Worried About Opti-spark

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Nov 13, 2003 | 08:13 PM

derv3tt3

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 825

Likes: 14

From: wadsworth ohio

Worried About Opti-spark

When the opti goes bad does it give any error codes?My 94 runs good until I turn it off.Then on start up it wants to back fire and run rough for awhile then it might smooth out.What do you think? I've done a lot to my 78 but not the C4 so not sure if I can change the opti. :confused:

Nov 13, 2003 | 10:34 PM

bogus

Team Owner

Joined: Aug 2000

Posts: 40,156

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From: San Pedro CA

Re: Worried About Opti-spark (derv3tt3)

how many miles?

what kinda maintenance has been done already?

has the engine been water/pressure washed?

Nov 14, 2003 | 07:36 AM

Aaron71771

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jan 2000

Posts: 6,376

Likes: 21

From: Traverse City MI

Re: Worried About Opti-spark (derv3tt3)

The opti wont throw any codes when it goes bad. Your problem might be something else since the car runs good until you shut if off. Leaky injector maybe?

Nov 14, 2003 | 09:02 AM

sraft

Burning Brakes

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 983

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From: Bergen County NJ

Re: Worried About Opti-spark (derv3tt3)

What you describe could be attributed to a little bit of moisture in the opti. When it first starts up, the moisture causes some misfiring. As the area heats up, the moisture evaporates the misfire goes away. Your '94 has the non-vented opti, so any moisture will stay in there for a long while. Try putting a shop light (one with an incandescent bulb that makes heat) on the floor under the opti while it's not running. If it starts with no misfire, it's more reason to believe that moisture is indeed the problem.

Nov 14, 2003 | 09:45 AM

ittlfly

Safety Car

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 4,212

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From: Sun City West Az

Re: Worried About Opti-spark (sraft)

The opti CAN throw a code but not always as mentioned above. Codes 16 & 36 are opti related. They refer to the low and high resolution respectivly (sp). You car will run with the high res. missing (code 36 ) but will not start if the low res. is missing (code 16.)

[Modified by ittlfly, 6:46 AM 11/14/2003]

Nov 14, 2003 | 03:11 PM

derv3tt3

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 825

Likes: 14

From: wadsworth ohio

Re: Worried About Opti-spark (ittlfly)

Car has 23,500 miles on it and nothing has been done to the engine like plugs or wires. :rolleyes:

Nov 14, 2003 | 03:17 PM

Lone Ranger

Le Mans Master

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 7,858

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Re: Worried About Opti-spark (derv3tt3)

Only 23K on a '94? Needs some driving. Seriously. These cars hold up better and run better when driven more frequently than sitting around driven infrequently... 'specially LT1's / LT4's. :yesnod:

Nov 14, 2003 | 04:03 PM

derv3tt3

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 825

Likes: 14

From: wadsworth ohio

Re: Worried About Opti-spark (Lone Ranger)

That's what my wife says about driving it more.The longest trip is to Carlisle after that its just around the area.Car starts fine until it warms up then shut off. :rolleyes: