Opti Spark: Typical Failure Mode
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,738
Likes: 53
From: Bogart GA
Opti Spark: Typical Failure Mode
When these units fail I assume it is because of the optical sensor going bad? I just pulled mine and it is clean on the inside with the exception that one of the rotor screws had fallen off. The car has 46,000 miles on it and is a 96. I would like to just clean up the rotor and cap electrodes with ah little sand paper, stick the rotor screws back in with thread sealer, replace the shaft o-rings and call it a day.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,760
Likes: 175
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Your '96 factory Opti should still have lots of miles left in it.
My '96 has just over 119,000 miles on the factory original Opti, and running just fine.
My '96 has just over 119,000 miles on the factory original Opti, and running just fine.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 855
Likes: 36
From: Crystal Springs MS
Mine just rolled over 116K, no probs yet...but careful with that "sandpaper", I hope you're using some fine paper or emery cloth. Any scrapes or gouges you put into the rotor or cap will only accelerate them wearing out.
Most people would tell you just throw another cap and rotor on it while you have it out...those would be the folks that never priced an Opti cap and rotor set.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 274
Likes: 12
From: Louisburg NC
The one in my '96 Impala SS has 247K on it and has never been serviced.
The one in my '94 vette crapped out with a bad bearing at 138K. that was about 3K after I changed the cap and rotor ( which was about to come apart).
The one in my '94 vette crapped out with a bad bearing at 138K. that was about 3K after I changed the cap and rotor ( which was about to come apart).
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 80
From: Hawaii
