New(for me) 280zx wont run..

[pablo_max]

Hello, I just bought a 1983 280zx non-turbo this last week and tried to get it running this weekend. It had been sitting the better part of 3 years, so the first thing I did was replace all the vacuum hoses, fuel hoses, filters, oil and gas. I tried to start it, but no luck. It would start for about 4 seconds and then die out right away, gas petal seemed to have no effect one way or the other. If I attempted to start it again directly after, it would not start at all. However, if I waited about 5 min and tried again, it would start for a couple seconds like before and then die. Last night I dismantled the fuel rail(what a pain that was) and tool the injectors out with the thought of cleaning them (have not actually cleaned them yet).

Basically, I am not really sure what I should try next.. It's for sure getting spark as it starts for a few seconds, but I dont know for sure that its getting fuel. The question is, is it the pressure regulator? The idle control valve? Air flow meter? (which btw the, the plastic cap popped off the Air flow meter, but it looked in tacked so I siliconed it back on). Does anyone have any thoughts on the order in which I should narrow my search for the problem? I would really rather not just start replacing everything until it works...can get a little expensive for me. Any advice would help.Thanks in advance. Patrick

[evildky]

have you varified the afm isn't sutck? they sometimes stick, this will allow for the fuel pump to prime the line then shut off, enough fuel to fire but not to run on, could also be a bad afm, verify the afm door is closing, the cover btw just keeps moisture off the internals, I left mne off as I was always adjusting it

when you turn the key on you should hear the fuel pump prime the line, then you crank and fire, when it dies you should still hear the fuel pump for a second or till you turn the key off, if you don't hear the fuel pump then lilkely it's an afm problem

[pablo_max]

I push the flap in there and it seems to move freely. Is there a way that I can bypass the AFM? It sounds like that is most reasonable thing to replace..although I would hate to spend 180 bucks on a new one and have the same problem.

I dont actually remember if i heard the fuel pump on or not when car died. I will have to bolt everything back on and see what it does...thanks.

One more stupid question..Is there a trick to getting that damn electrical connector off the bottom of the AFM?

[evildky]

bypass the afm, sure! run a stand alone, thats what I did as for pulling the plug, I use a pick to push the metal retainer off then it slides right off, if there is no pick handy I try to rock the connector sideways to get one end to pop loose