Dissecting my opti spark

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Mar 30, 2003 | 06:26 PM

540 vette

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From: No Where USA

Dissecting my opti spark

After removing the opti from my car I wanted to see how it ticked and maybe what went wrong with it.After I drilled out the screws(didn't have the socket)I opened it up expecting to find water in it.None.It was a little rusty but no water.The seal was dried out.The rotor and cap looked a little worn.The water pump was leaking so it must have gone bad from that,but it didn't look like alot of water got in there.Also there was white dusty crud on the terminals that go into the cap.There was alot on the coil one.

Mar 30, 2003 | 09:06 PM

PurpleC4

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From: Chino Valley AZ

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Re: Dissecting my opti spark (540 vette)

You could have removed a torx bolt from your throttle boby cover plate, chucked it into a reversing drill, and used it to remove the male torx screws in the Opti. :cool:

~ Purp :cheers:

[Modified by PurpleC4, 9:22 PM 3/30/2003]

Mar 30, 2003 | 09:14 PM

Darkness

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From: Boston

Re: Dissecting my opti spark (PurpleC4)

Quote:

You could have removed a torx bolt from your throttle boby cover plate, checked it into a reversing drill, and used it to remove the male torx screws in the Opti. :cool:

~ Purp :cheers:

Now thats a special tool :D

Mar 30, 2003 | 09:30 PM

sraft

Burning Brakes

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From: Bergen County NJ

Re: Dissecting my opti spark (540 vette)

How many miles were on the opti?

Here's what my mechanic told me - Ozone from the spark and/or carbon tracking inside the cap eventually cause failure. Once you get carbon tracks, any moisture/humidity worsens the condition.

Several forum members have stated that they've gotten moisture in the opti, causing it to run poorly (or not at all), but it eventually cleared up as the opti dried out, so it appears that moisture alone may not be fatal. Anit-freeze may be more detrimental than plain water.

Mar 30, 2003 | 11:26 PM

540 vette

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Re: Dissecting my opti spark (sraft)

I had 64000 on it.In the past year the gas mileage went south and it seamed to develop a miss at low idle.Nothing you could really feel.But you could see it on the tach.Then I washed the motor and it died.Then about a week later I washed the car and hosed off the underside of the front body and it died again.It seemed to start again after about 3 or 4 hours.

Mar 31, 2003 | 09:07 PM

SPD DMN

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From: Sachse Texas

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Re: Dissecting my opti spark (540 vette)

I disected mine this weekend too after pulling it yet again. I used the same methods that Stan uses above to take them apart. I have a gritty sand type substance in mine and all of the points in the cap have about an 1/8" of corrosion sticking off of them. The rotor is also corroded and has green corrosion on the entire end of it. The seals were all nice and firm and it was actually difficult to get open. Had zero signs of having any moisture in it. I guess that is a good thing for an opti I put in last August. ;)

The failures that I generally have are with the electrical pickup component. Visually my opti failures in the past look like very good units inside. There was only one I replaced that was due to obvious water damage and was quite rusted inside.