code H16 on a 94

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Aug 26, 2010 | 08:41 PM

REDJET94

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Racer

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From: millville NJ

code H16 on a 94

I found this code in the car tonight. looked in the chiltons book to find there were a few problems it can be. If anyone has had this code, did you end up replacing the opti distributor?

Aug 26, 2010 | 09:48 PM

airplane50

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From: Highland Park IL

DTC #16: Distributor Ignition System Low Pulse. Happened to me after just 6,000 miles on a new opti & water pump. My '94 would start and run normally when cold however as soon as it warmed up would shut down and not start until cool again. When we took off the water pump we could see that it leaked at the shaft which caused the opti to fail. Good luck with your repair.

Aug 26, 2010 | 10:01 PM

Al Borman

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From: Austin_Palm Bay_Houston Texas_Florida_Texas

yes the H16 is the dreaded Opti code(Low resolution pulse). Are you having any issues with how the engine performs under all conditions(cold, hot, idle, etc.) ???

Check to make sure that the WP weep hole is not leaking coolant on to the Opti.

If your engine runs fine at all conditions, and your WP is healthy, I would clear the H16 error code, and monitor on a weekly basis.

Aug 26, 2010 | 10:09 PM

REDJET94

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From: millville NJ

its a brand new dist, cap, and rotor. ran 2 times and won't start. no spark and code h 16. also new coil, and icu.

Last edited by REDJET94; Aug 27, 2010 at 05:30 AM.

Aug 27, 2010 | 07:40 AM

onedef92

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It certainly sounds like the Opti's gone

to me, too.

Aug 27, 2010 | 12:24 PM

SunCr

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From: San Diego, Ca

Except the "H" means it's history and should disappear within 100 ignition cycles. Clear it and if it doesn't come back, don't worry about it.

Aug 27, 2010 | 01:32 PM

Al Borman

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From: Austin_Palm Bay_Houston Texas_Florida_Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by REDJET94

its a brand new dist, cap, and rotor. ran 2 times and won't start. no spark and code h 16. also new coil, and icu.

Wish you would have stated this in original post, because I suck at typing !!

Anyway, it is not unheard of that a brand new Opti will be DOA, or have a life span of the common house fly. When you say "new, dist, cap and rotor", I assume you mean that you bought a complete new Optispark ? What brand Opti did you purchase? Some of those inexpensive fleabay China knock-offs are pure junk.

I would clear the H16 code, then try to restart, and see if H16 re-appears. If it does, my bet would be that your new Opti is toast.

Also, the 2 times that the engine ran, did it run smoothly and for a decent length of time, or did it stumble, puke and cut out quickly ? Just want to make sure that Opti spline was keyed correctly to the camshaft.

Last edited by Al Borman; Aug 27, 2010 at 01:36 PM.

Aug 27, 2010 | 04:06 PM

JAKE

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From: Kempner Texas

Let's ALWAYS start off a new thread by correctly identifying the engine we're deailing with. Too many times guys don't update their avatar or signature, etc., which leads responders to think it's an engine it "ain't". I just went through this with a MAF/MAP issue.

Optis differ based on year and so are the trouble-shooting procedures when one has been swapped.

Jake