New optispark not working, help asap
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
New optispark not working, help asap
I am replacing the opti of my car and the car won't start. Before putting the water pump back I decided to check and make sure the car starts. It won't. I plugged all the sensors but there is no water pump, so it shoudl start as it is shouldn't it? Help, I am thinking about checking the old opti to see if it starts, but I have no time for this, help please..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
Assuming you had a classic opti problem of poor running which is the assumed reason you are replacing it, it should start again with the water pump not connected. It will run Ok for five seconds, then get real rich and lope due to the sensor in the pump not connected.
Assuming it was running, you probably did not align the shaft correctly with the missing tooth either into the engine or opti. Hence the ignition timing would be way off and not start. The opti should go on with light pressure as it seats in the seals and contact the timer cover with a tink. The screws should not be used to pull it to the case but only the hold it in place.
I would remove the opti and reinstall again an paying attention to the alignment.
If you engine was not running before you replaced the opti, then you have to make sure the shaft alignment is correct and then you can start troubleshooting the no start problem.
PS: the sensor wire for the connection to the temp sense in pump is long enough if you lay the pump across the top of the intake and MAF.
When you are all done, clear all the codes.
Assuming it was running, you probably did not align the shaft correctly with the missing tooth either into the engine or opti. Hence the ignition timing would be way off and not start. The opti should go on with light pressure as it seats in the seals and contact the timer cover with a tink. The screws should not be used to pull it to the case but only the hold it in place.
I would remove the opti and reinstall again an paying attention to the alignment.
If you engine was not running before you replaced the opti, then you have to make sure the shaft alignment is correct and then you can start troubleshooting the no start problem.
PS: the sensor wire for the connection to the temp sense in pump is long enough if you lay the pump across the top of the intake and MAF.
When you are all done, clear all the codes.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 94
From: Westfield MA
Assuming you had a classic opti problem of poor running which is the assumed reason you are replacing it, it should start again with the water pump not connected. It will run Ok for five seconds, then get real rich and lope due to the sensor in the pump not connected.
Assuming it was running, you probably did not align the shaft correctly with the missing tooth either into the engine or opti. Hence the ignition timing would be way off and not start. The opti should go on with light pressure as it seats in the seals and contact the timer cover with a tink. The screws should not be used to pull it to the case but only the hold it in place.
I would remove the opti and reinstall again an paying attention to the alignment.
If you engine was not running before you replaced the opti, then you have to make sure the shaft alignment is correct and then you can start troubleshooting the no start problem.
PS: the sensor wire for the connection to the temp sense in pump is long enough if you lay the pump across the top of the intake and MAF.
When you are all done, clear all the codes.
Assuming it was running, you probably did not align the shaft correctly with the missing tooth either into the engine or opti. Hence the ignition timing would be way off and not start. The opti should go on with light pressure as it seats in the seals and contact the timer cover with a tink. The screws should not be used to pull it to the case but only the hold it in place.
I would remove the opti and reinstall again an paying attention to the alignment.
If you engine was not running before you replaced the opti, then you have to make sure the shaft alignment is correct and then you can start troubleshooting the no start problem.
PS: the sensor wire for the connection to the temp sense in pump is long enough if you lay the pump across the top of the intake and MAF.
When you are all done, clear all the codes.
You are either skipping too many steps or leaving out enough information for us to help. If you haven't connected the water temp sensor, the car will be difficult to start, at least that was my experience, but my car did start. I would first check to see if you are getting spark, then check as described above.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 505
Likes: 1
From: Guntersville Alabama
I am replacing the opti of my car and the car won't start. Before putting the water pump back I decided to check and make sure the car starts. It won't. I plugged all the sensors but there is no water pump, so it shoudl start as it is shouldn't it? Help, I am thinking about checking the old opti to see if it starts, but I have no time for this, help please..
93cruiser
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 174
Likes: 4
From: Austin_Palm Bay_Houston Texas_Florida_Texas
Double check that ALL your sensors and wires are connected properly and snugly, including MAF sensor, CTS, IAT, Coil wire, main Opti communication harness. Also double check that you didn't cross any spark plug wires. You were smart to check Opti prior to WP install.
