dizwiz24

i wAnt to point out a common issue that i keep on seeing here.

i am going crazy responding to newbs who put in chinese junk optispArks and then come here wondering why their car doesnt work.

they then claim the 'optispark cant be the problem i just replaced it'.

my favorite newbs are the ones that have a gen 2 vented oem optispark and they 'proactively replace' their working good oem unit, with a chinese one, because they heard thAt optisparks fail. BANGHEAD

can we get a sticky, with pictures, about the optispark options here?

i understand OEM NOS is not avail anymore (at leAst for 92 thru 94).
sometimes you can still lucky and find one on ebay.

there needs to be an optispark sticky.
how to convrt a 92-94 to vented model, etc

there are some real dummies out there when it comes to this part.

'i replaced my optispark with a cheap one and optisparks are just pieces of junk - why would anybody want one'

'im just going to convert my car to get rid of the optispark,"'

LOL. the conversion they use still requires the optispark as a crank position sensor...


my vented, sealed, OEM unit works great and id like to share my success story with it (along with others)

PatternDayTrader

I thought the issue was that oem parts were no longer available ??

hockeyhead019

Diz you should do a write-up, what to look for to make sure you're getting a legit opti and then any process you can share about replacement and any tricks that help. Gotta be part of the solution man

Paul Workman

100%!! ---

Two things to keep in mind:

1. Statistics show the most critical period in a device's lifetime is when it is first put in service. More than any other time in the 'mean time between failure' (MTBF) is the likelihood of failure higher. (Referred to as "infant mortality")
   
2. And, ASSUME NOTHING! One doesn't know anything about a failed or replacement (electrical) part until its function (or lack thereof) is verified, i.e., MEASURE IT.

There are two other equally poignant 'gems' for troubleshooting, but if we could keep these two things in mind, a LOT of troubles and unnecessary expense could be avoided. Just sayin!

dizwiz24

id like to put my money where my mouth is and provide pictures.

1.how to spot a real oem unit vs. knock off
2. whAt does a mitsubishi optical sensor look like
3. pictures of how to convert a 92-94 to vented setup
4. provide a list of common non-oem optisparks that are known to have problems vs. ones that 'might' work in a pinch that you cant find an oem (unobtanium) optispark

73n95

I hear you and I'm right there. I recently (last fall) purchased a 95 that appears to have been well taken care of. The car has 100k miles on the odometer and it appears to have been well maintained by the PO's. Most components are either new-ish or just plain dirty. All components under the hood are dirty and a coated somewhat with road grime. When I bought it the headlights needed a rebuild, no big deal. The air cleaner looked pretty clean. Good news. The water pump and Opti look original (old) and I was considering replacement just for insurance, but after reading your comments I'm reconsidering. I have no issues at all. No leaks. Starts great, runs great, no stumble or anything. Plug wires have been replaced and are different colors. Perhaps new plugs and wires are advisable. Thanks for your info.

Corp Z

I just put a Petris Opti with vent onto my 94. Very nice unit. Easy venting instructions. Works great. My OE one was disnintegrating on the inside after 22 years. Not a bad service life with 80k miles.

<br >

dizwiz24

oem acdelco (with added vent) is still my first choice for 92-94 , but petris would be my second.

his base units are no longer using mitsubishi optical sensor, but that said he knows what parts he's using and i have to believe he wouldnt sell something that he knows to he unreliable.

one guy here had some problems with one of petris's first non-mitsubishi sensor models (after the supply of mitsubishi-sensor equipped units dried up).

however there was so much bickering back and forth between petris and that user that it made it tough to decipher what was actually going on.

chstitans42

This is the brand of Opti that I ended up using. I have yet to install it, BUT I like all the reviews that I read.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...optispark.html

chatham

I/m on my fourth opti in just over 12,000 mi. the oem original failed at 80,000mi, replaced with a dyna spark ($750) that failed 520mi later, replaced that with replacement dyna spark that failed 11,200mi later, replaced that with a sac city ($150) that failed 1100mi later. I then found and spent the money and installed a ac delco NOS ($450) and it is still working after 950mi. the story continues....

money doesn't guarantee quality or longevity. as far as I can tell through my research reading almost all posts on this and other sites its a 50/50 crap shoot on which ones will last, vented or not vented.

dizwiz24

if you go to the dealer today, pay top dollar, you will get an ac delco remanufactured (in china ) optispark. this is not the same as an NOS never used 92-94 ac delco optispark.

a valid argument (against NOS oem) is that 'well. my oem optispark failed so i want to take my chances with another brand or dont want to pay too much for one bc it will fail eventually'

theres a reason it fails. using high temp rtv silicone to seal it (as insurance in case the o-ring seal cracks) and adding a custom vent to an oem unit will prevent failures.

the 95/96 oem units (with vent) do not fail unless the vent becomes clogged /inoperative.

the only wear item on those is the cap and rotor

TheWhiteHat

Great timing! I just bought my first Corvette. A 1994 that just roled 100,000 Miles. I have found out that every single common C4 problem there is, this one has. The Car just has not been taken care of.

Optispark is bad.
Instrument Cluster LED is almost unreadable it is so faded.
Instrument Dimmer photo cell is out.
AC Head Unit (Buttons) do not work consistently.
Headlight Dimmer (at multiswitch) does not work. But switch will work manually.

So I have my work cut out for me. I am starting on the Optispark first. My plan is to do the following at the same time:

1.Replace Water Pump and Thermosta(SuperStat Premium). Add hose to weep hole to make sure any water is discharged below and away from the optispark.

