Nissan Repair: 1986 300zx n/a, crank angle sensor, crank pulley

Question
Hello, i have my 300zx here. Two years ago, my Z blow a water hose right under the distributor. now it won't start, i've replace everything besides that. my question is , Can that sensor in the distributor stop the car from running? I would really like to know cause I have way to much money in this car just for it to rot .

Answer
Hi there, most likely it is the distributor. Inside that distributor there is a magnetic pic up assembly and a relactor wheel. There is also a module which receives the signal, (it is like the modern crank angle sensor, only more primitive and it takes the place of the old points and condenser). These components they do fail, but since the vehicle is old I doubt very much you can find new parts for it. My recommendation is to try a wrecking yard or ebay and get a whole distributor, not just the parts of it. Remove all spark plugs. Insert a piece of paper into the the #1 sp. plug hole. Manually, bring the engine to cyl. #1 TDC. When the piston of #1 cylinder is on TDC the paper will pop out of the hole. Observe the timing mark on the crank pulley, you may have to turn it a tad more till the markings line up. Remove the distributor cap and observe the rotor's  location and then make a mark so you can remember where it points. Remove the distributor and drop the new one in with the rotor pointing to that mark (or under the #1 tower of the cap). Connect the module wire and you are done. The motor should fire up. After it does, set the timing to specifications with a timing light.