IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
1980 Datsun 280ZX (S130)

We've identified 2 known issues that can affect the 1980 Datsun 280ZX (S130). 1 of these are serious faults that could be expensive to repair.

2
Known Issues
1
Serious
1
Moderate
0
Minor

All Known Issues

Structural corrosion (sills, frame rails and floor pans)

SeriousBodywork & Rust

All 1979-83 280ZXs are S130 unibodies with minimal factory rustproofing, and UK examples have spent decades on salted roads. Corrosion starts inside box sections and shows at the lower sill seams, front and rear frame rails, floor pans, the battery tray and around the hatch; left unchecked it becomes structural and MOT-failable. Because few panels are reproduced, major rust repairs are expensive and often the economic write-off point for these cars.

Est. Repair Cost: £1,000-£4,000
Warning Signs:

Bubbling paint along sill seams and wheel-arch edges, Soft or holed floor pans beneath the carpets, Flaking or scale on the front frame rails behind the front wheels, MOT failure or advisory for structural corrosion, Water entering through a leaking rear-hatch seal

What to Inspect:
  • Run a magnet along the sills, arches and door bottoms to detect filler patches
  • Lift the carpets and inspect the floor pans, seat-boxes and battery tray for soft metal
  • Look behind the front wheels at the frame rails and front crossmember mounting points
  • Check the rear hatch rubber and look for rust bubbles inside the hatch
  • Review the MOT history for repeated corrosion advisories
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Timing chain stretch and tensioner wear (L28E / L28ET)

ModerateEngine

The S130 280ZX's L28E inline-six (and the L28ET turbo) uses a single-row timing chain with a tensioner and slipper. After 40-plus years the chain stretches and the tensioner foot wears, so cam timing retards and the chain can slap against the front cover: owners report poor low-speed power, a rough idle and a metallic rattle at cold start. A collapsed tensioner lets the chain slacken or jump a tooth, destroying cam timing and risking expensive internal engine damage on these low-value classics. A full timing chain and tensioner kit is the fix, but labour to reach the front of the long straight-six dominates the UK bill.

Est. Repair Cost: £350–£800
Warning Signs:

Metallic rattle or slap from the front of the engine at cold start, Poor low-speed power and a rough idle (retarded cam timing), Persistent ticking from the timing cover once the engine is warm, Engine cranks but will not start if the chain has jumped a tooth

What to Inspect:
  • Listen at the front of the engine from a cold start for chain rattle or slap
  • With the timing cover off, check the cam-sprocket alignment marks to confirm timing has not retarded
  • Inspect the tensioner slipper foot for wear and confirm the tensioner holds the chain tight
  • Ask whether the chain and tensioner have ever been renewed; budget for a full timing kit if not
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Buying Tips for 1980 Datsun 280ZX (S130)

  • Prioritise a solid chassis over low mileage; structural welding on a unibody ZX quickly costs more than the car is worth
  • Check 1981-83 turbo examples carefully: boost should hit the red zone quickly from 3,000 rpm and the turbo oil-feed line must be clear
  • Turn the ignition on and listen for the fuel pump priming; a silent pump or long crank points to ECCS fuel-pump relay or modulator faults
  • Avoid cars with T-tops or sunroofs unless the seals are perfect - leaking roof seals flood the interior and accelerate floor-pan rot
  • Confirm UK import paperwork and MOT history; with only about 50 roadworthy UK examples, a well-documented car hides fewer surprises
19791981
Check a 1980 Datsun 280ZX (S130) by Registration