Towed Home - Opti?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: MANDEVILLE, LA La
Towed Home - Opti?
Wed, night I was ,Luckely, 2 blocks from home and it died.Would not start.It's my 95' with 106K mi.The only thing that hapened differntly was for the past few months every once in while ehen I excelerated from a stop it would give me a little bump. Felt like one plug would misfire??? It pulled to redline without a mis. Then...Gone....I hope it's a coil / ICM or a fuel pump.Anyway ,anyone have simlar symptoms occur????
Thanx
Thanx
Last edited by CAJUN C4; Aug 20, 2011 at 07:42 AM.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 15
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From: Pennsylvania
I replaced my OPTI and it was a real pain.
See if your water pumps weep hole is leaking cause it drops right on the OPTI and rusts the inside.(This was smart Chevy)
Also did you happen to run thru any high water lately or shoot hose water to the front of your engine?
If you can get it to turn over and idle for a fem minutes do it in the dark and open the hood.
Look for sparks coming off of your plug wires.
I had bad plug wires and where shorting out.
My wires looked new but when looking in the dark I could see they sparked and needed replaced.
I would start with plugs and wires first since the OPTI cost around $600 and is a pain to replace yourself.
If you do replace OPTI I think there is a newer SEALED version out there which keeps water out.
See if your water pumps weep hole is leaking cause it drops right on the OPTI and rusts the inside.(This was smart Chevy)
Also did you happen to run thru any high water lately or shoot hose water to the front of your engine?
If you can get it to turn over and idle for a fem minutes do it in the dark and open the hood.
Look for sparks coming off of your plug wires.
I had bad plug wires and where shorting out.
My wires looked new but when looking in the dark I could see they sparked and needed replaced.
I would start with plugs and wires first since the OPTI cost around $600 and is a pain to replace yourself.
If you do replace OPTI I think there is a newer SEALED version out there which keeps water out.
Army Hoist Operator
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 836
Likes: 17
From: OK
IMO, run the onboard diagnostics, get the DTCs, get an FSM & go thru the diagnostic checks before you start replacing parts. The opti may not be bad. And now you can buy them new for $80, $140, $400.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,771
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From: MANDEVILLE, LA La
I agree..Usually the 95' / 96's last a pretty long time.My good friend has very sophisticated Snap On diagnostic equipment and we'll run one on Sunday.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
I guess its a good thing you have all those new parts laying around!!
Hope ya get it goin again til its convenient to have it down.
take care!!
Oh yeah, check your fuel pressure and filter. I bought 25 gallons of water once on 59 coming into Mandeville. Man I was PISSED!!
Hope ya get it goin again til its convenient to have it down.
take care!!
Oh yeah, check your fuel pressure and filter. I bought 25 gallons of water once on 59 coming into Mandeville. Man I was PISSED!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,018
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From: Winston Ga.
Siphon (from the bottom of the tank) some out and check it out in a glass jar.
check fuel pressure (btw, fuel and water show the same pressure on a gauge. ask me how I know
check injector signals
check spark
these are easy checks and I go through them before I even crack the FSM. this could point you to the right system and give clues to investigate.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
Also the low voltage harness from the opti to the ECM connector should be checked.
My 92 died like this with no codes. replaced the ICM and coil.
It ran fine until the waterpump took out the opti a few thousand miles later.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: N. Alabama
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: MANDEVILLE, LA La
Well, went out this morning and it started right up not even a hicup...runs fine. Hot Coil / ICM Suspect??? A Bad Opti wouldn't heal itself when cooled down I don't think??I know a bad coil could....don't know about the ICM???
Comments
Comments
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,336
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From: Chicago Executive Airport, formerly known as Palwaukee
No-IL Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
An ignition coil or an Ignition Control Module can fail when hot.
You would need to follow the troubleshooting diagrams in an FSM.
SAVE the WAVE!
You would need to follow the troubleshooting diagrams in an FSM.
SAVE the WAVE!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,621
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
Sounds more like an ICM to me also. It is easy to change and takes little time. The coil will take much longer and is more difficult due to the fact the old mounting has to be used and you will probably have to drill out the rivets to get the coil off the original mount.
But if you bought a coil, you can actually just hang it for test purposes and drive normal. It's just one connector and the hot wire.
But if you bought a coil, you can actually just hang it for test purposes and drive normal. It's just one connector and the hot wire.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,193
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If your car has near or over 100K miles..I would replace the ICM and coil regardless..its easy..and you get to clean up the heat sink which is prolly packed with dirt..which is why the ICM's go...you see Chevy at that time semed to like to put parts in places they don't like to be:
Opti under the water pump and behind the damper..nice and hot and wet
ICM right onto the head..nice and hot..they could have put that on the fender..or anywhere...very..strange...
Opti under the water pump and behind the damper..nice and hot and wet
ICM right onto the head..nice and hot..they could have put that on the fender..or anywhere...very..strange...
Race Director
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From: O'Fallon Missouri
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,771
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From: MANDEVILLE, LA La
Thanx Guys..I'll let you know how I make out.I do have an MSD Opti waiting if needed.I do believe the Vented 95' - 96's were better though.
Last edited by CAJUN C4; Aug 23, 2011 at 05:00 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,647
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From: Argillite KY
The next time it won't start or it just quits here's a little electronic guy tech tip. Go to Radio Shack and buy a can of freeze spray. Keep it in the car. It's like dry ice in a can. Spray it on your ICM and it will cool it right down. Try to start it again. If it starts the ICM is bad.
The freeze spray is the best troubleshooting aid since the VOM. Even a bad transistor or diode will start working when it gets cold enough. Most of the time.
The freeze spray is the best troubleshooting aid since the VOM. Even a bad transistor or diode will start working when it gets cold enough. Most of the time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,193
Likes: 16
The next time it won't start or it just quits here's a little electronic guy tech tip. Go to Radio Shack and buy a can of freeze spray. Keep it in the car. It's like dry ice in a can. Spray it on your ICM and it will cool it right down. Try to start it again. If it starts the ICM is bad.
The freeze spray is the best troubleshooting aid since the VOM. Even a bad transistor or diode will start working when it gets cold enough. Most of the time.
The freeze spray is the best troubleshooting aid since the VOM. Even a bad transistor or diode will start working when it gets cold enough. Most of the time.
