Opti-Spark
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 705
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From: Woodbridge VA
Opti-Spark
Can someone please explain what this is. I have heard a lot of people talk about the problems it has and would like to know if it is something I should be worried about. I have seen that it was greatly improved for 95s and 96s but it can still fail. :confused:
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 11,007
Likes: 1
From: Probably in the paint booth....
Re: Opti-Spark (95DropTop)
The Optispark:
GM's great failure !!!! :D J/K but it still sucks!
The Opti is an intergrated distributor/optical sensor that sits on the front of the engine directly behind the waterpump. The early models were not vented properly & may fail before the later venting improvements, both can/will ??? fail with the introduction of water. The Opti is driven directy off the nose of the cam & contains optics that allow the ECM to monitor the rotation of the cam to ditermine numerous engine operating conditions.
Read: PITA to change & very expensive. Also allow about 6-8 hours to change the wires on a Opti equiped powerplant due to the Opti's location.
Neal
GM's great failure !!!! :D J/K but it still sucks!
The Opti is an intergrated distributor/optical sensor that sits on the front of the engine directly behind the waterpump. The early models were not vented properly & may fail before the later venting improvements, both can/will ??? fail with the introduction of water. The Opti is driven directy off the nose of the cam & contains optics that allow the ECM to monitor the rotation of the cam to ditermine numerous engine operating conditions.
Read: PITA to change & very expensive. Also allow about 6-8 hours to change the wires on a Opti equiped powerplant due to the Opti's location.
Neal
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
Re: Opti-Spark (95DropTop)
It is the distributor for our cars. It uses optical sensors inside for timing. The reason you hear bad things about it is because it is sensitive to moisture. What causes most people's opti-"crap", as we like to call it, go out is that the water pump, sitting directly above it, designed to leak when its bearings go out, drips coolant all over the thing. The coolant distroys the rotor, bearings, optical sensor, etc... in the opticrap and thus goes the story we've all heard and told many times.
The water pump runs a little over $150, and dealers will want $650 for the opticrap, but you can get it from karfan18 on the forum for around $300 or so.
[Modified by Glock'94, 10:53 AM 12/13/2001]
The water pump runs a little over $150, and dealers will want $650 for the opticrap, but you can get it from karfan18 on the forum for around $300 or so.
[Modified by Glock'94, 10:53 AM 12/13/2001]
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
Likes: 2
From: Windermere FL
Re: Opti-Spark (Glock'94)
In 95 they made it more water resistant and the 95 versions cost less. They are good for 100,000 miles before they need changing. Just stay away from deep puddles and power washing the motor.
:cheers:
:cheers:
