Was having some issues getting the 78 280z to start today, had the roommate squeeze the fusible link connected to the positive battery terminal together and it started, as soon as he removed pressure the car died.

Had him squeeze real tight and got the plug all wrapped up in electrical tape to hold it. started the car and it died a few moments later, no fuel pressure.

Checked the fuselink and i have a positive 12v current on the pins from the terminal, but i have no continuity from the other side - from ecu i believe?

The ECU is new. Tested it on old and new ECU, same result.

With the fusible link not carrying juice to where it needs to go, the only things working in the car are the dome lights and the radio. No gauges, no fuel pump, nothing important.

Sorry for bad pic quality. Its late here so not much light. At least I found a use for my google glass finally!

 

Ive confirmed that the ECU harness is getting absolutely no power to any of the pins.

Any common issues that would prevent the connection from the positive battery terminal to the ecu to complete?

Im really scratching my head here as this one seems to have totally come out of nowhere.

 

I should also note that none of the other gauges or lights in the car i normally see are working either. The only thing with power is the radio and the dome light.

 

I have noticed that I am no longer getting the current from the ECU on the fuel pump relay when the key is turned to on. My fuel pump relay now has one poitive lead - battery - and three negatives.

There has to be an issue from the EFI harness to the ECU, but that ECU harness is terrifying looking and i have no clue where id even start.

Again, all ECU tests have been preformed on the OG ECU and a new one.

 

by no means am I an expert on electrical wiring but it sounds like you ought too replace that fusible link you mentioned in your first post. That's where I would start

 

Ya, The problem is, the links i mentioned carry the current just fine. Idk.

After lots of chatting and testing and head scratching and cursing PO, im about to head up and pick up 6 new links and replace them all. If that solves this issue, im gonna do the maxilink upgrade and move on to the next issue lol

 

Maaan. I dont even want to get into all the issues the specialist found.

bad relays everywhere. 3 broken connections in the harnesses. multiple plastic wing nut connections - ya...residential wiring pieces - etc etc. The electrical was an absolute mess.

Thats all resolved, but of course something new pops up. Thanks for the help!