did i kill my opti?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster CA
did i kill my opti?
ok, last night i had the engenious idea of cleaning out the engine compartment in the vette. ive done it before in the camaro and the impala and havent had any problems. so i sprayed it down and made sure to stay away from the water pump/opti area. i took it out for a spin and it ran fine. on my way to work ithis morning it ran fine, but as i pulled into the parking lot it started idling a little rough. when i started it after work it was still idling a little rough. when i drove out of the lot it started hesitating, back firing and making detonating sounds, tehn stopped running all together. now it wont even idle. anyone have any ideas? any one know what i need to pull codes? is there a code for opti? the check engine light never came on, is that strange? any help would be MUCH appreciated.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Re: did i kill my opti? (SSLT1KID)
Shawn, without making a complicated situation worse, you might purchase a CHILTON manual for your '92 (Kragens, etc. $16). It covers the diagnostics and trouble-shooting of the opti-spark unit as well as the GM service manual. The process is quite lengthy, or I would type it out for you. The first test mentioned is to test for a spark to ground while someone cranks your engine. If there is no spark, after checking two wires, the coil may be faulty.
The process goes on from there. If you have code readers, what codes are displayed? My GM manual is for a '93, and there are differences between the '92 and '93, but the opti-spark section may be similar. :sad:
The process goes on from there. If you have code readers, what codes are displayed? My GM manual is for a '93, and there are differences between the '92 and '93, but the opti-spark section may be similar. :sad:
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Re: did i kill my opti? (SSLT1KID)
Regarding your CHECK ENG LIGHT: This is probably not your problem, but check to see if this light comes on, along with all your other lights on your display, when you activate your ignition. It is possible that the bulb may be out, as mine was, preventing me from performing maintenance before a component failed.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster CA
Re: did i kill my opti? (oldman)
good news! (i hope) i went back about 1-2 hours later and the car ran rough,but was drivable (barely). by the time i got home it ran perfectly. i dont think im going to try tht again. :nonod:
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,407
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Re: did i kill my opti? (SSLT1KID)
Glad that you are running again. How many miles do you have? Mine did the same thing on several occassions. At 50k it started to blink out on occassion, then I got into some high water and it died for sure.
What a terrible design by GM.. :mad
What a terrible design by GM.. :mad
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,143
Likes: 7
From: San Diego CA
Re: did i kill my opti? (SSLT1KID)
Optis can generally handle a bit of water, it's antifreeze that is the killer. The water will dry up but the glycol sticks to everything.
I've heard of a Camaro owner that, after having to replace his water pump that took out his opti, removed it, dissassemble it and soaked in a bucket of distilled water over night. Dried it with a hair drier, resealed it with Hi-temp RTV and ran for another 30K miles.
I've heard of a Camaro owner that, after having to replace his water pump that took out his opti, removed it, dissassemble it and soaked in a bucket of distilled water over night. Dried it with a hair drier, resealed it with Hi-temp RTV and ran for another 30K miles.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
From: Flower Mound TX
Re: did i kill my opti? (SSLT1KID)
I'm just went through this a couple of weeks ago. Came home from work in a heavy rainstorm. Went through a big puddle (big mistake). Misfired for a week. My Service Engine light did come on. My fault codes were P300 (multiple miss-fire) and P54 (left O2 sensor). After the Opti dried out I reset the codes. Works fine now. :)