HELP--OPTI questions/recourse?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
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From: Encino CA
HELP--OPTI questions/recourse?
Just brought my 95 into the dealer because it was missing at idle since my last servicing (in April). At that time they did a fuel system service so I thought it might be related. Turns out the dealer claims some plug wires were cross-sparking which, in turn, caused cross-firing in the distributor. Their recommendations and quote for repair are $860 for the distributor and $320 for a new wire set!!!!
Seems outrageous for one thing but the car still has only about 44000 miles and I thought there might be some recourse with GM regarding the opti. Anyone have experience with this or other recommendations?
Thanks.
Seems outrageous for one thing but the car still has only about 44000 miles and I thought there might be some recourse with GM regarding the opti. Anyone have experience with this or other recommendations?
Thanks.
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
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From: hastings mn
Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (DougSilver)
I have seen decent wire sets in Ecklers for around $90.00, There is also a forum post on how to replace the wires yourself. Seems a little painful however
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (DougSilver)
well if the opti is shot then youll have to replace it, but not for $800, do it yourself, and no way would i pay $320 for a damn set of plug wires. You get one out of a Summit or Ecklers catalog for around $100.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
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From: Encino CA
Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (vader86)
At this instant I am on the phone with GM Customer Service. My point is that with only 44000 miles and religiously servicing over the years with the Chevy dealer, someone should have spotted a plug wire and/or opti going bad before this. The rep seems to be trying to work out some financial assistance but he has to talk with the dealership.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 60
From: Fremont Oh
Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (DougSilver)
Doug,
GM service is always high priced. I jusrt replaced my opti myself, with a super charger on my LT-1 to boot. The opti cost me liike 300 dollars, to purchaase I did the work myself. All it required additionally was the water pump gaskets and fresh antifreeze. While your at it like everyone who posted said replace the wires at that time. The toughest part is removing te Crank pulley, and finding the imfamous 6th waterpump bolt hidden by the opti-vacuum hoses behind the sterring pump pulley.
Had it not been for me having to remove my supercharger to get to it, I probably could have done the work in less than 3-4 hours... the opti is even keyed so there is no need to bring your timing to TDC.
So if you are skilled with a few tools you could certainly save 500 dollars...
If you have any questions feel free to email me
Mo
GM service is always high priced. I jusrt replaced my opti myself, with a super charger on my LT-1 to boot. The opti cost me liike 300 dollars, to purchaase I did the work myself. All it required additionally was the water pump gaskets and fresh antifreeze. While your at it like everyone who posted said replace the wires at that time. The toughest part is removing te Crank pulley, and finding the imfamous 6th waterpump bolt hidden by the opti-vacuum hoses behind the sterring pump pulley.
Had it not been for me having to remove my supercharger to get to it, I probably could have done the work in less than 3-4 hours... the opti is even keyed so there is no need to bring your timing to TDC.
So if you are skilled with a few tools you could certainly save 500 dollars...
If you have any questions feel free to email me
Mo
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,143
Likes: 7
From: San Diego CA
Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (Mo_Bandy)
Doug,
GM service is always high priced. I jusrt replaced my opti myself, with a super charger on my LT-1 to boot. ...
So if you are skilled with a few tools you could certainly save 500 dollars...
If you have any questions feel free to email me
Mo
GM service is always high priced. I jusrt replaced my opti myself, with a super charger on my LT-1 to boot. ...
So if you are skilled with a few tools you could certainly save 500 dollars...
If you have any questions feel free to email me
Mo
I think you can get a 95 Opti from Jeff Kopp (Superior Chevy - forum supporting vendor) for something like $180 (earlier optis are more expensive.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 60
From: Fremont Oh
Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (John Row)
Dang, John
I wish I would have known that... LOL. Could have saved another 100 bucks... By the way I replaced my plug wires with MSD 8.5 spirals, I think they were around 80 dollars
:crazy:
Mo
I wish I would have known that... LOL. Could have saved another 100 bucks... By the way I replaced my plug wires with MSD 8.5 spirals, I think they were around 80 dollars
:crazy:
Mo
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 3
From: Encino CA
Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (Mo_Bandy)
New development makes me suspicious. Just picked up the car and the charge was $75. I asked the service writer what was actually done for the $75 to diagnose the problem. I figured they probably scoped the car but I asked if this was the case. The writer laughed and sarcastically quipped "no--we just take a guess, ha ha ". I pressed to actually talk with the technician who discovered the problem and found out that NO CODES were shown while scoping the car. Therefore, he drove it and felt the miss. For all I know (and for all he knows) there could be just one bad plug wire but the dealers are in business to make money, not troubleshoot. So basically he just confirmed that there was a miss and knew he couldn't go wrong by recommending wires and opti!
Now the dilemma. If GM is generous and offers a good deal on doing this work, it might be worth it since they would probably lifetime-warranty the opti. If they do not offer any help, I will be bringing the car in to an independent shop to get my roller rockers and springs installed and I will have them also change the wires at the same time.
I guess I would have felt worse if the diagnostic conclusively showed that the opti was shot but my gut feeling is that there is just a bad wire and the dealer was trying to sell extra work.
Now the dilemma. If GM is generous and offers a good deal on doing this work, it might be worth it since they would probably lifetime-warranty the opti. If they do not offer any help, I will be bringing the car in to an independent shop to get my roller rockers and springs installed and I will have them also change the wires at the same time.
I guess I would have felt worse if the diagnostic conclusively showed that the opti was shot but my gut feeling is that there is just a bad wire and the dealer was trying to sell extra work.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
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From: San Pedro CA
Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (DougSilver)
if it was the opti, it shoulda thrown a code 16...
I bet the wire(s) got burnt by the exhaust manifold.
Taylor's are great wires and cost about 50.00 a set from Summit.
I bet the wire(s) got burnt by the exhaust manifold.
Taylor's are great wires and cost about 50.00 a set from Summit.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 3
From: Encino CA
Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (bogus)
The way it was explained to me on the phone before picking up the car was that a wire was shorting and this caused cross-sparking in the opti. It was described so specifically that I thought there was really a true diagnosis that was performed. In reality, it seems that the tech is assuming a bad wire (based on the test drive) but I'm not sure how he jumps to concluding that the distributor needs replacing--particularly since he never got a code during his diagnosis. Of course I am taking them at their word that they actually tried running a diagnostic. I also wonder how bad the problem has to be for a code or "sys" to show up on the car's diagnostic screen. Even when the miss was fairly noticeable, I never got any indications or codes from the onboard computer--seems weird.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 17
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From: South Bend In.
Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (DougSilver)
The opti-spark on my 96 failed last fall with only 38800 miles. The car
would start missing all at once and stall. After setting for 1-2 minutes
I'd restart the car, clear the plugs(alot of black smoke), and get back
home. The $800+ price tag is correct! I called GM and they did nothing
for me. :cheers:
would start missing all at once and stall. After setting for 1-2 minutes
I'd restart the car, clear the plugs(alot of black smoke), and get back
home. The $800+ price tag is correct! I called GM and they did nothing
for me. :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
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From: O'Fallon Missouri
Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (DougSilver)
The opti on my 94 went bad at 12,000 miles. I had it replaced at a GM dealership for $850. Also, I was given a lifetime warrantee on the repair, so the next one is on the dealer.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
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From: Encino CA
Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (STL94LT1)
I'll see what GM offers--if anything. They will be getting back to me on Monday. I seriously doubt that the opti is really bad as the miss at idle is only sporadic and the car, in general, seems to drive fine. I intended to do the spark plug wires as part of my roller rocker and spring install so I will see if that solves the problem first rather than assume the worst.
Team Owner
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From: Athens AL
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Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (DougSilver)
well the opti may or may not be bad, you should test each wire individually to see if one is off. If one is off, replace them all. See if its still missing, then your only recourse is an opti replacement. Its such a finicky thing that it goes bad for almost nothing.
And be sure to call Jeff Kopp (18carfan on the forum) to get yours for about $180.
And be sure to call Jeff Kopp (18carfan on the forum) to get yours for about $180.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 389
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From: Micco FL
Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (vader86)
If you choose to go the Opti route use this as a base:
Geniune ACDelco OPTI-SPARK Distributer: 1994-1996 part # 611-027 $149.99; MAD catalog 142E (just got it last week); page 4-19
Genuine ACDelso Spark Plug Wires: 1992-1996; part# 611-088; $64.99; MAD catalog 142E; page 4-19.
MAD 1(800)-500-8388
A suggestion might be that if you are going to have the other work done and choose to do the OPTI and wires, you could certainly do a lot better buyin ght parts elsewhere.
...And no I don't work for MAD...this is just a reference.
Good luck.
Geniune ACDelco OPTI-SPARK Distributer: 1994-1996 part # 611-027 $149.99; MAD catalog 142E (just got it last week); page 4-19
Genuine ACDelso Spark Plug Wires: 1992-1996; part# 611-088; $64.99; MAD catalog 142E; page 4-19.
MAD 1(800)-500-8388
A suggestion might be that if you are going to have the other work done and choose to do the OPTI and wires, you could certainly do a lot better buyin ght parts elsewhere.
...And no I don't work for MAD...this is just a reference.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 3
From: Encino CA
Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (PTz-92-LT1)
Another more important question for those that PAID for opti replacement--WHY? I am looking at my Chevy warranty booklet and the "distributor assembly" is clearly part of the the emissions control system warranty. In fact, the California emissions control warranty designates this part as covered under the 7 year/70,000 mile warranty. I have called the California Air Resources Board and they are backing up this fact In other states, the coverage would be less (in terms of time and miles) but still it might be at least 3 years/50,000 miles.
So why didn't those that paid persue this line?
So why didn't those that paid persue this line?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
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From: Encino CA
Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (STL94LT1)
your saying your 94 had only 12,000 miles after 7 years or were there 12,000 miles on an opti that had been replaced? Also, what's the excuse for the other guy with the 96 who had 38800 miles and had to pay?? Seems pretty clear in the warranty book that the distributor assembly is warrantied under Federal and State emissions control warranties.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: O'Fallon Missouri
Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (DougSilver)
your saying your 94 had only 12,000 miles after 7 years or were there 12,000 miles on an opti that had been replaced?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
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From: Encino CA
Re: HELP--OPTI questions/recourse? (STL94LT1)
Well, based on my conversation with a rep at the California Air Resources Board, I definitely have recourse and they would back me with the dealer. I figure the only out for the dealer is to say that the problem is really a plug wire that caused the opti to go bad. As I posted above, their recommendations for replacing the opti were not based on any real diagnosis and I suppose they could try and claim now that there is nothing wrong with the opti. I which case I will claim fraud based on the fact that they were more than willing to replace the opti when it would be me who was paying the $860!. Looks to me like the dealer dug himself into a hole.