Sorry... another optispark question
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coolant will come out so drain before you take the bolts out do not get your opti wet!!!!!!!
Last edited by antfarmer2; Nov 5, 2015 at 10:58 AM.
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From: Bowling Green KY
I'll do that. With care. 
Having had it all apart, I think I can do it again fairly quickly this weekend.
It is good to know that despite a couple of mistakes, my car is alive again. Thanks for all of your help along the way. Maybe your advice to me, along with my mistakes and obvious questions will be of use to future DIY'ers searching for help on this topic.
On to the climate control before winter digs in.
Having had it all apart, I think I can do it again fairly quickly this weekend.It is good to know that despite a couple of mistakes, my car is alive again. Thanks for all of your help along the way. Maybe your advice to me, along with my mistakes and obvious questions will be of use to future DIY'ers searching for help on this topic.
On to the climate control before winter digs in.
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From: Bowling Green KY
I got all of the bolts out as soon as I got home from work. Practice makes perfect as I had it all apart again in an hour. I am glad I did it as now have the peace of mind of knowing that I won't be breaking bolts off the next time I have to change an opti/waterpump. I've got a job to do tonight so I'll put her back together tomorrow... the right way.
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I got all of the bolts out as soon as I got home from work. Practice makes perfect as I had it all apart again in an hour. I am glad I did it as now have the peace of mind of knowing that I won't be breaking bolts off the next time I have to change an opti/waterpump. I've got a job to do tonight so I'll put her back together tomorrow... the right way.
go ahead and pull the knock sensors. 
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From: Bowling Green KY
Armed with just enough knowledge to be dangerous, I seem to overthink or underthink things like this to death.
I bought Dex-cool when I did this job earlier in the week. A mistake caused me to have to drain it. Now since then I read that you can't mix dexcool with another anti-freeze. I'm sure there is some of both in there as I didn't flush the system. Is that a problem?
I've got 60 degree weather ahead and a small poorly lit, confined apartment garage with no lift. Even my floor jack is at my son in laws. Flushing the system wouldn't be easy for me so if it's not necessary that would be great.
I bought Dex-cool when I did this job earlier in the week. A mistake caused me to have to drain it. Now since then I read that you can't mix dexcool with another anti-freeze. I'm sure there is some of both in there as I didn't flush the system. Is that a problem?
I've got 60 degree weather ahead and a small poorly lit, confined apartment garage with no lift. Even my floor jack is at my son in laws. Flushing the system wouldn't be easy for me so if it's not necessary that would be great.
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flush is a must the sooner the better. get two gallons of antifreeze and two gallon s of distiled water. flush the helll out of it take both knocks out you will have a lot of crap in there.
if you know someone with a shop or a oil change place work a deal.
and as always do not get your opti wet!!!!!!!
if you know someone with a shop or a oil change place work a deal.
and as always do not get your opti wet!!!!!!!
Last edited by antfarmer2; Nov 8, 2015 at 12:56 PM.
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From: Bowling Green KY
flush is a must the sooner the better. get two gallons of antifreeze and two gallon s of distiled water. flush the helll out of it take both knocks out you will have a lot of crap in there.
if you know someone with a shop or a oil change place work a deal.
and as always do not get your opti wet!!!!!!!
if you know someone with a shop or a oil change place work a deal.
and as always do not get your opti wet!!!!!!!
I've put everything back together and it looks good. I need the car back on the road tomorrow so what I thought I'd do is put straight distilled water in it, run it, drain it, and then do the distilled water green/antifreeze mix today. Hopefully it will be okay until I can schedule some lift time at the Corvette Museum, drain it, remove the knock sensors and flush it.
I used the Dexcool because of a post with pictures I found where the poster used it. Then I read somewhere else that it's bad for your pre 1995 engine. I only put two gallons in and probably ran the engine for only 10 minutes before I took your advice drained it and pulled the bolts.
Anyway, back to it while I still have some daylight.
Thanks again.
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Thread Starter
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From: Bowling Green KY
So far I've run about eight gallons of Distilled water in there... filling it up, letting the TS open as I continued to fill. I'd shut id down, let it cool off drain it, and start over. It is getting clearer but still orange. Tomorrow I may just drive it to work with straight water and see if I can drain it and flush it during lunch break.... More later...
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From: Bowling Green KY
The car is really running great. Initially I complained at how the opti didn't warn me before going out, but I can see now by how smoothly the engine is running that it was showing signs of giving up earlier. It wasn't running as smooth making me think it could be bad gas. I'll pay better attention and check codes more often.
I've got lift time scheduled for tomorrow at noon, and will pull those knock sensors and let it drain. I'll go ahead and drain the water tonight anyway and refill with distilled water just to keep cleaning, but getting all of that out of the bottom of the engine will be good. Hopefully I can refill with the green stuff after that and live happily ever after.
I've got lift time scheduled for tomorrow at noon, and will pull those knock sensors and let it drain. I'll go ahead and drain the water tonight anyway and refill with distilled water just to keep cleaning, but getting all of that out of the bottom of the engine will be good. Hopefully I can refill with the green stuff after that and live happily ever after.
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From: Bowling Green KY
So today with the Museum mechanic, I made sure that the system was flushed and ready for the green stuff.
So there's one job down. Now on to the climate control/stereo wiring....
What do you know about climate control/stereo wiring... maybe I should start another thread.
Thanks again for your help brother. If you are ever in Bowling Green, let me know. I owe you a tour of the Museum and a steak dinner.
Bob
Last edited by Bob2.0; Nov 10, 2015 at 02:54 PM.
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it would be best to start a new thread as you need them most climate control issues are just cleaning it. I would like to see the museum and might be able to get you a better tour of the plant with my G.M. gold card. always better safe than sorry good job!!!!!!!!!!!
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From: Lancaster California
I did mine
went pretty smoothly
I actually bought a cheap plastic funnel and cut a piece out of the tip to use as my tool. worked great
put a little oil on it so it slides right off and doesn't fold over on the shaft when you pull the tool out
I know its already in but just for others or future
went pretty smoothly
I actually bought a cheap plastic funnel and cut a piece out of the tip to use as my tool. worked great
put a little oil on it so it slides right off and doesn't fold over on the shaft when you pull the tool out
I know its already in but just for others or future
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From: Bowling Green KY
Now, on to my electrical issues.
I've come across a good tutorial already for taking apart the climate control unit, and tracking down the short in the recently installed radio shouldn't be too difficult.... Keep an eye open for a new thread anyway just in case. 
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I should have known you'd be hooked up in the Corvette world. If there ever is anything Corvette Museum related that is in my power to do for you though, please let me know. In the meantime, thanks for getting me through that project. It is a great feeling flying down the freeway knowing that everything was done right.
Now, on to my electrical issues. I've come across a good tutorial already for taking apart the climate control unit, and tracking down the short in the recently installed radio shouldn't be too difficult.... Keep an eye open for a new thread anyway just in case.
Now, on to my electrical issues.
I've come across a good tutorial already for taking apart the climate control unit, and tracking down the short in the recently installed radio shouldn't be too difficult.... Keep an eye open for a new thread anyway just in case.