Issues with Optispark ?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Mustang Oklahoma
Issues with Optispark ?
After having owned an '86 and an '89, I'm about to get Vette #3. This time, I'm moving to the late C4 era, ala 1994 M6 coupe. I'm picking up the car in a couple of weeks.
I know there have been lots of complaints about the Optispark. Should I just tread lightly with it? Never drive the car in the rain? Pray to the Optispark gods to bless me with good fortune?
Or should I just expect to replace it regularly? Any maintenance that can be performed on it to increase life?
Thanks
Tracy
I know there have been lots of complaints about the Optispark. Should I just tread lightly with it? Never drive the car in the rain? Pray to the Optispark gods to bless me with good fortune?
Or should I just expect to replace it regularly? Any maintenance that can be performed on it to increase life?
Thanks
Tracy
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,348
Likes: 0
From: Belews Creek north carolina
St. Jude Donor '05
i believe the only real problem is when the water pump starts leaking i dont think you need to worry about driving in the rain but when you clean the engine compartment i woud say take care at the front as to not soak the front of the engine with water i just replaced mine but it looked as though the pump had been leaking for awhilei donot think it will go out with a drop of water it takes a little bit. by the way congratulations on your purchase 
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 0
From: Mobile AL
St. Jude Donor '05
Yeah, I agree. It's not that fragile, just that, as with all things, the older it gets, the more susceptible it becomes to heat, water, radiator fluid, etc. Make sure the vacuum hose to it is connected and not plugged: that vacuum helps to keep it dry and clean inside. It should terminate in the rubber intake hose, behind the MAF, on the driver side. Congrats on your "new" 96.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by SilverBeast
Yeah, I agree. It's not that fragile, just that, as with all things, the older it gets, the more susceptible it becomes to heat, water, radiator fluid, etc. Make sure the vacuum hose to it is connected and not plugged: that vacuum helps to keep it dry and clean inside. It should terminate in the rubber intake hose, behind the MAF, on the driver side. Congrats on your "new" 96.
here are a couple of links describing conversion fron non-vented to vented:
http://www.fierolt1.com/lt1_95_up_OptiReplace.htm
http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/16758/
Last edited by MikeC4; Jan 25, 2005 at 04:03 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,227
Likes: 0
From: Corona CA
Yep convert from the non vented to the vented:
How many miles on the car and was the Opti already replaced?
The damn thing still usually fails around 80,000 miles and has to be replaced. I went and replaced my waterpump at the same time.
Other than that just avoid spraying any water directly on it and it will run great for those 80,000 miles..
How many miles on the car and was the Opti already replaced?
The damn thing still usually fails around 80,000 miles and has to be replaced. I went and replaced my waterpump at the same time.
Other than that just avoid spraying any water directly on it and it will run great for those 80,000 miles..
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 716
Likes: 0
From: Evansville IN
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
I figure I'm on borrowed time. Mine has 94,000 on it and according to my mechanic the water pump and optispark haven't been changed. It runs great, and, knock on wood, doesn't have any leaks of any kind. 
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Mustang Oklahoma
Originally Posted by Zix
Hey punk! Where the hell you been?
How goes it buddy ?!
As for the car, it has 75k on it, so I guess I'll need to plan on an Opti and water pump in the near future.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
You have some options...
1) convert to a system that removes the high voltage side. LTCC or DelTeq.
2) upgrade to a Dyna-Engineering DynaSpark unit.
3) upgrade to the 2nd gen opti.
4) Add the vent to the existing GM opti
1) convert to a system that removes the high voltage side. LTCC or DelTeq.
2) upgrade to a Dyna-Engineering DynaSpark unit.
3) upgrade to the 2nd gen opti.
4) Add the vent to the existing GM opti
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 2
From: East TN
The opti on my 94 just died, and I had it replaced about 25,000 miles ago with a new waterpump but... the waterpump started leaking so poof there it goes.. My advice would be not to worry about it until you start having problems, then go for a delteq or ltcc unit. I just ordered a delteq today so this should be the last of my optispark problems.
Last edited by dan6712cc; Jan 25, 2005 at 11:16 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by dan6712cc
The opti on my 94 just died, and I had it replaced about 25,000 miles ago... the water pump started leaking so poof there it goes.. My advice would be not to worry about it until you start having problems, then go for a delteq or ltcc unit. I just ordered a delteq today so this should be the last of my optispark problems.
