Optispark maintenance??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 891
Likes: 18
From: Dayton Ohio
Optispark maintenance??
Is there any preventative maintenance that can be done to ensure longer optispark life? My car has a few miles on it and I assume it has a newer opti on it but I don't know. I would like to avoid a broken one in my future if I can.
Please don't post to buy a new one for $700 as maintenance.....that is obvious and not funny.
Please don't post to buy a new one for $700 as maintenance.....that is obvious and not funny.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 96,443
Likes: 9
From: Fort Knox, KY
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Really, I think all you could do is just buy a replacement cap and rotor. They run about $120 to $150 at most auto parts stores.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,604
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Originally Posted by quickcat
Is there any preventative maintenance that can be done to ensure longer optispark life? My car has a few miles on it and I assume it has a newer opti on it but I don't know. I would like to avoid a broken one in my future if I can.
Please don't post to buy a new one for $700 as maintenance.....that is obvious and not funny.
Please don't post to buy a new one for $700 as maintenance.....that is obvious and not funny.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Originally Posted by quickcat
Is there any preventative maintenance that can be done to ensure longer optispark life? My car has a few miles on it and I assume it has a newer opti on it but I don't know. I would like to avoid a broken one in my future if I can.
Please don't post to buy a new one for $700 as maintenance.....that is obvious and not funny.
Please don't post to buy a new one for $700 as maintenance.....that is obvious and not funny.
Jefn's advice is all that I know of.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 9
From: VA
Originally Posted by quickcat
Is there any preventative maintenance that can be done to ensure longer optispark life? My car has a few miles on it and I assume it has a newer opti on it but I don't know. I would like to avoid a broken one in my future if I can.
Please don't post to buy a new one for $700 as maintenance.....that is obvious and not funny.
Please don't post to buy a new one for $700 as maintenance.....that is obvious and not funny.
Maintenance on a modern distributor equals replacing the cap and rotor.
However, due to the location of the opti replacing just a cap and rotor is false economy.
Since you don't want the obvious answer, then the only other answer is - "nope."
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
When I changed mine at about 95000 I believe it was the original for my 94 that is was non vented. I chose to put in the GM replacement mainly for simplicity and price. I did have my water pump leek from the weep hole twice in about a year and a half. I don’t believe it ever affected my opti because it was a year later when I changed it. Seems like from what I have read the optis are lasting a long time 90000 or so from what I have seen. I'm sure some haven't gone that long. 
Every week at least twice I run my hand under the water pump to check for any leakage. And never bring a hose near the engine. I also added some extra RTV silicone around the upper left connector at the base of the opti. Easiest to do when its out and new in your hand.
When I took my defective opti apart to check the cap. It looked great. The 8 contacts good shape, no carbon tracking and the rotor a little darkened at end to be expected at 90000 + miles. The other side with the optical wheel looks fine. I expected to see more, however the new one did fix the problem.
Every week at least twice I run my hand under the water pump to check for any leakage. And never bring a hose near the engine. I also added some extra RTV silicone around the upper left connector at the base of the opti. Easiest to do when its out and new in your hand.
When I took my defective opti apart to check the cap. It looked great. The 8 contacts good shape, no carbon tracking and the rotor a little darkened at end to be expected at 90000 + miles. The other side with the optical wheel looks fine. I expected to see more, however the new one did fix the problem.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,303
Likes: 2,223
From: Central Maryland
Keep it dry if you can. Replace hoses and water pump before they puke coolant. Aside from that, there isn't much you can really do, so run it 'til it fails, then replace it.
Be well,
SJW
Be well,
SJW
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 891
Likes: 18
From: Dayton Ohio
By a "few miles on it", I'm not sure what that equates to.
What normally fails in them?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
Really nice, show quality. Checked your profile, nice there to. Just one question, how do you keep it clean? 
Mind does throw some oil so probably harder for me but i'm a chicken to do much for fear of fluids so I just wipe here and there.
Mind does throw some oil so probably harder for me but i'm a chicken to do much for fear of fluids so I just wipe here and there.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,303
Likes: 2,223
From: Central Maryland
Originally Posted by quickcat
I have over 115000 miles on it. From what I have read here I assume it has failed once and has been replaced.
What normally fails in them?
What normally fails in them?
Most commonly the high-voltage (distributor) section develops carbon tracks and/or moisture buildups which cause spark to be misdirected.
Engines that are revved well north of the factory redline will sometimes grenade the rotor.
Less commonly, the optical section (photodetectors/triggerwheel) section will fail.
Corrosion in the high-voltage posts where the coil/plug wires attach is also sometimes a problem.
