1982 Nissan 280ZX Hard Start When Warm

NISSAN
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MARKDBRU
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  • 1 POST
1982 Nissan 280 zx just started this issue. Sometimes will not start until cranked for quite some time. Problem usually occurs more after the car has warmed up but has happened once after being driven for an hour then sitting for three hours and wouldn't start until battery went dead and a jump was supplied. I believe there is fuel as on the forementioned occasion I discovered a small leak on the infeed line to the pleneum. Tightening said hose did not affect the problem. The last occurance was after the car was driven approximately two miles but was warm due to previous use..it then would not start after sitting for about 20 minutes. I left the car sit over night and it fired right up the next morning. I am lost as to what to check first.. the fuel system or the electrical system.
Feb 8, 2007 at 3:34 AM
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RASMATAZ
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Try the fuel pressure when it dies out this will tell you something about the pump
Feb 8, 2007 at 6:53 AM
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KIN CHAN
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easy...piece of cake..we work on 70 % Z cars here...
find a vac inlet to intake manifold ( brake booster hose to intake) ..spray starting fluid in and continue spray when no start ...if engine start and continue running ..chk fuel pressure and power to the pump which is next to the tank at the back at the passenger side ......most likely is ur pump ....
kin chan
Feb 16, 2007 at 9:14 PM
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ZDALE
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You might also check the Igniter on the side of the distributor. When these go bad they sometimes act intermittent. Easy check would be to pull a plug wire and using a spark checker to look for a good spark when the vehicle is not starting. This is not a 100% as it may still spark when the ingniter is bad but usually on the older Z cars they will not spark at all. Easy and cheap fix.

Zdale
Feb 19, 2007 at 2:40 PM

Suggested Repair

When it will not start, check for spark and spray starting fluid into a manifold vacuum inlet. If it runs on starting fluid, check fuel pressure and power to the pump beside the tank. Also inspect the distributor igniter if spark is weak or absent.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 1982 Nissan 280ZX reports an intermittent no-start, usually after the car is warm, that can continue until the battery dies; it may then start after a jump or after sitting overnight. A small fuel-line leak was tightened without fixing it. Replies recommend a starting-fluid intake test, fuel-pressure and pump-power checks, and inspection of the distributor igniter and spark.

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