Optispark... Auto fail?
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Fair Oaks CA
Optispark... Auto fail?
Baby's in the shop getting a new water pump. Service guy, (let's call him Ron) suggests that while she's "opened up" we replace the Optispark while he's in there. Is that REALLY necessary? I have heard about the reliability (lack thereof) of this critical component, but is it really THAT lame that a little bit of water/antifreeze leaking on it would actually cause it to fail? 
"Ron" says he's never seen a car (optispark) make it past 1K after a water pump change. Does this ring true or is dear "Ron" blowin' smoke up our wazoo?
"Ron" says he's never seen a car (optispark) make it past 1K after a water pump change. Does this ring true or is dear "Ron" blowin' smoke up our wazoo?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 195
From: folsom california
i would suggest a rotor and rotor cap change out and possibly plug wires....just as you would with any "conventional" disrtibutor. when the opti is open, inspect it for water intrusion..also check the vent harness, if so equipped. then decide whether or not to follow ron's advice
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Fair Oaks CA
Very good idea. My problem is she's at the dealer.
A little background... Hubby loves his corvette, as do I, but he knows Nada about the mechanics, and I know just enough to be dangerous thanks to a few stints as a parts delivery girl back in the day (way, way back in the day!) I know the basics that my Daddy taught me, (He wouldn't allow me to drive until I first knew how to do a brake job, oil change and how to fix a tire.) But back to the problem...
Think I can trust the dealer to "check" those items for me? What if she's already laid out, chest opened waiting for the scalpel?!
A little background... Hubby loves his corvette, as do I, but he knows Nada about the mechanics, and I know just enough to be dangerous thanks to a few stints as a parts delivery girl back in the day (way, way back in the day!) I know the basics that my Daddy taught me, (He wouldn't allow me to drive until I first knew how to do a brake job, oil change and how to fix a tire.) But back to the problem...
Think I can trust the dealer to "check" those items for me? What if she's already laid out, chest opened waiting for the scalpel?!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 94
From: Westfield MA
how old is the opti that is in the car and how much additional money do they want to do the job? It is not a bad idea to do it, I changed mine out while I was doing the water pump, my car had 65K on it and looked to be the original opti. If your question is "is this absolutely necessary?" no, it is not. If the water pump had been leaking for a while the opti may be "compromised" as they seem to be sensitive to coolant more than just getting wet.
If it is a low mile car and they want an additional $1k to do it, I would say no, if it is a 100k mile car and they want an additional $4-500, I would probably go for it.
If it is a low mile car and they want an additional $1k to do it, I would say no, if it is a 100k mile car and they want an additional $4-500, I would probably go for it.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 291
Likes: 1
From: Temecula Cali
I just bought my '94 with 116k a few months ago. The previous owner had a shop install a new water pump. They didn't replace the opti, and now i get occasional issues like jumpy idle and misfiring that leads me to believe the opti might be going south.
If I was you, I'd do it. Make sure the opti he's installing isn't a made in china special... an msd or oem gm would be good choices.
rob
If I was you, I'd do it. Make sure the opti he's installing isn't a made in china special... an msd or oem gm would be good choices.
rob
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 5
From: Sandhills of North Carolina
how old is the opti that is in the car and how much additional money do they want to do the job? It is not a bad idea to do it, I changed mine out while I was doing the water pump, my car had 65K on it and looked to be the original opti. If your question is "is this absolutely necessary?" no, it is not. If the water pump had been leaking for a while the opti may be "compromised" as they seem to be sensitive to coolant more than just getting wet.
If it is a low mile car and they want an additional $1k to do it, I would say no, if it is a 100k mile car and they want an additional $4-500, I would probably go for it.
If it is a low mile car and they want an additional $1k to do it, I would say no, if it is a 100k mile car and they want an additional $4-500, I would probably go for it.
At least get an estimate of what they're going to charge for all of this. They're half way there changing out the wp. If it dies then it's back to square one on labor later. If the estimate is over say 1400.00 for opti and wp go somewhere else. Also, make certain that they are going to change the seals while they are doing this.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 195
From: folsom california
if the pumps already off it should take all of five minutes to remove the rotor cap from the opti body (which remains in place) to allow inspection of the opti internals for signs of water damage.
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 535
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From: CA
sounds like you and your husband love your vette....
If it is finacially plausable for you to replace the opti without it being to big of a financiall stain or inconvience i would go ahead and have them change out the opti. nothing worse than tearing into a motor for a few hours, get it buttoned back up and have something fail that was near the area the work was being done,,,,, in otherwords "while your in there" you mind as well do it. just make sure you get a MSD or OEM opti as stated in a previouse post
dont get raped though, worken on a C4 isnt that hard of a job and you can get a general idea of parts prices from jegs, summit or ecklers
If it is finacially plausable for you to replace the opti without it being to big of a financiall stain or inconvience i would go ahead and have them change out the opti. nothing worse than tearing into a motor for a few hours, get it buttoned back up and have something fail that was near the area the work was being done,,,,, in otherwords "while your in there" you mind as well do it. just make sure you get a MSD or OEM opti as stated in a previouse post
dont get raped though, worken on a C4 isnt that hard of a job and you can get a general idea of parts prices from jegs, summit or ecklers
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 242
Likes: 7
From: Bowling Green KY
For what it's worth, the waterpump on my 94 was leaking and I decided to change it without changing the opti. A month or so later, the opti went out and left me stranded 300 miles from home. Then I had to tow it back home, pull the waterpump off again (as it is right in front of the opti) change the opti, and then reinstall the waterpump.
