Help with intermittent Code 16 & dying out
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,521
Likes: 4
From: Windham, NH
Help with intermittent Code 16 & dying out
On our way to Ct on Saturday my wife's 93, with 19,000 miles on it, just cut out while driving 75 mph in the left lane of the Mass Pike. I popped it in neutral and coasted over to the shoulder and tried starting it. It started right up & then died again. This happened a couple more times within 2 minutes and then it stayed running. We continued on our trip and it did this 3 more times within the 90 miles we traveled from Albany to Springfield, MA, where we got off an got onto I-91. It didn't act up again for the rest of the trip to CT nor on the return trip home. I checked the computer last night and there is a Code 16 stored in it. I have the GM service manual for this car and it says it is in the Distributor Ignition System (Low Resolution Pulse) . I find it hard to believe that the Opti is the source of the problems as this car has very low milage. Can anyone help shed some light on what else to check? I realize that an intermittent problem/code is tough to troubleshoot.
Last edited by Jim Martley2; Jul 13, 2004 at 08:42 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 4
From: Mexico Beach FL
Originally Posted by Jim Martley2
On our way to Ct on Saturday my wife's 93, with 19,000 miles on it, just cut out while driving 75 mph in the left lane of the Mass Pike. I popped it in neutral and coasted over to the shoulder and tried starting it. It started right up & then died again. This happened a couple more times within 2 minutes and then it stayed running. We continued on our trip and it did this 3 more times within the 90 miles we traveled from Albany to Springfield, MA, where we got off an got onto I-91. It didn't act up again for the rest of the trip to CT nor on the return trip home. I checked the computer last night and there is a Code 16 stored in it. I have the GM service manual for this car and it says it is in the Distributor Ignition System (Low Resolution Pulse) . I find it hard to believe that the Opti is the source of the problems as this car has very low milage. Can anyone help shed some light on what else to check? I realize that an intermittent problem/code is tough to troubleshoot.
The engine will not run when the low-res pulse is missing completely. But, depending on how many of the low-res pulses are missing when it is intermittent, it may just miss and set a code.
The engine will run at reduced performance when the high-res pulse is missing.
Unfortunately, the Delteq ignition system will not fix your problem -- you need to fix what is causing the low-res pulse failure first.
Tom Piper
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,234
Likes: 355
From: Albuquerque, NM
My '92 did exactly the same thing. On a road trip it suddenly died. It ran fine for a while and then died again. It got progressively worse until I had no choice but to stop at a motel for the night. The next day it ran with no problems for 400 miles and got me home. The only code was a code 16.
The problem was the optispark. After having it replaced I've not had any more problems. Interestingly, my optispark also had low mileage. It had been replaced only 20-30,000 miles before this failure, and the failure was not due to a waterpump leak.
Unfortunately, you'll probably have to replace the optispark.
The problem was the optispark. After having it replaced I've not had any more problems. Interestingly, my optispark also had low mileage. It had been replaced only 20-30,000 miles before this failure, and the failure was not due to a waterpump leak.
Unfortunately, you'll probably have to replace the optispark.
