Optispark?????

I’m currently having my optispark changed on my 1994 Corvette (23,000 miles) at a local Chevrolet dealer and it’s not cheap!!!

I drove my car to work this Friday and when I got stuck in traffic it got warm (Oil 195 / Water 180) it would just quit running until it cooled down. I posted a message about my symptoms and most people replied it’s your battery cable. Well after work (Cool Car) I tighten my negative terminal (Slightly loose) and the car ran great all the way home (30 miles). I then used the car over the 3-day weekend (Approx 200 miles) and nothing went wrong.

Today I drove it to work and got stuck in traffic similar to Friday when it broke down and again it stop running. After letting the car cool a bite I was able to drive the car about 5 miles until it quit again. I then let the car sit for 1 hour and again started it and drove it 12-15 miles to the dealer were it staled in the entrance to service. (Great timing). Why would it start to fail only when the car get a little on the hot side?

After looking at the car for 10-15 minutes they said it’s my optispark. How confident should I be that they know what they are talking about, are these diagnostics tests that reliable?

The cost quoted to me to Change my oil, flush my radiator, and the diagnostics test was $405 dollars. The cost to do the Optispark is an additional $1,275. Total $1,680. Is this out of line for a dealership?

When servicing my vette (Oil changes mainly) I always bring it to the dealer and I know it cost more but to give my car to a Jiffy Lube scares the @#$% out of me. What do most people do with Vettes bring them to the dealer with problems or is it better to find an acclaimed Corvette mechanic?

I live in the Fox Lake / Mchenry, IL area does anyone have a Corvette mechanic they would recommend.

How does this part go out so quickly? Can driving in the rain damage the optispark? I was told never to get it wet.

Anyway any information on this subject would be great sorry for the long-winded message.

 

I doubt they are 100% sure that is the optispark unless they specifically got the ECM failure code, otherwise they are likely guessing.

The optispark can tend to go out, especially if it has been subject to moisture and / or infrequently driven. Driving in the rain in and of itself doesn't cause a problem but it CAN if you drive through any really high water. Washing the engine bay down can also cause problems, etc.

It sounds like your dealership has the typical LT1 diagnostic proceedure. It sounds like this, "Wow, I've never heard of that problem before, must be the optispark." More often than not the opti is NOT the problem.

It is the weak point on these motors but I would really feel better about it if they could tell you exactly why they think it is the opti. Moisture is what kills these things, not heat. I would say that it is much more likely that your ignition control module is going out or your ignition coil. The control module in particular is extremely sensitive to heat when it starts to act up.

 

Yea, it sounds typical of a repair shop. "Let's throw parts at it untill it runs" then they just tell you "well it also needed"

If they replace it demand your old one back to look at it. Don't ask for it back untill you pay the bill though otherwise they have a chance to make it bad.

What actually fails in these anyway? There really isn't that much in there but a couple optical pickups and a bearing.

 

Optisparks do different things when they die. Usually what kills them is a leak in the waterpump that gets them wet. Mine did the same thing as yours... on a roadtrip it just shut down. I would let it cool and then it die again. I got to a motel for the night, then the next day it ran 400 miles and got me home with no problems.

When mine died, the service engine light came on and the computer recorded a code 16. You should check for this code to confirm the optispark is the problem. Checking codes is something you can easily do yourself.

$1200 is about what the dealers get to replace an optispark these days. The problem is they are charging you their dealer retail price of about $700 for the part. You can get the same GM part online for about $300 from Superior Chevrolet or The Last Detail. Ask them if you can get the part; that'll save you some money. Then they're charging you the book labor rate. Most Corvette specialty shops will be cheaper on the labor since this is a job they've probably done many times, and it only takes about 3 hours for someone who is experienced.

$400 just to diagnose the problem is ridiculous, especially if it only took them 15 minutes to diagnose the problem as you say. I would refuse to pay this charge. All they probably did was hook up a code reader and find a code 16.

If your waterpump is not relatively new you should replace the waterpump at this time, since it will kill the new optispark if it starts leaking. Waterpumps usually last about 70,000 miles. They'll have to remove it anyway to replace the optispark so there will be no additional labor charges.

