Help on a 94
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
Help on a 94
94 auto. I run 93octane and sometimes 91 when i have to. Bought two months ago. Stock as far as i know except i just deleted the cat. Put 1000 miles on top of the 113k it already had. Went to pass someone Goin about 75, it dropped a gear and accelerated for a second then abruptly lost feul it seemed. Guages and lights didnt show anything. Pulled over and it just sat and sputtered barely staying alive. I turned it off and on a few times until it wouldn't stay running anymore. The last time I started it, it died and it sounded like air escaped somewhere up by the intake. Not sure exactly what I heard or where it came from though. The next day it tries to turn over but won't start. Lots of possibilities so seeing if I can get it narrowed down. Any ideas?
Zen Vet Master Level VII
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 5,218
Likes: 1,174
From: Southlake, TX
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,621
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
Unfortunately there is no real good or easy way to check an opti. Nothing in the FSM or anything written up to indicate if the opti is the cause of an engine not running. There are things written up on a running engine with waveforms, timing charts which is all nice but might not help you to figure out why it's not starting.
You need to figure out if the ECM/PCM is providing the DC voltage for it to operate. And then you need an O-scope and enough electronic knowledge of how to use it to find out if the low resolution pulse is being generated. This is probably a stretch for most people as well as mechanics.
I have seen some really good write-ups on the opti but there is probably a narrow window of people who can relate to it. This is usually for the ones into electronics either professionally or a skilled amateur who have been using these tools for some time.
The opti just does not pop off like a coil or ICM and easy to hang one in there and try. Replacing an opti require a good effort of a day or two, expensive and add a water pump and coolant and seals to the mix. I would like to know if everything else I can check is OK before I rip the opti out……..but that’s just me.
You need to figure out if the ECM/PCM is providing the DC voltage for it to operate. And then you need an O-scope and enough electronic knowledge of how to use it to find out if the low resolution pulse is being generated. This is probably a stretch for most people as well as mechanics.
I have seen some really good write-ups on the opti but there is probably a narrow window of people who can relate to it. This is usually for the ones into electronics either professionally or a skilled amateur who have been using these tools for some time.
The opti just does not pop off like a coil or ICM and easy to hang one in there and try. Replacing an opti require a good effort of a day or two, expensive and add a water pump and coolant and seals to the mix. I would like to know if everything else I can check is OK before I rip the opti out……..but that’s just me.
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