billbranch Posted July 11, 2013 Report Share Posted July 11, 2013 Just when I'm delivering the V6 to Mr. Roger for head gaskets, my daughter calls in a driving rainstorm to tell me the car died. It has been excessively hot and humid here with frequent downpours and large puddles through which people love to drive. Anyway, the car is in my garage drying out. It started instantly after it rolled off the flatbed. The tachometer was jumping all over the place, the sensor a constant yellow. After a while it was idling OK, poor response. In pure darkness with the hood open and engine running, there was no arcing. I did hear a crackling sound which seemed to come from the glove compartment area. Oh yay. This morning it started right away, I am getting a 2.2- lack of continuity in the electrical circuit or detonation sensor. She said she went through a big puddle. I am waiting until tonight to monkey around with it. Any suggestions. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billbranch Posted July 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2013 The car started instantly and as usual. I idled it for 45 minutes to see if anything bad would happen. I drove five miles, stopped at a drive-up ATM. The engine started sputtering and I barely made it to a parking spot. The car wouldn't start. Spin yes. Start no. During the two hours while I waited for a tow: the car began to start and run for longer periods the colder the engine became. By the time I got home, it started and I backed it into the garage. Question: this appears to be a failure of an electronic/ignition component when it heats. Is there a CPS on this engine? I have grabbed my Radio Shack Electronic Parts Coolant and am ready to start chilling parts. Any suggestions? Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billbranch Posted July 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2013 OK, now a call for help. "Someone" replaced the factory sockets at the injection and ignition relays, and now I've mixed things up while checking for loose wires at these relays. Can anyone tell me which wires go to which pinouts at each relay? Thank you. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bean Posted July 14, 2013 Report Share Posted July 14, 2013 Sorry Bill - just saw this post... (Auto alerts for new posts is getting worse and worse with each upgrade!) I'll take pictures of each of the relays tomorrow and try to show which wires are going to which terminal, as well as telling which wires go to which # of each terminal. As for the issues, this sounds like the typical "I washed my motor and it runs like crap" symptoms I've had with these cars when I've washed the motors without taking adequate precautions. I'd open up the distributor and inspect for moisture, as the worst case I had water had made it's way into the distributor and the car wouldn't even fire. Relays like you checked (and we'll sort out), as well as any of the sensors on the motor might be suspect. Other things to consider that could possibly be heat affected would be the ignition module, and possibly the coil... The fact that the car acted up after the extreme mositure makes me think it's moisture related, but that's not to say it could just be a coincidence. Rabin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N9TE Posted July 14, 2013 Report Share Posted July 14, 2013 Flakey igniter is a possibility. When they go, they act up at full operating temperature. I had this exact problem with my blue 86 turbo. The way I fixed this on that car was to >completely< restore the fuse panel. Problem disappeared after that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billbranch Posted July 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2013 Thanks, Rabin. I'd like to get the car where it was before I opened the hood. Otherwise I think I might be going backwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bean Posted July 16, 2013 Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 Sorry Bill - yesterday was pretty damn hectic, but I got it done tonight. I was short of time, but took detailed pics to make it easy to figure out: I took multipe angles and you can clearly see what each terminal is getting. Last pic I pulled the relays out so you can see the prong orientation. So that should get you going again. Rabin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billbranch Posted July 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 Thank you, Rabin. I'll check out a few things before going to work. "It should be easy now." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billbranch Posted July 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 Yesiree, the thing is running now. I also swapped known good relays: I believe the injection unit was bad: car started, but wouldn't continue. I had inadvertently pulled two wires and crossed them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billbranch Posted July 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 Now that I have your attention, I believe I have the ignition ECU for an N9TE, according to the parts cross reference chart compiled by Mr. Lill and found in technical resources. Will this affect the way the car runs? And is this the reason my detonation sensor flashes are not as they are supposed to be? Also, how many O2 sensors does my ZN3J have? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrethx Posted July 16, 2013 Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 Also, how many O2 sensors does my ZN3J have? according to the parts microfiche (plate 16 F20), the zn3j has one oxygen sensor, part number 1628.83 (up to VIN 0.393.000) or part number 1628.A4 (VIN 0.393.001 and beyond); i believe your 89 would use the latter part. the 1628.A4 sensor is the same one used in the 86-on xn6 (my car!). andré Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billbranch Posted July 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 Thanks, André. Western Hemispheres shows the same 3-wire part for the ZDJL, N9T, and ZN3J. Now, on to eBay to find one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billbranch Posted July 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2013 Found an OE on Amazon for $80 shipped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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