Opti shot!?! Now what
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 38
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From: dfw tx
Opti shot!?! Now what
i took my car through the carwash today and needless to say i think the opti got wet. it started running like crap a few miles down the road and then eventually died. and now she wont start. im sure that what happened. so what are my options as far as getting it running again? and what will be the cost with each option?
btw 95 zf6
Henry
btw 95 zf6
Henry
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 38
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From: dfw tx
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,107
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From: RI
I've heard bad reviews of the accel opti. I have the msd. So far, no problems. Dynaspark also carrys an opti but its in the $600 range. I purchased a GM and it was junkfrom day 1.
While you are at it,take a look at the waterpump. Might be the right time to replace. Either way, it has to come off.
While you are at it,take a look at the waterpump. Might be the right time to replace. Either way, it has to come off.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
Get them wet, and you'll have the same problem. Generally the problem is not the opti-spark, but a WET opti-spark. You may want to dry it out and inspect it before you make your decision. It's kind of funny, take your regular distributered car to the car wash and get it wet and do you throw away the distributer? I realize changing it is a pain, but after you do it once it's not that bad. It's a good time to do a tune up, and either one of those is a good unit.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: dfw tx
ya i get that but from what ive read that once the opti part gets wet it screws up somethign inside it. and the unit needs to be replaced. im gonna let it dry until tuesday and then see what ive got. caused i locked it up at my dads work and noone will be there until then 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Your car has a vented Opti and you just got water in it and not coolant.
You might be in luck. Dry it out with a hair dryer, it might not be toast.
Run the tests to see if you have spark. You might have lucked out!
You might be in luck. Dry it out with a hair dryer, it might not be toast.
Run the tests to see if you have spark. You might have lucked out!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 797
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From: Bedford Ma.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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From: Phoenix Arizona
It certainly CAN short out the sensor, but what usually happens is it shorts the cap and rotor part, and when it's wet, it's prone to "carbon arching". That is the short between the posts will actually burn a path in the plastic, causing it to short all the time. Ususally just replacing the cap and rotor will take care of the problem. Unfortunately the cap and rotor is expensive because GM owns the patent on it , or at least that's the excuse given me.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: dfw tx
great news guys, turns out im just a RETARD lol. appears that the gas guage is little off lol. but hey say what you will i would rather run it out of gas then replace the opti. anywho shes up and running with a full glass to drink
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,992
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From: Middletown, DE
Great news! 
I've had my older (100K) non-vented opti thru at least 10 car washes, rainstorms, deep water etc. and it runs fine so I was a bit skeptical that one car wash would take out the opti.
Experienced the gas gauge bit about 2 weeks after I bought the car -- embarassing but it's happened to a lot of us
I've had my older (100K) non-vented opti thru at least 10 car washes, rainstorms, deep water etc. and it runs fine so I was a bit skeptical that one car wash would take out the opti.
Experienced the gas gauge bit about 2 weeks after I bought the car -- embarassing but it's happened to a lot of us
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,717
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From: RI
How bout letting it dry out and retrying it. Put hair dryer on it for a few hours but not enough to melt or damage anything. You MAY get lucky once the water pocket clears. Remember its not JUST the opti that gets wet, its the electrical feeds from the ECM that get exposed to direct shorts as well which can take out the ECM drivers while the opti may still be ok........While I agree most times the opti is a POS by design, its is not always the sole reason the car fails to run when water is involved.
Chris
Chris
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Great news!
I've had my older (100K) non-vented opti thru at least 10 car washes, rainstorms, deep water etc. and it runs fine so I was a bit skeptical that one car wash would take out the opti.
Experienced the gas gauge bit about 2 weeks after I bought the car -- embarassing but it's happened to a lot of us
I've had my older (100K) non-vented opti thru at least 10 car washes, rainstorms, deep water etc. and it runs fine so I was a bit skeptical that one car wash would take out the opti.
Experienced the gas gauge bit about 2 weeks after I bought the car -- embarassing but it's happened to a lot of us
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
How bout letting it dry out and retrying it. Put hair dryer on it for a few hours but not enough to melt or damage anything. You MAY get lucky once the water pocket clears. Remember its not JUST the opti that gets wet, its the electrical feeds from the ECM that get exposed to direct shorts as well which can take out the ECM drivers while the opti may still be ok........While I agree most times the opti is a POS by design, its is not always the sole reason the car fails to run when water is involved.
Chris
Chris
Last edited by runner140*; Dec 27, 2006 at 07:44 AM. Reason: Correction post #.
