Thanks for sharing. Found this useful. Battery in my 280zx drains when cars not being used after like 2 days. Potentially identified the problem as the lighting relay that stays on all the time, even though lights are off and ignition turned off, causing drain. Now to figure out if this is normal behavior and if not, why. It’s not like I can easily pop around to someone with a 280 and check out the behavior 😂
Glad it was useful, maybe unplugging that relay and seeing if the battery holds a charge would test that theory? (test that the battery disconnected will still hold a charge) My guess is it's somewhere else or something else is contributing. You can also use a cheap multi-meter to measure current with the car off by putting the meter between a battery cable and the battery. I recommend a cheap meter in case you accidentally hit it with more than 10 amps and fry it. Can then start unplugging stuff and see if the draw goes away. I read more than 200-300mA is likely excessive. RUclips has some good videos on this test. Best of luck
@@PracticallyStock I discovered the relay problem when I disconnected the battery to do a current test. Audible click when was a giveaway. With the realy in, there's a draw of around .3amps, with relay out that drops to zero. Other concern is that the relay was notably hot when I pulled, at best that cant be good for relay to stay on or worse a fire hazard. Fo now I pulled the relay until I can make time for further fault finding. Battery was so dead, a smart charger couldn't even detect it, had to go old school to get some charge in it. You mention you have a PDF workshop manual. I have a hayes manual, but would prefer a PDF for easy searching and printing pages to use. Thanks for the reply :)
Here is where I got the PDF FSM www.xenonzcar.com/s130/fsm.php yeah that doesn't sound normal lol. The FMS will have some info on what is on that circuit if something is wrongfully triggering the relay. Hope the troubleshooting goes well!
I fell for you Brother... Got a 81 280zx turbo, I've been tracing wires for the fuel pump. Car starts, then dies. Replaced pump and 2 fuel relays.... no change. Ever consider getting a Painless wiring harness... I believe you you be better off.. Good Luck...
Does the fuel pressure drop before the motor shuts off? What made you think the fuel pump? The fuel pump will prime but then not start again unless the computer sees that the engine is running. If the engine is running the computer grounds the coil of the fuel pump relay which powers the pump. You can use an appropriately gauged wire with spade connecters in place of the relay on the ends to jump power from the 12v+ to the pump. Just make sure you are on the correct wires which will be a considerably heavier gauge (the bottom of the relay will tell you which ones do what). You're looking for the switched wires not the coil wires. If you bypass the relay and force power to the pump it will run until you remove the wire. So if you do this and the car still shuts off, the problem is elsewhere
Where can I get a copy of that wiring diagram
You should be able to get the specific manual for your car here www.xenonzcar.com/s130/fsm.php
Thanks for sharing. Found this useful. Battery in my 280zx drains when cars not being used after like 2 days. Potentially identified the problem as the lighting relay that stays on all the time, even though lights are off and ignition turned off, causing drain.
Now to figure out if this is normal behavior and if not, why.
It’s not like I can easily pop around to someone with a 280 and check out the behavior 😂
Glad it was useful, maybe unplugging that relay and seeing if the battery holds a charge would test that theory? (test that the battery disconnected will still hold a charge) My guess is it's somewhere else or something else is contributing. You can also use a cheap multi-meter to measure current with the car off by putting the meter between a battery cable and the battery. I recommend a cheap meter in case you accidentally hit it with more than 10 amps and fry it. Can then start unplugging stuff and see if the draw goes away. I read more than 200-300mA is likely excessive. RUclips has some good videos on this test. Best of luck
@@PracticallyStock I discovered the relay problem when I disconnected the battery to do a current test. Audible click when was a giveaway. With the realy in, there's a draw of around .3amps, with relay out that drops to zero. Other concern is that the relay was notably hot when I pulled, at best that cant be good for relay to stay on or worse a fire hazard. Fo now I pulled the relay until I can make time for further fault finding.
Battery was so dead, a smart charger couldn't even detect it, had to go old school to get some charge in it.
You mention you have a PDF workshop manual. I have a hayes manual, but would prefer a PDF for easy searching and printing pages to use.
Thanks for the reply :)
Here is where I got the PDF FSM www.xenonzcar.com/s130/fsm.php
yeah that doesn't sound normal lol. The FMS will have some info on what is on that circuit if something is wrongfully triggering the relay.
Hope the troubleshooting goes well!
I fell for you Brother... Got a 81 280zx turbo, I've been tracing wires for the fuel pump. Car starts, then dies. Replaced pump and 2 fuel relays.... no change. Ever consider getting a Painless wiring harness... I believe you you be better off.. Good Luck...
Does the fuel pressure drop before the motor shuts off? What made you think the fuel pump? The fuel pump will prime but then not start again unless the computer sees that the engine is running. If the engine is running the computer grounds the coil of the fuel pump relay which powers the pump. You can use an appropriately gauged wire with spade connecters in place of the relay on the ends to jump power from the 12v+ to the pump. Just make sure you are on the correct wires which will be a considerably heavier gauge (the bottom of the relay will tell you which ones do what). You're looking for the switched wires not the coil wires. If you bypass the relay and force power to the pump it will run until you remove the wire. So if you do this and the car still shuts off, the problem is elsewhere
Very helpful would love that pdf
You should be able to get the year specific FSM from this site www.xenonzcar.com/s130/fsm.php