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MOTRS

240Z / 260Z / 280Z

1969-1978 / Coupe / Japan

All 240Z / 260Z / 280Z problems All workshop issues
Common Rust

Battery Tray Corrosion

Symptoms

The battery tray (right-hand side of engine bay on RHD cars) corrodes and eventually perforates. Rust spreads into the inner guard and firewall.

Cause

Battery acid vapour attacks the steel. Older cars with non-sealed batteries are particularly vulnerable. Even sealed batteries produce enough vapour to cause damage over decades.

Fix

Replace the battery tray.

Reproduction trays are available ($100-250).

If rust has spread into the inner guard, the surrounding metal must be cut out and replaced.

Prevent recurrence by coating the new tray with POR-15 or similar rust encapsulator and fitting a sealed battery.

Cost mentioned in fix
$100-250

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// More 240Z / 260Z / 280Z problems

Other known issues

Minor Rust

Structural Rust, Floors, Sills, Strut Towers

Perforations in the floor pans, sill (rocker panel) box sections, and front strut tower mounting points. In advanced cases, the floorboard flexes underfoot, the sills crumble when prodded, and the strut towers crack under suspension load.
Common Rust

Spare Wheel Well Rust

The floor of the boot around and beneath the spare wheel well rusts through. Water pooling is visible in the boot.
Common Rust

Rear Quarter Panel Rust

Rust appears behind the rear wheels, often starting as bubbles under the paint and progressing to perforations.
Common Engine

SU Carburettor Wear and Tuning Issues (240Z, 260Z)

Poor idle, hesitation on acceleration, rich or lean running, black smoke, poor fuel economy, difficult starting. The engine may run well at some RPMs but poorly at others.
Common Engine

Fuel Injection Faults (280Z)

Hard starting (especially cold), rough idle, hesitation, rich or lean running, stalling. The engine management warning light may illuminate.
Critical Engine

Timing Chain Stretch

Rattling or slapping noise from the front of the engine, particularly on cold start. The noise may diminish as the engine warms but does not fully disappear.
View all 17 240Z / 260Z / 280Z problems