Optispark question

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Jan 15, 2017 | 11:57 AM

sluggballz

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jul 2011

Posts: 781

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From: Myrtle Beach South Carolina

Optispark question

This is the original opti with a replacement cap. About five years ago I had a heater hose pop right at the water pump, it killed the opti cap. I cleaned everything out and replaced the cap. It ran well for many years. While I was replacing the intake manifold gaskets I went ahead and replaced the opti seals in the block and took the opti apart to make sure it was clean.
Since then I've been chasing a very slight miss it idle and low rpm. I went ahead and removed the opti again today to make sure it was clean inside. When I looked at the opti disc, I noticed what I hadn't noticed before. There is a scratch on the disc, it's bent enough to where it had a wear area from rubbing on the sensor housing( like a warped record) and a few of the slots are dented.
Now, the question. Could that be causing the miss? I have had a replacement opti setting on the shelf for a few months waiting to do this.
I don't know how I bent and scratched it, but I did.
Any advice would be kindly appreciated.
Thanks
Here's a pic
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Size: 1.13 MB

Jan 15, 2017 | 01:33 PM

lt4obsesses

Le Mans Master

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 5,139

Likes: 482

From: H-Town Texas

I could see that causing a slight miss. considering that it's an optical light sensor that reads it. I guess it's a possibility. If you have a replacement on the shelf, check to see if the sensor is the OEM Mitsubishi, if it isn't then just use the disc from it? It seems that the OEM sensor is the bread and butter of a good opti spark.

Jan 15, 2017 | 03:56 PM

Klondike

Team Owner

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 23,265

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From: San Antonio Texas

Good advice there. If you want to try and save that disk, you might be able to lay it on a thick piece of glass and roll a nice clean socket over it to try and flatten it out again. But if it is warped and wavy I'd see about replacing that disk. Like said above, the original Mitsubishi sensors are the real heart of the Opti's and that's the piece you want to protect from abrasion and chemicals that can fog the optical lenses.

Jan 15, 2017 | 04:39 PM

billschroeder5842

Zen Vet Master Level VII

Joined: Mar 2016

Posts: 5,218

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From: Southlake, TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by sluggballz

There is a scratch on the disc, it's bent enough to where it had a wear area from rubbing on the sensor housing( like a warped record) and a few of the slots are dented.
Now, the question. Could that be causing the miss?

100%. That dent is the cause of your miss. Replace it and you will be happy.

Jan 15, 2017 | 06:40 PM

1993C4LT1

Race Director

Joined: Oct 2011

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From: Dallas Texas

2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified

Without a doubt that is the cause.

Jan 15, 2017 | 10:34 PM

GaryDoug

Advanced

Joined: Jul 2013

Posts: 87

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From: Tampa Bay area Florida

I'm not so sure that is the cause. The dent is in the hi-res section, not the low-res section. It "shouldn't " affect the engine running much. But then again I have seen hi-res signal glitches affect the performance, so maybe. More important is why the dent was created and by what.

Last edited by GaryDoug; Jan 15, 2017 at 10:36 PM.

Jan 15, 2017 | 10:38 PM