If you want to have this job done for much less money, find a Corvette specialty shop or a good mechanic who has done the job, and supply the new parts yourself.

 

Thanks for the reply.

How do you check you codes yourself?

The $400 cost incuded Changing my oil, flushing my radiator, and the diagnostics. I would say it still high but it was more the just looking at it.

 

I agree with Nathan. I had a similar problem and all i did was change the ignition module and all was well. The module only cost me about $75 from Advance Auto Parts. I would definitly start with the coil and module.

 

That's a LOT for the Opti portion of the job. I just bought a brand new Opti from Chris May @ Superior for $225, that goes to show how bad they hit you for labor on that job!!!!

 

$125 dollars per hour for labor
$700 dollars for the part
Being the owner of the GM Dealer "Priceless"

I have called them and gave the $#!+ about the cost and they took $200 dollars of the total.

They will start working on it tomorrow but after the few replies I've gotten I have asked them to give me a call with more details on their findings.

 

$700 for the part????????????

Tell them YOU will supply the Opti - You can buy it from Chris, he can transfer it to the GM dealer you're having the work done at and use the $500 elsewhere!!!

 

Who is Chris? I'm new to the corvette forum and do not know him.

How do I get a hold of him

 

Heres a great article on the opti and how it works;

http://www.gmhightechperformance.com...htp_optispark/

 

Chris May @ Superior Chevrolet - He gives a GREAT forum discount. 800-728-8267

 

$700 for an opti, and they're going to reuse the old water pump??? That is heinous, I hope you get in contact with Chris and he can help you out. I haven't personally bought anything from him, but his reputation on the forum is outstanding. I bought an AC Delco waterpump from Sam Taylor Buick/Cadillac for around $160. I imagine Chris can meet or beat that price and save you the worry of the old one leaking and wiping out your shiny new opti.

Sorry you're getting the ugliest of LT1 indoctrinations so early. I drove around in ignorant bliss for a good 6 months before the doo-doo hit the fan on mine. Best of luck!

 

Sorry for the back to back post, but this part reminded me of one of my neighbors when I lived in Puerto Rico. He told me there are three people on the island with a license to rob...doctors, lawyers, and mechanics.

 

Come from someone who just bought one, that's a damn good price on the waterpump!!

My Opti and Waterpump together, were $400.

 

For 1680.00 you should have gotten a new Opti, Waterpump,Spark plugs, and injectors installed.(plus a oil change).

 

Just dug out my receipt for the waterpump, all the cooling system hoses (except for the two throttle body hoses), and upper radiator "T". Total came to $359.94 including $14 for UPS and $19.58 for Florida sales tax. The water pump was $153.15.

Just for comparison, the local dealer (Gordon Chevrolet) quoted me roughly DOUBLE for everything.

 

Advanced Auto or Autozone, will pull the codes on it for free....They just did mine on a knock sensor..Even on the sensor, I crawled under it to see how hard it would be to get at them and one wire was off it. Pinched it in a little with pliers, put it back on, problems solved.

I've never seen heat botherr a opti spark unit other than to dry it out later on. If prestone in it, it will never dry.... Plenty of opti sparks on the internet for alot less, even on EBAY....

I do all my own work unless I don't have a choice while on the road, otherwise, a good manual will take you a long way and save a lot of money or even the manual and finding a good street rod guy who works on cars..... Changing the opti is not rocket science, just a pain in the butt to get at where it is and what is in the way...

Good luck which ever way you go.... Do your home work and you will be fine...... Meantime look for a good mechanic.

Swampy-CT

 

the other post gave you th econtact # for Chris. I have deLt with him many times in the past. He's a great guy and his prices are a lot cheaper for OEM parts than a lot of other places you will try. IE: your local Chevy dlr that gave that outragous quote.

 

Sounds like classic coil or ignition module trouble to me, not the Opti. Might even be the ECM. I have never heard of an Opti working fine, then just kill the engine, then restart again.