Be well,
SJW
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 11,628
Likes: 1
From: Sherwood, Arkansas
I know someone is going to scream 
but I bought my car from the original owner. It has 128K on the OD and I asked when I bought it if the Opti had been replaced and he said no. Is this a record or was I given the wrong info. If so why would anyone tell me the Opti HAD NOT been replaced if they were trying to sell it? And as expensive as this repair is with a unforgettable name like "Opti-Spark" how could you forget?
Car runs great.
but I bought my car from the original owner. It has 128K on the OD and I asked when I bought it if the Opti had been replaced and he said no. Is this a record or was I given the wrong info. If so why would anyone tell me the Opti HAD NOT been replaced if they were trying to sell it? And as expensive as this repair is with a unforgettable name like "Opti-Spark" how could you forget?Car runs great.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
Q-cat - I beleive the caps go bad and have carbon tracking. Read about also rotors come apart and screws come loose. Thats why they sell the cap assembly. If the berrings get dry and it wobbles, that will mess up the opti timing pulses. My berrings were not smooth, but could not feel any wobble, but that does not mean squat. But with that much milage its to much work not to change the whole thing. The optical portion is very reliable and that would produce a code if you were missing pulses or the darn thing will not run (stated in the magic red book). I could see changing the cap on a low milage opti, but then it probably wouldn't be bad. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,303
Likes: 2,223
From: Central Maryland
Originally Posted by TheAngelOfDeath
I know someone is going to scream but I bought my car from the original owner. It has 128K on the OD and I asked when I bought it if the Opti had been replaced and he said no. Is this a record or was I given the wrong info. If so why would anyone tell me the Opti HAD NOT been replaced if they were trying to sell it? And as expensive as this repair is with a unforgettable name like "Opti-Spark" how could you forget?
Car runs great.
but I bought my car from the original owner. It has 128K on the OD and I asked when I bought it if the Opti had been replaced and he said no. Is this a record or was I given the wrong info. If so why would anyone tell me the Opti HAD NOT been replaced if they were trying to sell it? And as expensive as this repair is with a unforgettable name like "Opti-Spark" how could you forget?Car runs great.
I've come to believe that, especially with the first-gen, passively-vented Optis, the tendency is toward early failure if the car is seldom driven. Every one of the first-gen Optis that I've heard of lasting over 100k miles were driven daily. I would hypothesize that regular temperature cycling tends to bake out any accumulated condensation before it can become problematic.
The Opti on my '94 failed within weeks of my buying it from a guy who almost never drove it. The car was a garage queen that had 19k original miles on it at that time.
Be well,
SJW
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
Great great point. Not one I hear much. Sitting is not good. I have your basic 94 and drive it every day to work and dinner on Saturdays. Sunday is its day of rest (or to work on it..ha ha).
After I bought my car about 2.5 years ago I found out it had been sitting at the dealer's shop for 2 years. Didn't get much use. Fixed lots of problems from the sitting which I did not understand at first but then it all made sence. Would I have bought the car if I had known that, I don't know but it did look really nice.
One of the problems, ran out of gas 15 minutes after leaving dealer when it said better than 1/2 full. Luckly I was off expressway and near gas station, took 20 gallons. And yeah bad battery. Found out what SYS ment. But I do like the car much. I'm done with my Charge on 
After I bought my car about 2.5 years ago I found out it had been sitting at the dealer's shop for 2 years. Didn't get much use. Fixed lots of problems from the sitting which I did not understand at first but then it all made sence. Would I have bought the car if I had known that, I don't know but it did look really nice.
One of the problems, ran out of gas 15 minutes after leaving dealer when it said better than 1/2 full. Luckly I was off expressway and near gas station, took 20 gallons. And yeah bad battery. Found out what SYS ment. But I do like the car much. I'm done with my
Charge on
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,705
Likes: 30
From: Chesapeake Beach Maryland
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
I have 136k on my original optispark, covered in oily grime from the intake leak. It is safe from moisture!!! It is also an older version. I have been waiting since I joined this forum for it to crap out on me. I actually have the cash waiting. I just sold the opti I had for the occasion becasue it sat so long without being installed. Now I'm still waiting....My maintenance plan is just drive it til it dies. then replace it.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
I believe most optis last a long time. However, on the internet you only are going to hear the horror stories.
I wash my engine, drive in the rain and snow with NO DRAMA it starts every time!
Mike
I wash my engine, drive in the rain and snow with NO DRAMA it starts every time!
Mike
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
The opti is a maintanence item just like any other distributor. Given that a properly maintianed LTx engine can last for well over 200,000 miles, sooner or later the opti will have to be replaced. There is no real preventive maintenance you can perform. Just be careful with it; don't get it wet with coolant and don't over rev it.
