weekend. I'll have the time to take them off and really look them over. I noticed my vacuum doesn't have a check valve, which would explain the backfire pressure. Called the local auto parts store and they don't have one. Guess I'll have to order one online. If I can't fix the ECU and AFM I will replace, but hopefully I can find a good used ones, don't know if I can afford the prices for them new. I seen those prices and said... ouch.

I've owned my Z car for about 8 months now. It's from the NW so the body has quite a bit of rust. I need a new hatch and repair some panels but I believe those are the only major spots. Or at least I hope so. I picked it up with 135k miles on it and the inside is black leather all in near perfect shape. I say near perfect because the dash needs some work, it's not cracked but that plastic near the bottom and the steering column are messed up and there is a small chunk taken out of the driver seat. Other than that there is no fade in the carpets or anything. I hear ya about having a month of free time, but I would also need the cash to cover that month. I would strip the car and start from the ground up. I think I might sleep in my car after that. I never even thought about using a fog machine to catch the leaks. That is a great idea, I have a condensation problem so I need to fix that eventually. I know I need new seals for doors and windows though but once I get those replaced I am definitely doing the fog machine test.

Sounds like you have been through some problems as well. But I think it's the fun part about owning an older car, especially one that you actually like. This is my first Z and there is just something about it. Can't really explain it except that it's like an addiction . I don't think I'll ever own another car again. Just keep fixing up Z's. Man that's crazy about your gas tank, makes me scared to look in mine . I wouldn't doubt I would have the same problem with rust. I'll have to dive into that some day though, no doubt about it. My biggest problem right now is I don't have anywhere to work on it. I live in an apartment so I'm doing all my work in the parking lot of the apartment complex. Makes it tough when there are a couple of other cars all crammed up next to my car. But hey, I make do and try to do what I can. Fixing things little by little, fix one thing and move onto the next. Would just be nice if I could fix the things on my own time instead of my car breaking down and deciding when I should fix it. I swear at times she's alive and has an attitude with me . I don't think she likes me very much. So do you have a coupe? auto or manual? I would like to drop a 5 speed in my car but that comes way way down the road. After I get it up and running good I have to take care of the rust spots.... Anyway, I'm rambling on now, sorry bout' that, I'd love to talk with ya some more so you should hit me up sometime.

OK so quick update. I went out to my car and gave a couple "raps" on the AFM and what do you know it started up and idled just fine. I took it for a test drive and she stutter and hesitates on take off with low throttle but if I give her a little more gas she revs through the stuttering just fine. At higher speeds the HP is there and runs fine. My guess is the AFM is bad, or at least going there, plus the boot running from the AFM to the throttle body is duct taped covering a hole. That explains some of the stutter at take off but the AFM probably has more to do with that. I have replaced the TPS, forgot to mention that, so I don't think that is the problem. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm what I like to call a weekend mechanic . I work on my car on the weekends when I can. I learn by you guys and by the FSM and fuel injection bible. I hope to get this car running good one day, but it seems if I fix one thing another goes wrong.

I also want to note that this car has been my daily driver. I drove her home from work the night before and the next morning this happened.

Thank you guys for the quick reply. A quick question.. can I use a ECU off of an 82' in my 78'? A friend of mine has a junked 82 that I can get parts off of. I know the mechanics are pretty much the same but not sure if their ECU and fuel injection system is different. I tried the AFM off that car awhile back and it was no good. It barely ran with that one on there.

Hello to all and thanks for reading. Let me see where can I start... I have a 78' 280z 2+2/automatic california model.. I recently replaced the plugs, plug wires, cap, rotor, replaced vacuum lines and new fuel injectors. The injectors are the newest addition, well the car ran wonderful after the injectors, had increased HP and MPG, then exactly a week after they were installed the car has a very rough idle. Now to explain this idle is tough, what it does is as soon as I start the car it revs to about 2k RPMs and drops to 0. It sounds like the car died then all of a sudden it revs right back to 2k RPMs. If I step on the throttle the motor shakes violently and it sounds like it's missing cylinders. During this time there is white smoke coming out of the exhaust and I have even seen some coming out from what looks like just under the motor on the driver side. There is a heavy smell of gas to the smoke. One thing that happened when this first started is when I fired her up I heard a loud pop, could have been a backfire but didn't really sound like it. Anyway, I noticed the boot coming off of the AFM to the throttle body popped off, could have been the source of the bang. Once connected it still has the same problem. From what I can tell the oil doesn't smell like gas and the coolant is the normal color with no foam. I am at a complete loss here. Is it possible for the AFM to just go out without any signs of it going bad? Or what about a blown fuel injector? Or what about the timing being off? Those are the only things that I can think of. I sure could use some help on this one.