1982 280ZX restoration won't start

[4cefed]

Hi all,

I've had a 92 240SX for a couple years and I love it. I've always had good luck with people on this forum and now I need some help.

My father is turning 60 in july and he's always wanted a classic Z. So my brother who worked in a junk yard acquired a 1982 280ZX. It has a few issues with some rust and it won't run very well. Now it won't start at all.

I checked the compression today and I got this for numbers:

1 1662 1603 1604 1605 1306 165

So #5 is a little low but if I get it running I'll try a leak down test or seafoam it before I tear it apart. I'm getting fuel because I can smell unburnt vapor out the exhaust. I removed the air cleaner because it was clogged with acorns. The coil wire was rotted so I replaced it with one from a dodge that I modded for now. I have cap, rotor, wires, and plugs on order but can I try anything til then? Is there a way of "checking codes" on an '82? What is the firing order on the rotor? Is there an online manual somewhere? What are the common pitfalls with these cars?

I would be very greatful for some input from the old pros. Thanks in advance.

[evildky]

the compression isn't enough of a problem to cause any real running problems, and I'd highly recomend against any seafoam or other snake oils till you actually know the source fo the problem, just randomly throwing solutions at an ynknown problem seldom helps

and nope no coses it's not OBD, it's bosch L jetronic, which sucks

we know you are getting compression, how about spark and fuel? fuel pump coming on? injector relay clicking? injectors clicking? spark at the distributor? spark at the plug? everything hooked up? no broken dangling or damaged wires?

[4cefed]

I've been playing around with it for a couple days and I'm getting a little more familiar. I've had to work by myself so it's little difficult.

I'm getting spark signal anyway. I pulled the #6 wire and put it on a spare plug. I thought I saw spark once but the engine shook the plug off it's ground and I couldn't see it again. I hooked up a timing light and ran it in the car. I held the trigger as I cranked and I got regular flashing. I hope it's just not weak spark.

I can hear the pump running and fuel lines seem pressurized. I can smell unburned fuel after I've been cranking for a while. I don't see any leaks either. I haven't been able to test the injectors to see if they are firing or if it's just the cold start injector I'm smelling. I heard this thing run last fall, it didn't sound healthy, but it was running on all 6 so that would lead me to believe the plug wires are correct and the timing is at least close. I'll double check these soon though.

I found some damaged wires behind the passenger strut tower. They weren't severed, but chewed in half by a mouse. One goes to the horn relay, and the other two went to a relay with about 6 or 8 connections.

I found online the shop manual and also a fuel injection theory/operation and troubleshooting guide. Armed with these I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually. Coming from the wonderful world of Chrysler there was usually a common problem why one thing or another wasn't working. I was looking for shortcuts.

Thanks for the reply and I'll try and find those links if anyone wants them.

[4cefed]

Well, for anyone running across this thread, I found the problem a while ago. The coil wire rotted and wasn't making a good connection. There must have been enough to get a signal to the plugs and for my timing light, but not enough to get the plug to fire with any real energy.

[little_red]

check out this site, has just about every FSM for every S130

http://www.xenonz31.com/s130/reference.html