One thing is certain here... if your waterpump leaked, it leaked on your opti and yes, the opti is that lame that it does fail if coolant makes it into the weep holes. If you leave it on it is a gamble that probably won't pay off. If it were me, the peace of mind I'd get from just changing it is worth it. Plus you'd only have to pay for the waterpump coming off once.
Luckily, I was able to do all the work myself, so the extra work didn't cost me anything but time. In your case though, every trip to the mechanic is going to be expensive. Might as well make those trips as few as possible.
One thing is certain here... if your waterpump leaked, it leaked on your opti and yes, the opti is that lame that it does fail if coolant makes it into the weep holes. If you leave it on it is a gamble that probably won't pay off. If it were me, the peace of mind I'd get from just changing it is worth it. Plus you'd only have to pay for the waterpump coming off once.
Luckily, I was able to do all the work myself, so the extra work didn't cost me anything but time. In your case though, every trip to the mechanic is going to be expensive. Might as well make those trips as few as possible.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Richardson Texas
I would say...replace the Opti. I had a leaking radiator problem and when that was fixed, the water pump started leaking...according the Chevy dealer. He recommended replacing the Opti for an additional $700, but since my Opti only had 10K miles, I refused. As soon as I got it back from the dealer the car stalled out in the first 2 miles. It restarted after a couple of tries, but ever since I can't drive it without stalling. I would say replace the Opti, it's cheap insurance. Now I'm looking at replacing my Opti (my 8th in the 10 years I've had the car).
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,383
Likes: 4
Every once in a while we get a post here about how great the Pros are and how feable we amature hobbiests are. If the Pros at this shop can't do a simple water pump R&R without killing the optispark then what good are they?
IMHO don't let the shop charge you for a new opti. Yours was working when it went into the shop and should be working when you get it out of the shop. It only takes a little extra care to keep the opti dry durring a WP swap.
IMHO don't let the shop charge you for a new opti. Yours was working when it went into the shop and should be working when you get it out of the shop. It only takes a little extra care to keep the opti dry durring a WP swap.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 242
Likes: 7
From: Bowling Green KY
I'm assuming you are changing the waterpump because it is leaking already right? It is easy to keep it dry during the swap, but if the waterpump was leaking to begin with then it has already soaked the opti and you should change it. Just talking from experience here. Change it now or change it later...
Last edited by Bob2.0; Jul 8, 2010 at 04:37 PM. Reason: more clarity
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Fair Oaks CA
I'm getting a lot of great feedback here, thanks everybody!
FYI, the Vette only has less than 48K on her and prior to taking her in to the nearest Chevy dealer have a few "minor" things get checked out, she ran like a champ. Certainly no indication that the Opti was going bad. Dealer comes back with a whole laundry list of stuff that's wrong and I admit...I am just a little bit cynical, especially nowadays.
I guess I should be working on the cars myself, eh?
FYI, the Vette only has less than 48K on her and prior to taking her in to the nearest Chevy dealer have a few "minor" things get checked out, she ran like a champ. Certainly no indication that the Opti was going bad. Dealer comes back with a whole laundry list of stuff that's wrong and I admit...I am just a little bit cynical, especially nowadays.
I guess I should be working on the cars myself, eh?
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
From: Alma AR
There is one more option. You can replace the entire Optispark system with an individual coil per cylinder system. That way you never have to worry about a flawed system. EFI Connection makes such a system. I don't work for them or anything. It's just another way to solve a problem. Try EFIConnection.com
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Fair Oaks CA
Oh yeah, Dealer's gonna charge me $900 alone for the part. Labor will only be $108 if we do it now, versus $562 if done later.
I asked Ron about checking for water leakage inside the opti and he tells me it's impossible...
I asked Ron about checking for water leakage inside the opti and he tells me it's impossible...
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,383
Likes: 4
This also means that there is no way they were planning to locktite the rotor screws on the new replacement opti.
At 48K I would expect that you have at least 50K more on your cap and rotor.
Last edited by 94z07fx3; Jul 8, 2010 at 05:30 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
They are lying...the high voltage side off the opti....is a plain old distributor with cap and rotor.
For 900 bones......I'd bring it home and convert that sucker to the second generation OPTI.....
IMO GM fixed all the optis faults with the second generation OPTI (installed in 1994-1996 B bodies) 95/96 Y bodies and 95-97 Fbodies....
You will need a different cam, timing cover, opti, opti harness, vent hoses...and maybe a couple of minor things I may have forgotten (been a long time since I did my last opti conversion...However, I wash the engine in my 95 vette a couple times a month, drive in torrential rain (almost daily this time of year)....and rev the engine to 7100+ rpm often and 6900 many times a day....and the opti has survived 5 years....with NO DRAMA.....(I pulled a perfectly good opti out when I did my head cam swap..because I fell for the OPTI doom and gloom)
Good luck
Mike
For 900 bones......I'd bring it home and convert that sucker to the second generation OPTI.....
IMO GM fixed all the optis faults with the second generation OPTI (installed in 1994-1996 B bodies) 95/96 Y bodies and 95-97 Fbodies....
You will need a different cam, timing cover, opti, opti harness, vent hoses...and maybe a couple of minor things I may have forgotten (been a long time since I did my last opti conversion...However, I wash the engine in my 95 vette a couple times a month, drive in torrential rain (almost daily this time of year)....and rev the engine to 7100+ rpm often and 6900 many times a day....and the opti has survived 5 years....with NO DRAMA.....(I pulled a perfectly good opti out when I did my head cam swap..because I fell for the OPTI doom and gloom)
Good luck
Mike
Last edited by aboatguy; Jul 8, 2010 at 05:37 PM.