2. Replace the Harmonic Balancer.

3. Replace the Serpentine Belt.

4. Replace the Plug Wires and Spark Plugs

5. Modify the 92-94 Optispark unvented to a Vented system using Chris Petris's instructions. With the 96 Revised Vacuum Hose Harness PN 12556174. Use blue lock tite on the rotor screws. Seal the perimeter with RTV silicone.

So my questions!
1. Is there a better modification than the one I have found?
2. Is there anything else that it makes sense to do at the same time?
3. Everything I have read says that the Optispark issue at 22 years is a crap shoot. All the new ones are coming from China and the refurbs even by the OEM suppliers are not guarenteed to be OEM's with Mitsubishi Scanner. So how do I choose? Seems it's pays your money and takes your chances or am I wrong. How can I strengthen my odds?
4. Any suggestions/advice is greatly appreciated. I want to do it right the first time. I have been reading posts and studying the web. I don't want to be an idiot newbie that jumped in head first without reading and then when I did everything wrong decided to come in here and ask. So I will listen to any advice! Thanks!!

jay23ls

Dizwiz I agree I second the motion I vote yes lol

Saw in the recs that the "faulti-spark" (I will take credit for that haha) has been replaced before. And I def saw that it's Not cheap.

I got a non vented one. 94. What fluid is it that leaks on these that ruins them? Yeah I'm brand new to Vettes =|

aklim

NOt according to the FAQ: http://petrisenterprises.com/optispark-distributor/

v8vette84

This is a great idea, I'm very sick of reading about "opti-craps" and other stupid comments mostly from people who have never owned an LT1 or "knows a buddy that has one". I got 160k on my Caprice's OEM opti before I swapped it out chasing a misfire. (It wasn't even the opti, it was a wire) My friend went through 3 opti's at Advance auto before he listened to me and bought an MSD (Not my favorite but better than the advance unit) Its still going strong now.

I personally have used 2 Chandler motorsports units with good luck so far. (Caprice/Corvette) 20k on the one in the Vette and still going.

My other friend (#2) uses the spare opti pieces I have from all the LT's I have tore down to piece together working units.

Bottom line: The Opti gets a bad rep from people who don't know anything about an Opti. A dizzy that can go 100k without even doing a cap and rotor is pretty dang good in my book!

crowz

My 97 formula firebird's opti is still factory at 250k miles or so. Works fine. So they can last. Still don't trust em though

dizwiz24

for your a/c head unit, it could be as simple as pushing on the face of it to 'freshen up' some of thr connector lead surfaces that may have developed a coating of oxidation on the leads.

or completely remove it and push it back on.

if the light is blinking, that is a sign of low refrigerant.


how do you beat your odds since oem nos is no longer available?

check e-bay for someone who is selling 1 acdelco optispark in a tattered old box. if they have 10 to sell, and they claim its nos and ac delco, its probably a remanufacturd unit which is less desireable. though once recently i saw someone advertise a bunch of nos acdelco that they say came from crate motors. im assuming those were the real deal.

post a want to buy ad here in c4 parts.... you wouldnt believe how many old hobbyists have spare parts lying around.

find a used one, inspect it to make sure it has the mitsubishi symbol on the sensor, and freshen it up with a new cap/rotor

i personally would rather have a used acdelco nos (with mitsubishi sensor) optispark vs a new china one

if i was forced to buy one, id go with petris unit for a 92-94. note he says mitsubishi -grade, not that it has the mitsubishi sensor in it. that said, jim petris is a great guy and i dont think he'd knowingly sell one with an inferior quality unit. there was one guy on here screaming that he got ripped off with a defective petris unit, and there was so many insults back and forth between the two that i couldnt figure out which side to take. that said, i have to assume if there was an issue with that particular petris optispark, that the issue was taken care of and there are now many happy customers.

whatever route you go make sure you install custom venting on 92-94 models!!!

oh yeah, add weep hole hose mod to your waterpump.

if you have an oem water pump, working well, do NOT replace it with a new acdelco CHINA water pump. they are garbage. just keep using it and get it rebuilt (there was a guy somewhere that rebuilds them)

Klondike

I'm also on my 4th since I've had my car. I'm right at 90k on the mileage. After the 1st failed, because of the water pump peeing in it, I took out the water pump drive and installed an electric pump that works fantastic. I didn't want to have to do the Opti ever again so I got one of the MSD units. Like a dummy, I thought the more you spend, the better the quality will be. Well that was a false assumption because that thing was junk from the git-go! I replaced it with a much cheaper AIP unit that lasted till I had an injector failure. The failure symptoms were so similar that I replaced the Opti again only to find later that it wasn't the problem. I autopsied the AIP Opti, and although it was a little nasty inside from what I believe was K&N Filter oil, It was still sparking OK. The AIP's have what they say are the high quality Mitsubishi sensors and they do look high Q. It's a shame that the MSD has such a junk sensor in it because it is built exceptionally well with ball bearing rotor and a very nicely sealed cap. Too bad they filled it with such poor electronics.

ovrebo1

My Autozone Opti works great.... I'd buy another even if it goes bad outside the warranty period. And if it goes bad within warranty, I spend enough time and money at the parts store I know they'd take it back no questions asked. Also I have a early LT1 and the Autozone Opti came with a vent.

I really think its hit and miss.

bassackwards

LOL! Numerous Petris failures have been documented right here.
Notice how both him and his daughter quit posting when numerous optis purchased from them failed.