Draker Posted August 28, 2017 Report Share Posted August 28, 2017 All lights, then could be ignition switch or connection off fuse box. Only wsy to tell is to break out a meter when it's not working and trace out the circuit. Quote Link to comment
q-tip Posted August 28, 2017 Report Share Posted August 28, 2017 If it's leaking right at the driveshaft it's the pinion seal that is bad, not the third member seal. Quote Link to comment
DatMo Posted August 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2017 If it's leaking right at the driveshaft it's the pinion seal that is bad, not the third member seal. Thanks! I'll look for a new one today to get that taken care of! Quote Link to comment
DatMo Posted August 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2017 All lights, then could be ignition switch or connection off fuse box. Only wsy to tell is to break out a meter when it's not working and trace out the circuit. Will do! Quote Link to comment
DatMo Posted August 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2017 Also, this never seemed like a big deal to me. But I think it is now. My car runs at 14v. But after I turn on headlights I drop to 12.5. That being said, is my alternator bad? Is it really that bad because I think it's fine and I know the charge is working because my battery still starts up just fine after a week or so? Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted August 29, 2017 Report Share Posted August 29, 2017 Yes that is terrible. When your lights are on you aren't really charging the battery much if at all. If the demand from the car is higher than what the alternator is producing, you will be discharging your battery at times. Car batterys don't do well under that kind of use and it shortens the life drastically. Your alternator should always be above 13.5V if it's running correctly.but no higher than 14.8V or so. Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted August 29, 2017 Report Share Posted August 29, 2017 Insufficient output or excessive draw from your lights for the given alternator output. Quote Link to comment
DatMo Posted August 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2017 I wired my lights through a relay so I really assumed that they would have minimal drawing paper. I'll have to get my alternator checked soon and go from there I suppose. Thanks. Quote Link to comment
q-tip Posted August 30, 2017 Report Share Posted August 30, 2017 Is it only 12.5 at idle or does it go up with some more rpm? Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted August 30, 2017 Report Share Posted August 30, 2017 I wired my lights through a relay so I really assumed that they would have minimal drawing paper. I'll have to get my alternator checked soon and go from there I suppose. Thanks. A relay is only a switch, it will not help with the amount of current the headlights use.. But it is good to use if you have a larger current draw then the factory switch intended. Then you don't burn up the switch or blow fuses.... How many amps is your alternator? Is it an upgrade? I am pretty sure my stock 521 alternator only produces 30amps... So if you have upgraded lights, a stereo or a combination of anything else you may need a higher amp output alternator to take care of the current drop.... Quote Link to comment
DatMo Posted August 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2017 Is it only 12.5 at idle or does it go up with some more rpm?I'll have to check when I get home to the car next week. Quote Link to comment
DatMo Posted August 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2017 A relay is only a switch, it will not help with the amount of current the headlights use.. But it is good to use if you have a larger current draw then the factory switch intended. Then you don't burn up the switch or blow fuses.... How many amps is your alternator? Is it an upgrade? I am pretty sure my stock 521 alternator only produces 30amps... So if you have upgraded lights, a stereo or a combination of anything else you may need a higher amp output alternator to take care of the current drop.... I believe it's the 60 amp off the 280zx that's internally regulated. I do have upgraded lights and I also have a few switches and I would have all my gauges. That being said, I am using a super small battery off of a Harley to get the car going but then I figured that wouldn't matter much because it's only to start the car? Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted August 31, 2017 Report Share Posted August 31, 2017 Not sure how much, if at all, the size of the battery effects your problem, I think like you said it's really only to start the car.. Maybe try a bigger battery to rule it out but I'm not convinced that's your problem. I still think you drawing to much with the lights.... Switches and gauges are a minimal draw.... How much are the lights suppose to use? I compare this to my daily drive (chevy)... It had a 100amp altenator... I have a pretty loud stereo system in it.... 75% volume I could watch my voltage drop with the bass... When it finally died they offered me one for a truck with a plow package which was 140 amps.... Now I can turn my stereo up to 100% without a flicker of the gauge.... So either you alternator is not putting out 100% anymore or those lights require a lot more power.... Check the directions it should list it's power needs... Then probably have the alternator tested? Also have you configured the lights different from what they intended, like being able to have high and low on at the same time....? Quote Link to comment
