94 LT-1 code 36
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,106
Likes: 9,422
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
94 LT-1 code 36
I know its a high output impulse from the opti. but what does that really mean? why is it a intermittent problem?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 42
From: Baltimore, MD USA
determine the crankshaft position so it knows when to fire the coil.
The other part of the Optispark is the high voltage section. This takes the High voltage from the coil and distributes the High voltage to the correct spark plug.
The Optical part fails because the sensor goes bad, the wheel with the slots in it gets debris on it or the bearing the wheel spins on gets wobbly.
The High voltage section goes bad because the rotor comes loose, moister gets in the cap, ozone from the high voltage causes carbon tracking so the spark jumps to another path causing misfire.
Because of the location of the Optispark it's exposed to antifreeze, when the water pump leaks, moisture, condensation, heat and cold.
The seals also go bad allowing oil inside it.
Watch this video which describes everything you wanted to know
about the Optispark.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,106
Likes: 9,422
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Thanks. This will be the thrid one on the car. First one replaced when the original water pump went bad. Second one due to a leaking coolant hose. And now this. The silver lining is the last one I got came with a life time warranty. Still doesn't make me happy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
Check you opti harness going into the opti. I know that some of the units come with a new one and some don't. If this one is old, there could be coolant, moisture, and what not. This harness sends the signal to the pcm.
Also don't rule out coil and icm, as these going south cause irregularity in the spark sent to the opti which, in turn, can set a code.
If indeed it is the opti, I would say that being a high res code, should call for just a cap and rotor and not the entire unit.
Also don't rule out coil and icm, as these going south cause irregularity in the spark sent to the opti which, in turn, can set a code.
If indeed it is the opti, I would say that being a high res code, should call for just a cap and rotor and not the entire unit.
