Weird opti problem
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 0
From: Sebastian Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
Weird opti problem
On my way to run errands yesterday, the car died on me. Looked under the hood and I had tighened the radiator hose on the pass. side all the way and it was leaking pretty bad.
Here is the weird part, I had put RTV all around the opti when I installed it and from what I could tell, the coolant leaked over the front of the opti and not directly on top and when I 1st pulled over the car would restart and backfire, but after it sat for a few minutes it would not start at all.
Got the car home and tried to start it this morning and no go, I have two questions.
1) Could spray alone get into a supposedly sealed opti and cause this or did fluid get into the connector and create a short between a couple of wires?
2) Should I give it a day and see if it dries out and runs or tear it down( don't want to, just changed wires and WP) and clean it out?
Thanks guys!!
Here is the weird part, I had put RTV all around the opti when I installed it and from what I could tell, the coolant leaked over the front of the opti and not directly on top and when I 1st pulled over the car would restart and backfire, but after it sat for a few minutes it would not start at all.
Got the car home and tried to start it this morning and no go, I have two questions.
1) Could spray alone get into a supposedly sealed opti and cause this or did fluid get into the connector and create a short between a couple of wires?
2) Should I give it a day and see if it dries out and runs or tear it down( don't want to, just changed wires and WP) and clean it out?
Thanks guys!!
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 503
Likes: 17
From: Jacksonville FL
I'd rent or borrow a code tester and see if the Opti was throwing the code to be the cause. It might dry out, put a drop light down near it to make some heat. Just don't set it on something plastic that it can hurt. There's a lot of difference between 100 degrees with the bulb near things and melting with the shield on something.
Heat gun is a great idea; careful though,they will melt plastic. The wife has not forgiven me for the damage I did defrosting the freezer.....
Good luck but it sounds like you're about to pull an Opti.
Locke
Heat gun is a great idea; careful though,they will melt plastic. The wife has not forgiven me for the damage I did defrosting the freezer.....
Good luck but it sounds like you're about to pull an Opti.
Locke
Last edited by Locke; Sep 3, 2009 at 12:58 PM.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 503
Likes: 17
From: Jacksonville FL
Yours is a known case of fluid neer the Opti but the last one I looked at that just backfired a few times then refused to start was a case of the 'rotor screws' just backing out.
I've been told that is the common death cause. They need to be pulled apart and the screws epoxied in place or a verry small machine screw and lock nut put in place.
Wish I'd know that before putting my last one in my car!
Locke
I've been told that is the common death cause. They need to be pulled apart and the screws epoxied in place or a verry small machine screw and lock nut put in place.
Wish I'd know that before putting my last one in my car!
Locke
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 0
From: Sebastian Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
Thought my leak was caused by a bad hose, well after examining the T housing it wasn't. My housing is pitted and has a lot of build up, especially the underside of the snout, so I would say if you see coolant under your car, it might not be the WP.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 0
From: Sebastian Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
No codes, but it runs now for about 5 minutes and then just dies.
Could getting the opti wet put a strain on the ICM and caused this?
Cause I have read other peoples threads about this and it always seems to be the ICM.
Could getting the opti wet put a strain on the ICM and caused this?
Cause I have read other peoples threads about this and it always seems to be the ICM.
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One of the things I did when I replaced my ICM and coil (based on a suggestion here) I put several washers between the head and the plate for the ICM/Coil. This seems to have helped the ICM last a little longer.