82 Datsun 280ZX - NonTurbo - Dies

[mef]

The car runs great, but seems to have started a nasty habit of just unpredictably stalling-driving down the highway and the engine just stops. The fuel filter has been replaced. The fuel pressure is 32 psig at idle. Manipulating the vacuum, the fuel line pressure changes as follows:
0" hg - 40 psig
5" hg - 38 psig
10" hg - 36 psig
15" hg - 34 psig
20" hg - 32 psig
The service manual suggests that with full vacuum applied the pressure should be below what is at idle. But not sure how critical this is, seems to run great when it is running. Wondering if I have some type of electrical problem.......anyone have any ideas how to identify this intermittent stall problem?

[icice9]

your problem is your ignition modual.. its the black plastic square connected to the side of your distributer.. when it goes out your car will unexpectidly die at any moment while driving.. the parts around $100 new.. and you can pick one up at your local parts store...

[El Taco]

NOOOOOOO! F*** the parts store! $10 at any junkyard! Plus, that's not your problem. An ignition module goes out, and that's it. There's no "well, it's going out" When it's gone, it's gone. Change the EFI relay under the plastc cover next to the battery. It will be the one mounted with 2 screws on the top. Again, f*** the store, get this item from a parts car. You have to be made of money to get this ignorant stuff new.

[El Taco]

Oh, yeah. If it won't start after it dies, slam the hood with the key on, and keep on truckin'. There are two EFI relays, one where I told you, and one in an impossible to reach without tearing out the entire dash spot, above the passenger kick panel. Try the easy to reach one. It should cost about $5 used from a salvage yard. Oh, and keep a few IGN modules in the glovebox. They go through them like hotcakes. You can also disassemble that relay, and wrap a rubber band around the conacts. Bend the metal away w/a pocket knife, separate the cover, and do as above. This is emergency protocol only, and don't leave the band on it. Also, don't let it touch anything. There's a reason it's covered an well mounted.

[mef]

Just a followup here....in this particular case, the ignition control module was the problem. It never was a hard failure, but failed intermittently and unpredictably. Believe the intermittent failures were temperature related, since as the weather began to warm up, the failure rate seemed to increased. Anyhow all is well now.