Here is a pic of my '94 with new Opti just before test without WP installed. Notice everything is plugged back in, even the CTS just hanging there.
Here is a pic of my '94 with new Opti just before test without WP installed. Notice everything is plugged back in, even the CTS just hanging there.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette
Pouria Savadkouei
How Likely Are These Five 2027 Corvette Rumors to Be True?
Brett Foote
9 Best Corvettes You Can Buy for Half Price (& 1 You Should NEVER Buy!)
Joe Kucinski
8 Very Best Corvettes of Amelia Island 2026
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 WORST Corvette Engineering Failures of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
10 Records the C8 Corvette Generation Has SMASHED (& 1 Glaring Failure)
Joe Kucinski
7 Wildest Corvette Concepts Ever Made
Brett Foote
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
I removed the new opti and re-installed the old one and it fired up. Is there only one possible position for the opti? I mean, could I installed it incorrectly? and how do you know the proper position for it? I noticed that there is a pin and I made sure that the squared slot and the pin are aligned. It appeared to be ok but I seemed a little bit cricked. Thanks. 96 Lt4
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
I removed the new opti and re-installed the old one and it fired up. Is there only one possible position for the opti? I mean, could I installed it incorrectly? and how do you know the proper position for it? I noticed that there is a pin and I made sure that the squared slot and the pin are aligned. It appeared to be ok but I seemed a little bit cricked. Thanks. 96 Lt4
I would add a pix to the post of the shaft but only have pictures for 92-94 opti which is a different opti. Perhaps someone might chime in with a pix but it think it sound like you understand the basics of aligning the shaft.
What was your original problem which led you to change the opti?
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 174
Likes: 4
From: Austin_Palm Bay_Houston Texas_Florida_Texas
The GenII Opti ('95 and '96) has a better interface design than the GenI design. It is virtually impossible to mount a GenII incorrectly. Try as you might, you cannot get a GenII to mount FLUSH to the front of the timing cover if the cam dowel pin is not positioned correctly with the indexed groove in the Opti. That's what the dowel pin was designed to do, only allow Opti to fit one way. So I think you installed the new one correctly if you got it lined up and the Opti popped on FLUSH.
Get a flashlight and look inside the Opti rectangular harness connector. Make sure that there is not a bent pin. There are 4 male pins deep inside. These pins are responsable for sending the Optical High/Low resolution pulses to the PCM for spark/timing control. I would even open it up and check that the rotor is securely fastened(I do this no matter what. I put loctite on the 2 rotor torx screws as a measure of safety).
Did you buy an OEM Delphi unit, or something else ?? Getting a bad Opti right out of the box is not unheard of, especially some of those Chinese knock offs....
Good luck....
Get a flashlight and look inside the Opti rectangular harness connector. Make sure that there is not a bent pin. There are 4 male pins deep inside. These pins are responsable for sending the Optical High/Low resolution pulses to the PCM for spark/timing control. I would even open it up and check that the rotor is securely fastened(I do this no matter what. I put loctite on the 2 rotor torx screws as a measure of safety).
Did you buy an OEM Delphi unit, or something else ?? Getting a bad Opti right out of the box is not unheard of, especially some of those Chinese knock offs....
Good luck....
5th Gear
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Engine wont start
I replaced the opti spark distributor tried to start the engine and it did not start checked for fire and I am not getting any fire so I replace all of the sensors the ignition control module ,map sensor , the idle control sensor and the cooling temp sensor and the engine still want start . I have a 92 Corvette LT1
temp.sensor. And the engine still wont start .Could someone please help me with my problem
temp.sensor. And the engine still wont start .Could someone please help me with my problem
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 80
From: Hawaii
I replaced the opti spark distributor tried to start the engine and it did not start checked for fire and I am not getting any fire so I replace all of the sensors the ignition control module ,map sensor , the idle control sensor and the cooling temp sensor and the engine still want start . I have a 92 Corvette LT1
temp.sensor. And the engine still wont start .Could someone please help me with my problem
temp.sensor. And the engine still wont start .Could someone please help me with my problem
