My optispark replacement experience
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Nanticoke PA
My optispark replacement experience
I read a lot of threads here in the forum on how to change an optispark as my car was due for a replacement. In reading, most of the threads were about what opti to purchase, I wont get into that here as it has been discussed to death. Some replacement stories were nightmares and others seemed to just be another job. But it made me a little nervous about digging into the job.
Well it seemed for me to be rather basic, a little time consuming but not in the slightest bit overwhelming. For me it was more of a pain in the neck to replace the spark plugs and wires than it was to change the opti. So for all of you out there that are having reservations about doing the job yourself, take it from me, an amateur at best, it is not as difficult as it may look or sound.
Well it seemed for me to be rather basic, a little time consuming but not in the slightest bit overwhelming. For me it was more of a pain in the neck to replace the spark plugs and wires than it was to change the opti. So for all of you out there that are having reservations about doing the job yourself, take it from me, an amateur at best, it is not as difficult as it may look or sound.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 104
Likes: 2
From: Greenville SC
I read a lot of threads here in the forum on how to change an optispark as my car was due for a replacement. In reading, most of the threads were about what opti to purchase, I wont get into that here as it has been discussed to death. Some replacement stories were nightmares and others seemed to just be another job. But it made me a little nervous about digging into the job.
Well it seemed for me to be rather basic, a little time consuming but not in the slightest bit overwhelming. For me it was more of a pain in the neck to replace the spark plugs and wires than it was to change the opti. So for all of you out there that are having reservations about doing the job yourself, take it from me, an amateur at best, it is not as difficult as it may look or sound.
Well it seemed for me to be rather basic, a little time consuming but not in the slightest bit overwhelming. For me it was more of a pain in the neck to replace the spark plugs and wires than it was to change the opti. So for all of you out there that are having reservations about doing the job yourself, take it from me, an amateur at best, it is not as difficult as it may look or sound.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Nanticoke PA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
I will say the wires were a real pain on the left side. It's hard to imagine trying to get the wires on the left side without the opti and water pump off. Right side is all open and easy.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 800
Likes: 2
Chances are if your balancer came off easy it's probably been off before.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Nanticoke PA
My bolts came right out. But the balancer was darn near welded on. I will admit the first time I did not spray the balancer and not sure if it would it would have helped. Mine did not wiggle off, I had to pound it for a long time and it seemed success was fading away. Now it's all cleaned up and it goes on and off easy.
I will say the wires were a real pain on the left side. It's hard to imagine trying to get the wires on the left side without the opti and water pump off. Right side is all open and easy.
I will say the wires were a real pain on the left side. It's hard to imagine trying to get the wires on the left side without the opti and water pump off. Right side is all open and easy.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
For those of us who missed it...
What exactly is an opti..upgrade? How much did it all cost? And what did you get out of it performance wise?
I apologize if this isn't the right spot to ask, but I'm new to all of this and still learning the etiquette. Thanks
I apologize if this isn't the right spot to ask, but I'm new to all of this and still learning the etiquette. Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
Opti - Optispark. It's basically a distributor with a cap and rotor. It's called opti because it has an optical section which creates 2 separate electronic waveforms for use for the engine computer (ECM/PCM). Timing, fuel management and many other functions are derived from these signals. It is also directly coupled to the cam shaft which gives very accurate measurements for engine operation and timing.
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