I should define LTCC and DelTeq.
They both eleminate the high voltage side. Meaning, no more distributor. The opti stays on as the optical pickup required for the ECM to do it's job (provide timing data)
The DelTeq uses a Cadillac Northstar coil pack to fire the plugs (lost spark).
LTCC uses 8 LS1 coils, each mounted on the valve cover above the plug in question.
This will help reduce optispark failure, GREATLY. But not entirely. The highvoltage side will fail first, mainly cause coolant and/or water gets in and causes severe carbon tracing. Coolant will distroy the opti, because ethylene glycol is seriously corrosive to oil - eats grease!
If your opti is throwing codes, then there is a problem. And no amount of coil packs is gonna fix that.
I expect an opti to last 120k miles, or more, with the high voltage removed.
Another thing, the rotor inside the opti has a tendency to explode when run at sustained RPMs above 6500. This allows you to remove the rotor, and avoid that problem.
DelTeq has come up with a billet cover for the opti, too, to replace the cap! Looks cool.
I have the LTCC and love it.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,683
Likes: 1
From: NY
Mine crapped out at 25,000 miles. 
The water pump was shot also (very few bearings left). Do yourself a favor and replace the Opti and water pump at the same time. Might want to do plugs and wires while it's apart anyway...that's what I did. 
It's not cheap if you pay to have it done. Typical cost is over $1,000.00.
The water pump was shot also (very few bearings left). Do yourself a favor and replace the Opti and water pump at the same time. Might want to do plugs and wires while it's apart anyway...that's what I did. It's not cheap if you pay to have it done. Typical cost is over $1,000.00.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,715
Likes: 2
From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
Originally Posted by bogus
I should define LTCC and DelTeq.
They both eleminate the high voltage side. Meaning, no more distributor. The opti stays on as the optical pickup required for the ECM to do it's job (provide timing data)
The DelTeq uses a Cadillac Northstar coil pack to fire the plugs (lost spark).
LTCC uses 8 LS1 coils, each mounted on the valve cover above the plug in question.
This will help reduce optispark failure, GREATLY. But not entirely. The highvoltage side will fail first, mainly cause coolant and/or water gets in and causes severe carbon tracing. Coolant will distroy the opti, because ethylene glycol is seriously corrosive to oil - eats grease!
If your opti is throwing codes, then there is a problem. And no amount of coil packs is gonna fix that.
I expect an opti to last 120k miles, or more, with the high voltage removed.
Another thing, the rotor inside the opti has a tendency to explode when run at sustained RPMs above 6500. This allows you to remove the rotor, and avoid that problem.
DelTeq has come up with a billet cover for the opti, too, to replace the cap! Looks cool.
I have the LTCC and love it.
They both eleminate the high voltage side. Meaning, no more distributor. The opti stays on as the optical pickup required for the ECM to do it's job (provide timing data)
The DelTeq uses a Cadillac Northstar coil pack to fire the plugs (lost spark).
LTCC uses 8 LS1 coils, each mounted on the valve cover above the plug in question.
This will help reduce optispark failure, GREATLY. But not entirely. The highvoltage side will fail first, mainly cause coolant and/or water gets in and causes severe carbon tracing. Coolant will distroy the opti, because ethylene glycol is seriously corrosive to oil - eats grease!
If your opti is throwing codes, then there is a problem. And no amount of coil packs is gonna fix that.
I expect an opti to last 120k miles, or more, with the high voltage removed.
Another thing, the rotor inside the opti has a tendency to explode when run at sustained RPMs above 6500. This allows you to remove the rotor, and avoid that problem.
DelTeq has come up with a billet cover for the opti, too, to replace the cap! Looks cool.
I have the LTCC and love it.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,597
Likes: 101
From: TN PA
CI 5-6-7-8-9-10-11 Vet
A guy that work I with has a 93 that he bought new, replaced his water pump and opit at 100k as normal maintaince. It now has 188k and he is thinking about replacing both when it turns 200k. My 95 with 73k still has the original opti,plugs, plug wires, and water pump...Hope I didn't just jinx it... 
