Newby here. Just bought the 1982 280zxturbo last week. Sensor wire was disconnected when I bought it. Upon closer inspection it appears that the float must be missing some parts. Can anybody confirm this? Here is a pic. Thanks.

 

I don't think there is a float - just completes the circuit when the two exposed metal pieces are in the bottom of the tank.

 

Well something isn't right because the "check out" light or whatever it is called (on the dash) stops at "washer" indicating it is empty when it is actually full. When I disconnected the wire to the reservoir, it goes thru its checklist and gives me the "OK". There is just a single metal washer at the bottom of the float mechanism. The float is a plastic donut around a plastic rod. Something isn't working right.

 

It is a grounding float. When the float is at the bottom, it grounds, tripping the warning light.

When in doubt, check the FSM. Testing is outlined. Grab your multimeter.

 

Just disconnect it and the warning light will go away.Until you find one...I think I do have one in working condition.
Jamal

 

Are you using washer fluid? Deionized water doesn't conduct very well and depending on if you are just using water with no ions in it it's possible it won't complete the circuit.

 

Yes I used washer fluid. The part that was supposed to float just sank to the bottom. I tried gluing a piece of Styrofoam to it but that didn't work too well.

 

Great, now my windshield washer does not work... never tried it before and when I did today no fluid would spray. I have a few spares tanks from my z31's, maybe the pumps are the same.

 

I will check fuses and such 1st, but I have never had an issue with one. I did have a 63 Nova I replaced the pump with an off the shelf kit, worked ok.

 

I was just driving home from downtown festivities and the upper hose on my 2002 Sebring convertible decided it would split. Temp. gauge went right to hot. A passerby out for a walk went to his home and got me enough water to get me home (about 2 miles). Car has 65k miles. So time to replace both hoses, maybe timing belt too. The local shop had a car just like mine that was headed to the junkyard. Car had overheated and the shop wanted $3k for a used motor parts and labor. The car is only worth about $5k.

 

Timing chain on these, so not like a belt on a z31, if they break, chaos. I managed to fix my washers, the sprayers were clogged, the tank had some kind of sludge floating around, so I took it apart, rinsed it out, replaced all the clear hoses with ones from my 84, and had to use one of the spray nozzles off my 84, they go through the hood, completely different, so I glued one to close to the stock position, also replaced the pump with one off my z31. all the front washer pumps on s130 & z31 apparently are the same, even the connector. MY s130 does not have a rear window washer, my other spare tanks are for front and back and have an extra pump for the back window, Odd thing too, the 86 tank had a sensor like yours, the 84 not at all.... at least no float.

 

Jamal sent me two sensors. At least one works (didn't try the other but the float actually floats on both of them). Thanks Jamal!

 

Yep you welcome....the other one is a spare(not that good cosmatically) but works fine.
Jamal