Need Some Help buy 280zx
11-23-2003, 07:39 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Need Some Help buy 280zx
I posted awhile back about this but now im actually buying the car..i will decide if I am or not after me and my dad test drive it. I have been saving up for a 1983 Good condition Datsun 280zx turbo.. I have 1,128 dollars saved up on it. Im getting a loan for the rest. The 280zx has a problem though. The guy said it was a Fuel censor or fuel modulator said it wasnt a big part only cost around 100 dollars to fix. I was wondering is that correct or is it a big part that costs alot. I really love the car i dont know how many times i have stopped and looked at it. Not sure what the exact mileage is but its pretty high up there. Please help me
11-24-2003, 11:35 AM
#2
The Evil Twin
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 9,296
I've never heard of a fuel sensor. You'll need to find out exactly what is wrong with the car. If it only costs $100 why didn't the owner just fix it so he could sell the car for more? Sounds like he doesn't maintain the car, he doesn't really know whats wrong with it, or he is deceiving you.
Whatever he tells you, it may end up being more of a problem than you first expect. Does the car run and drive good? How much is he asking for this high milage 280zx turbo with a fuel problem?
Whatever he tells you, it may end up being more of a problem than you first expect. Does the car run and drive good? How much is he asking for this high milage 280zx turbo with a fuel problem?
11-24-2003, 01:55 PM
#3
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The reason the guy hant fixed it is cause he owns a buiness and doesnt have time to get around to it. When he bought it he didnt have girlfriend. Well he got one he had 2kids so did she so... the car couldnt hold all of them so he is just trying to get rid of it. We might be test driving it today 
to see if it runs good. The car is in good condition. 2000 dollars is its price
to see if it runs good. The car is in good condition. 2000 dollars is its price
Last edited by ZeeOne; 11-24-2003 at 01:57 PM.
11-24-2003, 03:10 PM
#4
The Evil Twin
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 9,296
Ok, well common fuel related replacement items are:
Air Flow Meter: easy to replace: $25-100 used, $200+ new
Fuel Pressure Regulator: not very hard to replace: $25-30 new
Head Temp Sensor: easy to replace: $50 new
Fuel Injectors: difficult, time consuming to replace: $120-300 new (eBay!)
Oxygen Sensor: can be hard, should be easy. They seize up in the exahust manifold: $30-40 new
Might be some other stuff on the turbo I don't know about. The ECU rarely goes bad. If it does, it may not run at all.
Maybe some intake boots or seals are leaking. That causes problems with the fuel mixture. Replace the air filter!
Air Flow Meter: easy to replace: $25-100 used, $200+ new
Fuel Pressure Regulator: not very hard to replace: $25-30 new
Head Temp Sensor: easy to replace: $50 new
Fuel Injectors: difficult, time consuming to replace: $120-300 new (eBay!)
Oxygen Sensor: can be hard, should be easy. They seize up in the exahust manifold: $30-40 new
Might be some other stuff on the turbo I don't know about. The ECU rarely goes bad. If it does, it may not run at all.
Maybe some intake boots or seals are leaking. That causes problems with the fuel mixture. Replace the air filter!
11-25-2003, 04:25 AM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hey thanks for that info Bleach Zee. Here is an update the owner called yesterday. HE said he wasnt at the store before but he will be there all day today. The car has spent alot of its life at Moses Nissan they took care of it. The owner bought it and drove it for about a month then he got his girl friend and all that and needs to sell it. So maybe me and my dad will test drive it today!
11-26-2003, 10:19 AM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
we test rived the car and the thing has a bad exhaust manifold (its cracked) and the catalatylic converter maybe broke also. The front dash is cracked and its runs real rough with the fuel modulator not working. Its rpm meter doesnt work either. we cant find exactly whats wrong with it because when they try to read the computer in it to see whats wrong its just too old to be able to read it.. ok now here are some positives. It has working A/C ,cruise control , has an 8 disc cd changer, hugs the turns if it gets fixed up it will run great.
11-26-2003, 10:57 AM
#7
The Evil Twin
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 9,296
Replacing the intake/exhaust manifold gasket is not a huge project. They are one piece. Make sure you specify TURBO when ordering it!
The cat might be clogged and that's what aided in blowing the exhaust manifold gasket. After you replace the gasket, imediatly drive it (keep low rpms) to an exahust shop and just have a whole new pipe, cat, and muffler put on.
The only other thing is... i think the factory turbo does not have a blowoff valve; maybe you need one if the boost level was changed from factory settings.
Replace the air flow meter with a used one. Look here or on Z-car.com for them. I've seen them for sale in good working condition for $30-100. The turbo AFM is harder to find and costs a little more than the N/A one. (Normally Aspired)
As for the tach, it could be as simple as a signal wire off the coil not being connected or the gauge could be bad. I've never seen the tach go bad though. You can find the gauge clusters on eBay often for $10-30. Check all connections around the coil.