DatMo Posted September 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2017 Not sure how much, if at all, the size of the battery effects your problem, I think like you said it's really only to start the car.. Maybe try a bigger battery to rule it out but I'm not convinced that's your problem. I still think you drawing to much with the lights.... Switches and gauges are a minimal draw.... How much are the lights suppose to use? I compare this to my daily drive (chevy)... It had a 100amp altenator... I have a pretty loud stereo system in it.... 75% volume I could watch my voltage drop with the bass... When it finally died they offered me one for a truck with a plow package which was 140 amps.... Now I can turn my stereo up to 100% without a flicker of the gauge.... So either you alternator is not putting out 100% anymore or those lights require a lot more power.... Check the directions it should list it's power needs... Then probably have the alternator tested? Also have you configured the lights different from what they intended, like being able to have high and low on at the same time....? These are some great points. The car is set to have high and low at the same time HOWEVER I've only been running the low beams and completely unplugged the highs. This continues to happen. I'll look into upgrading to a gm regulator or get mine tested. I'd rather get the car driving correctly first, then upgrade alternators but this could very well be the answer. Thank you so much. Now as far as the car driving, you guys said it could be "too much carb for the car" meaning that I'm running too rich? Should I try to lower the mixture screw and raise the idle screw to compensate? I don't know how to tune carbs too well but I do have a uni-syn tool that i use to help me get the numbers right. My synchrometer works much better. For some reason, my uni-syn's ball that's supposed to float doesn't even move. Quote Link to comment
DatMo Posted September 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2017 Is it possible that what I need for the car to really run good is a good carb tune? Quote Link to comment
DatMo Posted September 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2017 I was also thinking of re jetting as a potential option? Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted September 6, 2017 Report Share Posted September 6, 2017 If your not sure about tuning maybe get a baseline reading at a dyno shop. That will give you good info about your air/fuel, and which way you need to go with rejetting or tuning Or if you like spending money invest in a wideband o2 kit..... For me I went with the o2 kit because no one around me can tune a weber.. Ideally you can find a dyno shop that has jets for your carb ( sorry no idea what carb you have) and help tune while your there.... 1 Quote Link to comment
DatMo Posted September 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2017 Thanks. That's a huge help. Also, why does no one run the Isuzu brake upgrade on h190 rear ends for a 510? They would work the same and fine essentially. Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 Lug pattern seems the most likely reason Quote Link to comment
DatMo Posted September 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 Lug pattern seems the most likely reason Ahhh that would be true wouldn't it lol Quote Link to comment
DatMo Posted September 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 Anyone got an idea where they sell 280zx rear disc brackets? Quote Link to comment
DatMo Posted September 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 I got a Flickr. Here's updates. Just recently dyed and got the black e30 seats in. Gotta install my aos and a few more things. That wire hanging is for a hazard switch that I'll do soon. I wanna get this car to run better. Anyway to make e30 seats sit lower? Not sure how to post in img format https://flic.kr/p/Ykup7L https://flic.kr/p/YADw6k https://flic.kr/p/YkuqqN https://flic.kr/p/XjJXW1 https://flic.kr/p/XZuya3 https://flic.kr/p/Yo59Xc https://flic.kr/p/YiW12w https://flic.kr/p/XZuxe5 https://flic.kr/p/XZux3o Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted September 11, 2017 Report Share Posted September 11, 2017 The goon is looking good!! Quote Link to comment
DatMo Posted September 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2017 The goon is looking good!! Thanks! Hopefully I can get more of it sorted out! I'm wishing I could daily it already. Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted September 11, 2017 Report Share Posted September 11, 2017 Thanks! Hopefully I can get more of it sorted out! I'm wishing I could daily it already.That's the worse when your so close....I took my 521 for a joyride around the block.... with nothing more than a cab on a complete chassis.... the itch to drive it is awfull now.... Quote Link to comment
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