OK! That's it! Need HELP!

Replaced my OEM Opti in 07 at 105k. Not because it was bad, in fact it was working just fine. Long story short, Replaced steering Rack, noticed water pump leak, decided to replace Opti.

Went with MSD Pro. Lasted 2 years and 9K miles. Mechanic says never had trouble with MSD before and replaced with MSD. 2 1/2 years and only 6K miles more the MSD is dying, kicking a P1371, as did the last MSD. 6 to 9K, does this sound "normal"?

Mechanic says GM Opti build quality has gone south and now suggests DYNOSPARK, but I just read a recent post about DS quality not so good.

Advice PLEASE...

 

I have no suggestions regarding a replacement distributor, but whenever I hear the nightmare stories about multiple opti failures I question the diagnosis.
Consider first a close inspection of all wiring and connectors in the circuit, it is not always a bad part that causes a code,good luck.

 

So do i. And i question it long and hard.

And i do this cause i never had one fail, one was 3/4 full of water and still worked, all by just barely, and a cap/rotor replacment fixed it for almost another 60 thousand miles, when i took it out of service in perfect working order.

I replaced mine with an MSD cause i was reving the **** out of it, beyond what the stock unit was designed for.

The OptiSpark is a fantastic setup in my opinion, and i never had cause to think otherwise.

Those that have a different opinion, and there is LOTS of them that do, tell me how many top mounted distributors will go 100,000 miles plus without a single bit of maintenance ever being performed on them, and still be in perfect time, as accurate as day one. Not many...

Besides that, go a DelTeq and you still use the part most seem to have issues with. Go a DynaSpark and youre still dealing with aftermarket parts. MSD has been in the game a while, and last i looked, they werent in that game to sell junk.

 

Exactly what is failing on the opti? I would find that out , it shouldn't fail that quick unless it was some junk ebay job...I just replaced mine so I can't say about how long it will last..went with a Petris built one..pretty much a stock body with a vented cap...and I would be talking to MSD...

 

The Bailey LTCC is what I've used for years with no problems at all. I carry a spare module but have not needed it. It removes all the high voltage from the Opti. Kinda like this:

 

Have used the delco,msd ,and dynaspark in my race car(procharged camaro) and had alot of failures,either misfiring or rotor would explode.i dont think delteq exists anylonger.was using the chandler lifetime units fo 134.00$ with good sucses,but i heard they have doubled the price,so i guess whatevery you try,just remove the cap and loctite the rotor screws and hope for the best.
mike

 

Just for every day driveing I like the GM one I have replaced one in my 95 and one in my 96 and happy with both I did put MSD cap on both not cheep ..I don't know about the Hot Rod ones these GMs will go to 7,000 around 6,500 fire all over the place..This winter I'll be on here asking what do I need , putting more HP in my LT-4 ..I thinking low RPM thing . Lot's junk out there....Good luck...

 

Great input guys! We've check the wiring over both times. It appears to be failure of the sensor. P1371. This time we are going with GM and take a look at the opti sensor before installation. We are also going to check the MSD to verify reason for failure. I'll post results here. Thanks and keep the suggestions coming.

 

I replaced my 92 opti (non vented) 20k ago. I read an article in one of the Corvette magazines that showed how to vent it and I did it. I used a GM opti fresh out of the dealership. It's still working just fine even after 2 years of chasing an auto cross championship in my region. Oh, I got rid of the manual water pump that leaked all over the original opti and installed an electric water pump. I wonder why GM didn't go this route? So much better. BTW, new optis from GM run $555 plus 10% plus tax. Oh, one more thought, the 95 and 96 opti is a better design and less prone to failure.

 

That article is about the opti I bought from Petris..he sells them for 399.00..and he will call you back if you have a question...

 

Thanks. I went to his web site and confirmed my decision to go with a GM replacement. Mine being a 96, it already comes with a vented cap. I just hope AC Delco hasn't changed vendors for the opti sensor. I'll let you all know.

 

And still relies on the one part of the distributor that most failures occur in, and the main one that will stop you dead in your tracks if it does fail.

The HV isnt the issue if the cap and rotor are replaced when due ( and the seal is installed properly, which is CRITICAL. ), the optical sensor is the weak link.

 

Don't you Aussie's ever sleep? It's almost 3:00 AM here. What's that about 5:00 PM down under.

Yep, I'll have to agree that the optical sensor is the one that will stop you dead in your tracks but not many change the cap and rotor regularly. I don't know where all these failures are coming from. I've had LTX engines since 1995 and have never lost an Opti. I wash the engines, am not particularly careful when cleaning the front and never had a problem. I removed the high voltage because of the film created by the ozone or whatever inside the opti. Since I've done that I have had no issues with dirt/haze or anything inside. It stays a lot cleaner.

I have had issues with the ozone caused by high voltage creating a film on the Mitsubishi sensor and cause it to throw some codes but a cleaning with alcohol took care of that. I suspect that a lot of the problems are about the same but people just choose to change the whole thing. I've had three or four Opti's sent to me and I just cleaned them and they were as good as new. These were all BAD Opti's that wouldn't work. The LED's are very robust, under stressed and last a very long time.

I would also think that the phototransistor (receiver) would last nearly forever as it has no real current applied at all....ever.

 

Yeah mate, youre pretty close, as at posting time itll be 17:25 here

I used to wash my LT1 as well. Infact, i washed it right before i went to pick up TopTechx6 when he was here in Australia. I wasnt late picking him up either, you can all ask him yourself!!

 

Seems like he has been sleeping for couple years.

CASE
Do my eyes deceive me? Are you back, or is it just a teaser.

Anyway, good to see your posts again.

Bolted my GM opti in about 06 and all is OK for the last 50K miles.

 

Hey mate how are ya? Ill stay a little while and see how i go. I probably wont be much help though, ive been out of the game a fair while, i may have lost the edge

 

Got the new GM opti and checked the sensor. Found a Mitsibishi optical sensor. I hope that's a good sign. We'll see Friday what the MSD has to tell us, when we get to look inside.

 

I'm a little concearned now. I bought an MSD for my 95' from a Forum Member with 1,000 Mi on it. I wonder if I should send it back to MSD so they can check the Sensor and make sure it's OK or should I just buy a new Sensor.???? Or buy a less expensive one send my MSD Back to MSD for inspection, install the cheaper one then replace with the MSD when I get it back??? Bottom Line...can I trust my MSD to work ? I'm hearing alot of horror stories here.Gun Shy !

 

I'd take the cap off, check the rotor screws, locktite them. Inspect the optical sensor and make sure its in good physical shape. Check to make sure it rotates smoothly.

Then put the cap back on making sure its sealed against the elements and install it.

Or send it to MSD to get it rebuilt.

 

I'd have to agree with jaa1992. Don't give up on MSD just yet. I may have other spark related issues failing the sensor. I'm going to try and run that to ground tomorrow and I'll post those conclusions here.