And those computers can't be read! They are so simple there's nothing to them. I think the 1985 Nissan Maxima was one of the first ECU's that Nissan made to be read by a mechanic's computer diagnostics. Plug in your Atari 2600 and you'll have higher end technology!
The cat might be clogged and that's what aided in blowing the exhaust manifold gasket. After you replace the gasket, imediatly drive it (keep low rpms) to an exahust shop and just have a whole new pipe, cat, and muffler put on.
The only other thing is... i think the factory turbo does not have a blowoff valve; maybe you need one if the boost level was changed from factory settings.
Replace the air flow meter with a used one. Look here or on Z-car.com for them. I've seen them for sale in good working condition for $30-100.
The turbo AFM is harder to find and costs a little more than the N/A one. (Normally Aspired)As for the tach, it could be as simple as a signal wire off the coil not being connected or the gauge could be bad. I've never seen the tach go bad though. You can find the gauge clusters on eBay often for $10-30. Check all connections around the coil.
And those computers can't be read! They are so simple there's nothing to them. I think the 1985 Nissan Maxima was one of the first ECU's that Nissan made to be read by a mechanic's computer diagnostics. Plug in your Atari 2600 and you'll have higher end technology!
11-26-2003, 11:42 AM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
so this wont cost me alot of money if i order online. I went to http://catalog.overnightautoparts.co...imageField.y=9 that is a great site tons of zx turbo parts for alot cheaper. So just get a new tail pipe for it? how much will that cost?
So just get a new tail pipe for it? how much will that cost?
11-26-2003, 01:28 PM
#9
The Evil Twin
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 9,296
I go to the no-name shops run by an independant guy. Not Midas or other major chain muffler shops.
Usually $150 for your basic pipe, generic cat, and simple muffler that's not super quiet.
On my Z, I installed headers because the shop says "We don't touch that". Then I drove it to the shop with just headers on. (ya, its loud like you can't imagine!) He made a nice flowing collector (that took a while) installed a catalytic converter that I had bought new from another place for $50, installed a Flowmaster muffler at the end all for $200. He might have thrown the cat in for free. I wouldn't bother getting one from somewhere else. I'm sure the shop will have a selection. I got 2.5 inch for my n/a Z. I'd suggest 2.25 for other n/a L28. For your turbo, get 2.25 if you want a near stock setup or 2.5 to 3 inch if you're going for high performance with plans to put out more boost in the future. Remember, the smaller the pipe, the more quiet it will be too.
Also, http://www.importedcarparts.com/ has a good selection of parts and cheap too. I get all my stuff from there and install it myself. The exhaust and final paint job is the only thing I didn't do on my 280ZX.
- - - - - - - - - Update - - - - - - - - - -
I checked both car parts sites. They both use the same online parts inventory software but the site I posted is cheaper for your exhaust manifold gasket. www.expressautoparts.com also uses the same software and most of their prices are just a tiny bit higher than importedcarparts.com
Doesn't hurt to shop around and have two or three browsers open. Also, Express Auto gives free shipping on orders over $50. They are cheaper than Overnight Auto Parts who give the same offer. (you pay for it in the price of the parts! haha) For small orders, Imported Car Parts looks like the best deal.
Usually $150 for your basic pipe, generic cat, and simple muffler that's not super quiet.
On my Z, I installed headers because the shop says "We don't touch that". Then I drove it to the shop with just headers on. (ya, its loud like you can't imagine!) He made a nice flowing collector (that took a while) installed a catalytic converter that I had bought new from another place for $50, installed a Flowmaster muffler at the end all for $200. He might have thrown the cat in for free. I wouldn't bother getting one from somewhere else. I'm sure the shop will have a selection. I got 2.5 inch for my n/a Z. I'd suggest 2.25 for other n/a L28. For your turbo, get 2.25 if you want a near stock setup or 2.5 to 3 inch if you're going for high performance with plans to put out more boost in the future. Remember, the smaller the pipe, the more quiet it will be too.
Also, http://www.importedcarparts.com/ has a good selection of parts and cheap too. I get all my stuff from there and install it myself. The exhaust and final paint job is the only thing I didn't do on my 280ZX.
- - - - - - - - - Update - - - - - - - - - -
I checked both car parts sites. They both use the same online parts inventory software but the site I posted is cheaper for your exhaust manifold gasket. www.expressautoparts.com also uses the same software and most of their prices are just a tiny bit higher than importedcarparts.com
Doesn't hurt to shop around and have two or three browsers open. Also, Express Auto gives free shipping on orders over $50. They are cheaper than Overnight Auto Parts who give the same offer. (you pay for it in the price of the parts! haha) For small orders, Imported Car Parts looks like the best deal.
Last edited by Bleach; 11-26-2003 at 01:34 PM.
